Leaders in inline digital printing, DataLase, is expanding its European and U.S sales teams to bring its unique solutions to a wider global network. Eric Ferguson and Michael Toner have joined DataLase as new business development managers for Americas and Europe respectively. Their role is to broaden an already established, yet rapidly growing customer base for inline digital printing solutions across a wide range of product and packaging applications.

Eric Ferguson joins DataLase from HAVI Global Solutions as a senior sales executive and brings with him more than 16 years’ experience in consumer goods packaging. He has also worked for MacDermid Performance Solutions and Esko, where he developed business opportunities for laser-ablative photopolymer consumables and provided software solutions for packaging development.

Michael Toner is a former printer and has extensive knowledge of the packaging industry having previously worked in a range of sectors including food and drink and pharmaceuticals. He also has a wealth of experience in the ink industry, having worked with global ink manufacturer SICPA for 20 years. Michael will work closely with printers and converters to promote the efficiency and real time marketing benefits of DataLase technology.

Commenting on the new appointments, Dr. Chris Wyres, DataLase CEO, said: “The addition of Eric and Michael to the team is a real boost as we look to increase our share in the digital printing market and drive product leadership and innovation. “We are now even better positioned to address opportunities in other packaging and print formats and will work with our global strategic partner network to deliver our revolutionary solutions to a wider customer base.”

The unique print solutions from DataLase combine its core colour-change materials technology with the latest generation of laser print engines to deliver high speed, high resolution, on-demand digital printing that is a high performance alternative to conventional print methods.The technology relies on a unique additive which is incorporated into a material or patch applied to a pack; when exposed to CO2 or Near InfraRed lasers, it generates a colour change reaction in the pigment.

DataLase will be taking its technology to another level at Drupa 2016, the largest print exhibition in the world, which takes places May 31 – June 10, in Dusseldorf, Germany. The company will be launching its revolutionary Variprint technology for monochrome inline digital printing of cases, labels, folding cartons, mailing and addressing and direct to shape applications.