Durst Group, a manufacturer of digital printing and production technologies, will acquire the holding company of MPS Printing, the Netherlands-based specialist in flexographic printing systems for the label and flexible packaging industry, effective 1 January 2027. Following the transaction, the company will operate under the name MPS – A Durst Group Company.
The acquisition represents a further step in Durst’s long-term focus on the labels and flexible packaging market. The industry is undergoing change, with customers of all sizes seeking greater automation, more connected workflows and production environments that can handle a growing variety of applications, run lengths and business models, according to the company.
Digital printing is expected to play a growing role in this shift, though the future of label production will not rely on a single technology, the company said. Durst has built a position in digital printing, software and automation and, together with Omet, in hybrid production. MPS adds flexographic technology, engineering expertise and application know-how to the group. Bringing these capabilities together is intended to broaden the group’s technology platform, shorten development cycles and enable faster time-to-market for solutions connecting digital and flexographic printing with software, automation and finishing.
“Label production is becoming increasingly connected, automated and data-driven,” said Christoph Gamper, chief executive officer and co-owner of Durst Group. “Our customers need production environments that allow them to manage different applications, run lengths and business models with maximum efficiency and flexibility. Durst already has strong capabilities in digital printing, software and hybrid production. With MPS, we are adding further flexographic expertise, technology and engineering capabilities to the group. This will give us additional integration options and allow us to pursue complementary development paths in parallel. It means we can innovate faster, address a broader range of customer requirements and bring new solutions to market more quickly.”
MPS to continue operating within Durst Group
From 1 January 2027, MPS will operate as MPS – A Durst Group Company and will continue to develop, manufacture and market its existing portfolio of flexographic printing systems. The existing management team will remain in place, with Michiel Borst continuing to lead the company as managing director of MPS – A Durst Group Company, reporting within the Durst Group management structure.
“What changes is not who we are, but what we will be able to achieve,” said Michiel Borst, chief executive officer of MPS Printing. “MPS will retain its entrepreneurial approach, its customer focus and its commitment to flexographic innovation. At the same time, becoming part of the Durst Group gives us access to a broader technology platform, a global organization and the long-term perspective of a family-owned company. This creates new opportunities for our customers, our partners and our employees, while building on the strengths and culture that have made MPS successful.”
Continuity for customers and partners
MPS’s existing direct sales channels will remain in place across Europe. In the United States, Durst US will assume responsibility for sales and service of the MPS portfolio, providing customers with direct access to Durst’s established regional organization. MPS will also benefit from Durst’s international service and spare-parts infrastructure, aimed at strengthening local support and response capabilities for customers worldwide. Existing contracts and service commitments remain in place according to their terms, and continuity of service and support will remain a priority throughout the integration.
Durst’s partnership with Omet continues
Durst’s existing partnership with Omet remains in place and continues independently of the MPS transaction. Together, Durst and Omet develop, manufacture and market the KJet and XJet hybrid platforms, which the companies describe as an important part of Durst’s hybrid strategy. The cooperation with Omet has enabled Durst to establish end-to-end solutions combining flexographic printing, digital printing and finishing, according to the company. The addition of MPS is expected to give Durst further technology and integration options for different customer requirements, applications and market segments.
“Our partnership with Omet remains strategically important and continues,” Gamper said. “At the same time, the label market is highly diverse and there is no single production concept that meets every requirement. Our objective is not to duplicate solutions, but to give customers the right technology, level of automation and production concept for their individual requirements.”
Building a broader platform for the future of label production
The acquisition reflects Durst’s long-term strategy of connecting printing systems, software, workflow automation and production intelligence into more integrated production environments, according to the company. Durst said its aim is to build a broader and more scalable technology platform in which converters can select the combination of digital, hybrid and flexographic production suited to their individual applications. The transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.
