Visual Print’s MD moves To Solopress
Graham Hunstone, managing director of recently acquired print provider, Visual Print & Design, has been hired as head of partnerships by fellow UK printer, Solopress
Edale has announced the appointment of Rob Brown as its new sales and marketing director, as part of major growth plans and ahead of new kit releases
Edale, a Canon company focusing on flexographic printing and converting solutions, has announced the appointment of Rob Brown as its new sales and marketing director.
Brown joins Edale as it readies for the launch of its refreshed CartonLine and LabelLine ranges in 2026.
In his new role Brown will lead Edale’s worldwide sales operations, marketing strategy, and channel partnerships, driving growth across the label and folding-carton segments.
With almost three decades of experience, Brown most recently served as sales director for North West Europe at OKI Europe, having worked at the company for 18 years. According to Edale, he was hired due to his senior experience in driving customer, market, and application awareness and insight.
Lachlan Buirds, managing director at Edale, says: “As we prepare for a major 2026 push with our new CartonLine and LabelLine platforms, Rob will be key to shaping our global go-to-market strategy. His track record in building high-performance sales teams and bringing complex technical solutions to market aligns perfectly with Edale’s ambition.”
Having spent most of its history as an independent British manufacturer of narrow-mid web flexographic and digital printing presses for packaging, Edale was purchased by Canon in April 2022 to strengthen Canon’s position in the label and packaging market.
With news expected soon about Edale’s latest machine portfolio, the company is in the process of scaling its investment in automation, single-pass carton production, workflow intelligence, and global customer support. The appointment is part of a string of recent hires by Edale, including the hiring of Buirds earlier this year.
In 2025 alone, Edale has appointed a new head of sales for the APAC region, as well as a head of sales for the EMEA region. Edale also recently announced Imagraf as its new official distributor for Spain and Portugal.
Speaking following his appointment, Brown adds: “Edale is perfectly positioned to help customers future proof their business for where the market is heading – more automation, more single-pass capability, and more converters broadening their offering across labels and cartons.
“I’m excited to help shape a global strategy that turns Edale’s technology into real competitive advantage for our customers.”
