FESPA is inviting printers, manufacturers, suppliers and print buyers and end users to nominate print solution providers (PSPs) into the FESPA Hall of Fame 2015. Those from the African continent are encouraged to nominate deserving PSP's.
The Hall of Fame, seen first at FESPA Digital 2012, is the ‘who’s who’ of leading printers across the global print community. This initiative will culminate at the FESPA 2015 event in Cologne (18-22 May 2015), where the overall Global Printer of the Year will be announced.
2014's winner was Keith Ferrell, one of the founders of Cactus Imaging and possibly the most successful Grand Format Printer in the Asia Pacific region. Keith and his colleague, Warwick Spicer, established Cactus in 1992 with just themselves and a VersaTek printer, and have achieved consistent growth ever since.
After one year in Auckland New Zealand, Keith moved to Sydney, Australia to set up the sales arm of Cactus Imaging Australia. It proved so successful that in 1996, Cactus Imaging set up a full scale production plant in Sydney which is now the leading grand format printer in Australasia. In 2000, Keith was appointed as the Group Sales Director and was one of the drivers in setting up Cactus Imaging India, based in Chennai.
He travelled extensively throughout Asia and the Middle East and gained many major clients for the company. The Indian production plant was a major success producing in excess of 140 000sqm of work per month.
Keith was appointed General Manager of The Cactus Imaging Group in 2005. In 2008, the company was sold to a Private Equity Company and is now part of the Opus Print Group. Keith is now recognised in Australia as an industry legend and has also been named as one of the most influential people in the industry.
At the 2014 Awards ceremony held during the FESPA Digital Show in Munich, FESPA revealed the Hall of Fame Printer of the Year, with the honour going to Keith Ferrell.
He said, 'I was totally surprised by my nomination to the FESPA Hall of Fame. It was submitted by a valued client who we've worked with for a very long time, so it was a great honour for me that they took the time to put me forward. I think the key to the reputation Cactus Imaging has with clients is our close attention to detail and the longstanding relationships our clients have with us.
'We're honest and upfront with people, we employ and retain good people who go the extra mile, we deliver jobs on time and with great quality, and we dare to try different things. Clients are happy to pay a slight premium for that value. I'm overwhelmed to have won FESPA's global Hall of Fame. Australia is such a small market, that to be held up as a role model for other print service providers is one hell of an honour.'
Voted by printers and providers themselves, the Hall of Fame highlights worthy printers from around the world who are held up by their peers as international role models. These are people at the top of their sectors being recognised for forging new pathways to success with innovative business models.
Nominees who received several votes are inaugurated into the Hall of Fame and will receive a host of benefits as part of an exclusive group. They will also receive VIP invitations to global FESPA events as well as discounted conference or summit delegate places. Once printers have been inducted into the Hall of Fame they also receive a lifetime membership. As well as being a fantastic opportunity for the nominee to promote their business and contribution to the imaging industry.
The nomination stage will end on 17 April 2015 when the print community is invited to vote for their chosen printer.
