Durst Oceania hosts first local Vanguard Open House at Evan Evans (+ photo gallery)

Matt Ashman (Durst Oceania) with Sonya Cameron and Roger Cameron from Evan Evans

Durst Oceania hosted its first local Vanguard Open House at Melbourne-based printer Evan Evans yesterday, providing visitors with an opportunity to see the Vanguard VK300D-HS machine in operation.

Hosted at Evan Evans’ facility in Coburg, this was the first time the company held an open house event in its history.

Evan Evans installed the Vanguard VK300D-HS high production flatbed LED UV printer last year shortly after the brand was launched in Australia following the Fespa Global Print Expo in Amsterdam.

The VK300D-HS features a high-speed electromagnetic drive system that propels the carriage at speeds up to 1.8m per second delivering up to 60 boards an hour.

Evan Evans owner Roger Cameron said, “Durst Oceania has been a supporter of us for a long period of time. When we were making the decision to buy the Vanguard, we went through all the usual criteria, but productivity was the biggest one for us.

“The quality of print was the second on our wishlist – and this Vanguard machine delivers on this. We also wanted global representation, and we were the first to get the VK300D-HS in this region. The machine also provides us with healthy return on investment.

“During the process of buying the machine, what we found is that Durst Oceania’s professionalism is extraordinary. From the time we placed the order to the time it was delivered, the entire process with Durst Oceania was seamless.

“Today is the first time we have opened our doors to people in the trade. For us, this is not only about showcasing Vanguard, but also showcasing our capabilities. Most of the people in the industry only know Evan Evans through our supply of flags. That’s about 10 per cent of our business and everything else that we do is what makes us an interesting business.

“Over the past few years, apart from moving into this facility, we’ve also invested a lot into machinery, processes and systems. The ultimate thing for us, is that we want to be easy to do business with.”

The event also reinforced that Durst has solutions for all levels of the market and not just top-tier, high volume customers. Combined with the Vanguard scalable platform, customers can purchase a mid-tier machine that can be upgraded without having to swap out for another model.

At the event, Durst Oceania managing director Matt Ashman said, “Vanguard is a brand that we brought into the Durst family in 2019. It’s an American brand and the machines are manufactured in the US.

“But Durst Oceania itself has been in business for five years. We now sell equipment big and small across Australia, New Zealand, and the wider Oceania region. We love doing business in this region – the print community here is amazing.

“But, in these difficult times, we’ve seen several manufacturers and distributors stepping down. We, at Durst Oceania, are growing – so much so that we’re doubling down on the Vanguard and Durst Oceania brands.

“Because of this growth, we will be moving into a new facility in Melbourne later this year, amplifying the support we provide the industry.”

Here are some pictures from the event: