Display solutions provider Digital Print Innovations (DPI) has added digital ink-jet technology and colour expert Richard Butler to its staff as technical director, empowering further its training and support capabilities. The company explains that Butler's authority in installation, training and colour management of wide-format systems is endemic to the quality of service that it provides across a range of machines, including the Meital and WP Digital UV-curable flatbed printers for which DPI has exclusive distributorship.

Butler's skills are particularly evident in colour management and profiling, with his breadth of experience in installation and support covering all major wide-format equipment and software. He witnessed the entry of DPI's Meital and WP Digital (formerly Spühl) products into the British market, installing, maintaining and optimising a number of machines of these types over the past six years. As technical director, he will also lead the support service for the company's Seiko II solvent-based printers and Esko Artwork's Kongsberg cutting tables.

Until recently a colour specialist covering support, installation and colour management for Andersons, his expertise encompasses a vast array of technologies and processes in the wide-format sphere. At his previous post Butler provided end user training, implementation and colour profiling on all major RIP packages, including Onyx, Best, Caldera, Shiraz, ColorGATE, ScreenGATE, Oris and Wasatch, across hardware from HP, Mimaki, Seiko, Epson, Summa and Mutoh.

"Richard's extensive practical knowledge of a plethora of RIP platforms and printing technologies is the perfect complement to our start-to-finish wide-format options, and we are very excited to welcome him on board," explains Stewart Bell, managing director of Derbyshire-based DPI. "His pedigree in both colour and technology support is unbeatable. With Richard on the team, our customers can be reassured that they are exploiting the utmost from their kit as they receive a professional service of the highest calibre."

Having started his career in technical sales support at Centerprise in 1990, Butler formulated firm knowledge of computer and network technologies, becoming a certified engineer on Novell, Microsoft, Cisco and Compaq systems. His move into digital printing and production came with his appointment to Art Systems in 1998 as support manager for its distribution of HP, Onyx, Summa and Mutoh products, and arguably created a thirst for new developments in digital printing technology and a profound, professional comprehension of its inner workings.

As well as following the evolution of technology in digital printing, electronics and computing, Butler is an avid photographer and gardener and has an eclectic library of literary and musical works. He is also an experienced white water kayaker and kayak instructor.