St Albans - Zünd Plotting Systems (UK) Ltd has become a subsidiary of Zünd Systemtechnik AG, a family business based in Switzerland, following the recent appointment of Stuart Cole as Zünd UK's new Managing Director. 

St Albans-based Zünd UK has been an official distribution and service partner of Zünd Systemtechnik since 1993 and now through the acquisition becomes an integral part of the manufacturer, bolstering the capability of offering a full and complete service to its customers in the packaging, sign and graphics, textiles and composites industries and beyond.

The announcement follows the appointment of Stuart Cole as Managing Director of Zünd Plotting Systems (UK) Ltd this February.

He comments: "On a day-to-day basis, our customers won't see any change to the service provided by their Zünd UK team. They'll have the benefit of the highest quality Swiss engineering together with the British mindset of Zünd UK, based in St Albans.  

"The acquisition will strengthen our position commercially ensuring future stability and help us to continue our UK growth. As a result, we are on an immediate recruitment drive to grow our engineering and sales forces to further improve our service quality and capability."

In a statement released last week Oliver Zünd, CEO of Zünd Systemtechnik AG, commented: "We are delighted to be able to welcome Zünd Plotting Systems (UK) Ltd. to our global group of companies. Working closely with our newest subsidiary, we look forward to strengthening our position in the UK market and continuing to expand our customer base.

"This acquisition represents an important milestone in our company history, and we are proud to have our own representation in the United Kingdom moving forward. There is no doubt in my mind that, together with Zünd Plotting Systems (UK)'s highly qualified and experienced staff, we will be able to offer our UK and Irish customers the best possible support, now and in the future." 

Stuart Cole has taken over the Managing Director role from Tim Taylor who originally established Zünd UK, and is now Commercial Director. Cole comes primarily from a print background and most recently held the position of National Sales Manager at Hybrid Services, specialising in UV-curable printing technology.

He was also the founder of Graphic Printing Technologies (GPT), which was later acquired by Amari Plastics with Cole remaining as General Manager until his move to Hybrid, and has a lengthy sales background within the graphics marketplace – experience that will help to support Taylor and Zünd's business growth. 

"Zünd manufactures a fantastic product and I very much share the ethos of Zünd as a company: it's very family-orientated, staff-orientated, customer-orientated and supplier-orientated – it really is driven by the people. We share those personal ideals and approach to how a business should be run.

"Zünd digital plotting tables are the de facto finishing systems for businesses across the globe and they will remain so."

For further information on Zünd cutting systems, or to book a visit to Zünd UK's dedicated demonstration suite, please email [email protected] or call 01727 833003.