Flint Group Digital Xeikon focusing on North American growth

As part of its global rebrand, Flint Group Digital Xeikon will continue to promote growth across the globe. Formerly Xeikon, the rebranded digital printing specialist will work closely with Flint Group Packaging Solutions to bring new and innovative solutions to the market. In addition to global growth, the company has its sights set on expansion in North America.

Currently, Flint Group Digital Xeikon boasts one of the most prominent digital portfolios in the world. Plus, the portfolio is backed by global success. That growth has historically been absent in North America, though. Now, with new hires and a greater synergy with its parent company, Flint Group Digital Xeikon will focus on driving growth in the North American market.

Flint Group’s recent rebrand to Flint Group Packaging Solutions is intended to focus on the global packaging sector. Within this renewed structure, Flint Group Digital Xeikon will more closely align with its parent company.

“We want to work together with Flint Group Packaging Solutions and have much stronger collaboration,” states Walter Benz, president and CEO, Flint Group Digital Xeikon. “From a legacy standpoint, we have been a publication company but we have always been in the packaging business. And we want to focus more on that and articulate that to the market.”

“We are really now trying to accelerate our growth on all levels – from marketing to sales,” explains Ser van de Graaf, sales and marketing director, Flint Group Digital Xeikon. “Now we have one logo and we are one group. We will also always be presenting ourselves as one group. We’re a part of Flint Group Packaging Solutions, and that will strengthen us, as well. We’re combining our strengths and using each other’s competitive advantages to grow together.”

Flint Group Digital Xeikon has made numerous changes to position itself in the North American market. In addition to focusing on its established dry toner and inkjet solutions, the company recently unveiled the Ecolyne – a digital press featuring a subscription-based model to help label converters avoid a significant upfront capital investment. On the personnel side, Robert Welford has taken on the role of president in North America.

“We want to be more focused on the North American market and bring the culture we have in Europe back here,” says van de Graaf. “We’re going to be more customer friendly and customer oriented, and focus on added value. Customers shouldn’t be saying they’re looking for an inkjet press or a toner press. They should say they’re looking for a label press, let’s talk to Xeikon because they offer UV inkjet, they offer dry toner, and they offer LED cured toner. So, we want to start from a different position.”

Flint Group Packaging Solutions and Flint Group Digital Xeikon are more actively supporting one another, too. “The innovation you see in Europe is now here, and we see our Flint colleagues visiting and supporting our Innovation Days,” remarks Benz. “Historically, that has not been the case. And it’s vice versa. We visit their events, as well. So, we’re showcasing much stronger collaboration with both entities.”

Internal growth

In addition to Welford, Flint Group Digital Xeikon is investing in its entire team in North America. New hires will help the company position itself in the region, especially as Ecolyne targets a different segment of the print space.

“We have a very competitive press in there that can really bring a lot of growth,” comments van de Graaf. “So, we’re really investing in our employees. We’re putting a lot of effort into training and new marketing campaigns, focusing on different types of customers. We are not just looking for traditional label converters. We’re also seeking commercial printers who want to go into labels, or startups that want to start printing labels because it’s a growth market. We are one of the best hidden gems in this market, and we need to spread the word.”

Flint Group Digital Xeikon has targeted different employees that can tout the benefits of various technologies – from inkjet and dry toner to software. The company has also installed a new head of global service in order to ensure synergy between the North American and European markets.

“We have really worked to improve the quality of our sales team,” states Benz. “We’re bringing in people with more knowledge and better networks, coming from good, competitive backgrounds.”

“We need people who are extremely active, who are very customer friendly, because customers are our number one focus,” adds van de Graaf. “We want people to consider us, but many times we’ll hear that a customer never even though about Xeikon. And in Europe, we’re essentially No. 2 in the label industry. That’s what we’re trying to change, so we need to build awareness, we need to build the type of sales advantages with new people, and we’ve had some really good hirings. You will definitely see a lot more of us in the near future.”

Big plans for LOUPE

Flint Group Packaging Solutions and Flint Group Digital Xeikon will work in tandem at LOUPE Americas, where a robust product portfolio will be on display. LOUPE Americas takes place September 15-17, 2026, in Rosemont, IL, USA.

“At LOUPE, we really want to make an impact to show all our techniques,” remarks van de Graaf. “We’re going to have a big booth with all our Flint Group colleagues, where we’ll showcase all our technologies.

“We’re going to show people that Flint Group Packaging Solutions and Flint Group Digital Xeikon are investing in developments – developments in people, in organization, and in products,” he adds.” And I think that’s unique at the moment. Where most people are just standing still or letting people go, we are actively changing and spending money to improve our machines, our people, our portfolio, and our organization.”