KBA North America, a global press manufacturer based in Dallas, Texas, announces that Ulrich Wicke, the former web offset sales manager for the Spanish and South American markets, will be taking over the position of vice president of sales and service for the web offset division in North America while Heinz Schmid, who has been the vice president of web offset sales for KBA’s newspaper and commercial web market for an unsurpassed 30 years will remain with KBA North America an advisory position to the team. The transition has become official on July 1, 2009.
 
“The web offset market is an important component of our North American sales,” says Holger Garbrecht, president and CEO of KBA North America. “Heinz Schmid has been the leader for our web growth due to his long standing industry relationships and his high commitment to new technology and service. We are thrilled that we will continue to have his knowledge and guidance alongside Ulrich. It is extraordinary for any firm to have a loyal and exceptional manager on their team for 51 years and KBA is honored to have Heinz’s insight and dedication.  Heinz will remain in an advisory function to the web department as Ulrich takes over. We feel Ulrich’s experience and knowledge will be a perfect fit as we move forward during this challenging market environment.”
 
Born into a long line of German printers, Ulrich Wicke entered the printing business after graduating with a degree in business management from Stuttgart University.  After working for a succession of both commercial printers and newspapers, Wicke joined the KBA sales department in 1999 as a sales manager for their web offset press line. Fluent in German, English, and Spanish, Wicke’s responsibilities included working with key web offset customers including the sale of the first KBA Commander CT press sold outside of Germany. Ulrich Wicke is married and has two children.