Tom Bertke appointed to drive Xaar Versatex sales growth in North America

EPS, part of Xaar Group, has appointed Tom Bertke as Sales Manager for the Xaar Versatex Printbar in the North American market.

With more than 30 years in capital equipment sales, including 25 years specialising in inkjet technology, Tom brings a depth of experience across the packaging, labelling and industrial print sectors. His appointment supports the continued growth of EPS, reinforcing its commitment to delivering advanced digital print solutions and hands-on technical support to converters and OEMs throughout the region.

“The Xaar Versatex is perfectly positioned to meet the growing demand for short-run, high-impact digital embellishment in the North American market,” said Tom Bertke. “I’m proud to be joining EPS at such an exciting time, and I look forward to helping customers discover the full potential of this powerful technology.”

Already a proven leader for OEMs and distributors in Europe, the Xaar Versatex printbar is now available to North American customers through EPS. The system delivers high-speed, high-opacity digital print for applications including varnish, tactile embellishments, security effects and variable data. Driven by Xaar Nitrox printheads and Xaar High Laydown and TF Technology, the Xaar Versatex enables the precise and reliable deposition of UV varnishes and coatings, with market-leading thickness and visual impact. The Xaar Versatex’s ability to digitally print the highest opacity white inks, makes it the ideal replacement for screen and flexo printed white on clear and dark substrates.

Designed for integration onto existing analogue and hybrid presses, the Xaar Versatex combines digital flexibility with production-grade performance. Its compact footprint and modular design make it ideal for both new installations and retrofits, helping converters expand their print capabilities without disrupting existing workflows. Each system includes a Versatex printbar, controller, layout software and a custom-engineered mount tailored to the customer’s application.

With sustainability in mind, the Xaar Versatex Printbar also offers faster setup times and higher utilisation than screen printing, enabling quicker turnaround on short runs. Its ability to jet higher volumes and viscosities streamlines production by reducing passes, boosting print speeds and lowering energy use and costs.

Tom’s career spans senior roles at Domino, EFI, Jetrion, SPG Prints and Durst, where he played a central role in delivering digital UV inkjet solutions to the label and packaging markets. He has also held leadership positions as Director of Sales in wide-format printing at Konica Minolta and Ricoh, and most recently led the sales team at Hitachi’s Industrial Marking and Coding division in the US.

“We’re delighted to be welcoming Tom to the team,” said Chris Ellis, President at EPS. “His unique insight into UV printbar integration, combined with his long-standing familiarity with Xaar’s printhead technology, makes him the perfect person to help converters unlock new digital capabilities and drive greater value from their existing production lines.”