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Michael Aumann is a distinguished Executive Leader renowned for his strategic acumen, organizational prowess, and executional finesse. Currently serving as the Global Director of Digital Embellishment Solutions at Kurz USA, he orchestrates a laser-focused approach to strategy implementation, fostering growth and success within the organization. With a tenure spanning over a decade, Michael has curated a reputation for assembling high-performing teams characterized by integrity, professionalism, and unwavering passion, thereby driving unparalleled results.
Beyond his role at Kurz USA, Michael’s influence extends to the broader landscape of print and specialty technologies. He serves as a Board Member for both the Association for Print Technologies and the FSEA – Foil & Specialty Effects Association, contributing his expertise to shape industry standards and advancements. Furthermore, his longstanding membership in the CEO Roundtable underscores his commitment to continuous innovation and collaboration within the executive realm. Through his multifaceted leadership roles and unwavering dedication, Michael Aumann stands as a pivotal figure in the evolution of digital embellishment solutions on a global scale.|
KURZ is a globally renowned authority in thin-film technology, boasting over 5,500 dedicated employees and a reputation for innovation. Serving a clientele comprising the world’s leading automotive, consumer electronics, and health & beauty brands, as well as product and counterfeit protection sectors, KURZ consistently delivers cutting-edge solutions.
As pioneers in innovation and customer service, KURZ offers creative resolutions to diverse challenges, leveraging the expertise and commitment of its workforce. With a presence spanning over 30 sites across Europe, Asia, and the USA, and adhering to stringent quality and environmental standards, KURZ ensures prompt delivery and personalized on-site assistance through its extensive global network.
Chris Santomassimo: I’m your host, Chris Santomassimo from OGC Solutions and OGC Solutions powers the Think Factory podcast, which we’re proud to say, and I’m proud to have Michael Aumann with us today. So Michael is with KURZ, USA in particular. Michael is on a pretty interesting side of the House. He is the Global Director for Digital Embellishment Solutions. So welcome to the podcast, Michael.
Michael Aumann: Thanks, Chris. It’s great to be here.
Chris Santomassimo: Great to have you. So just to set up our conversation a little bit, you know, those in the printing industry hear more and more everyday about embellishment and the the value of it as it enhances appearance and brand value and brand appearance, among other things. And in fact, if folks spend some time in the stores either getting greeting cards for Valentine’s Day or gifts for Valentine’s Day, they probably came into contact with some of the consumables that Christmas is known for, in particular, the, you know, the metallic decorations that you would see on those those products. But what I also think is interesting, and this is why we’re talking today occurs is also on the digital embellishment side of the business. So I’d love to hear more about the equipment and what’s new and different and talk a little bit about curves as a company.
Michael Aumann: Actually, I’m glad to. I think you hit a good point there. Just embellishment as a whole has a big, big impact in the industry. It’s hard to go anywhere anymore and not have it where you see it. You know, whether that be in printing and packaging maybe and security, every time you touch your passport, there’s all kinds of embellished materials that are designed into that. And then even then you move into the plastics industry and automobiles and white goods and all those different things, and you’ll find decorative materials in all those different spaces. The one that I’m most connected with certainly is within the printing and packaging industry, and my focus where I stay is more on the equipment side. And sometimes that might not be the first thing that people think of when they think of curves from an equipment standpoint. But we are deeply invested in the digital embellishment side of equipment and be able to show a lot of that at the upcoming group of show and just have a lot of exciting things going on with it right now. What I think is pretty interesting is, you know, well, first of all, I think we can agree that embellishment is a pretty important aspect of making certainly higher end packaging mail pieces. It gives you that tactile sensation. And Kurz has been known in that in that business for a long time. On the consumable side, you know, maybe talk a little bit just briefly about the history and where we might see some of those products. Yeah, you know, I think we can say with confidence curves is a global leader in the development and manufacturing of metallic decorations. And the way a metallic decoration is manufactured is we’re a world class revere printer is really what we are. Chris Right. So we’re printing ultra thin layers on pet films. We build that lacquer package into this brilliant color structure that you see on packages, and that’s what we do. We’ve got manufacturing sites all over the world, right around 6000 employees globally and a real leader in, as you said, that consumable part of the transfer foil business. When you think then about all the different places where we do transfer foils, we think about things like the Foil and Specialty Defects Association. They did some research, some shelves, present studies and what’s the impact of embellishment. And it changes how a product operates. When it’s on the shelf, people go to it. They did eye tracking studies. It’s just clear everywhere you look by adding embellishment to a product, like you said, that even a perceived value is given to the product when that happens. And, and that’s really what drives a lot of our business.
Chris Santomassimo: Yeah, it makes it really jump off the shelf for sure. You know, when you, when you are comparing products and you’re trying to assess, you know, maybe not so familiar with the products that you’re trying to assess which one is a better product, so to speak, or which one has got more value. The first thing that you’ll see and touch is going to be the the packaging, obviously. So unless you know what you’re looking for before you get to the store, you’re certainly going to generate an impression about what that product is based on its appearance.
Michael Aumann: Agreed. And, you know, another key part to it today, when you talk about a package, anyone interested in a product, there’s usually a question about sustainability that comes along with that. And it’s important to know when we’re talking about metallic decorations like that, when the foil is transferred, what’s really transferred on to that package is that onto a folding carton, let’s say, or that type of package or a label is the lacquer package that we print and that whole package that goes on there is a recyclable product. In fact, the Foreign Special Effects Association just went through a certification process that shows transfer foils, make it completely through the sorting facilities that they’re able to keep packages that have a metallic decoration properly sorted for paperboard, fibers and those types of things. So not. He does have a good look. In today’s market, it’s important to be sustainable. We are when that declaration goes on a package or on a label, if the label or the package is recyclable, metallic decoration doesn’t do anything to change that.
Chris Santomassimo: It’s amazing, isn’t it?
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