Print Scotland, the country’s long-established trade association, has appointed Michiel Molenaar, a director of Irvine-based bespoke packaging solutions business, Kennedy Smith, as its new president.

Michiel takes over from long-serving president, Susan Graham of Midlothian-based FLB and will serve a minimum two-year term.

He said: “It is an honour and a privilege to be appointed president of Print Scotland. I came, initially, from an agricultural background rather than the print industry, and have been engaged in the packaging industry for the past twenty years.

And perhaps it is as a relative outsider that I can see the huge opportunities ahead for an innovative, creative and productive print industry here in Scotland.”

He added: “Print Scotland can and will respond to the current climate by moving with the times and investing in the latest printing technology to develop and enhance our productivity.

There are many challenges ahead and lots to do but still great opportunities for businesses who innovate and grab the opportunities in front of them. I am determined that we should recruit more members from the plethora of businesses in Scotland who use print in whatever format.”

Ms Graham said: “Print Scotland is delighted to have as its new president an industry leader with a hugely successful background in the packaging sector and the determination and drive to take our industry forward.”

Richard McCombe, managing director of Coatbridge-based Graphic Warehouse, has been appointed vice president.

Print Scotland director, Garry Richmond, said: “In Scotland the print industry remains relevant in both cultural and commercial contexts, and continues to play a significant role, not only as a crucial part of the economy but also as a vital pathway for the training and development of the next generation of skilled apprentices.

Despite the dominance of digital media, print remains integral to Scottish society, business, and culture. Our nation boasts a long history of printing, dating back to the 16th Century with the establishment of the first printing press.”

He added: “Today, the print industry continues to produce everything from newspapers, magazines, and books to packaging, signage, and promotional materials.

Print’s relevance is partly rooted in its tactile nature. Consumers engage with printed material differently than with digital content. Printed publications such as newspapers and magazines provide a sense of permanence and physical connection that digital platforms lack.”

Founded in 1997, Kennedy Smith has grown into a Scotland’s leading supplier of bespoke packaging solutions, specialising in solid board carton packaging. Its expertise has led it to become the supplier of choice for a number of businesses in the food, pharmaceutical, electronics and drinks sectors.

The company prides itself on its ability to adapt and innovate and is considered by many to be a trailblazer in the UK packaging industry, consistently investing substantial sums in new technology, most recently in a new Koenig & Bauer Rapida 106 complete with full inline colour control, PDF checking on every sheet and logistics system.