Introducing: Adam James
Our recently appointed Managing Director, Adam James, brings deep experience from the operator’s perspective as well as managing packaging businesses that will prove invaluable to our customers and partners.
With more than 25 years of industry experience to call upon, Adam James is perfectly positioned to help Bar Graphic Machinery (BGM) reach the next level.
Starting out on the shop floor and working his way up through technical and operational roles, then into management, his journey means that every decision he makes for our business and customers is grounded in what label printers and packaging converters need on the production floor.
“I’ve literally worked my way from the bottom to the top in labels and packaging, so I understand the reality of life on the shop floor as well as in the boardroom.”
Who is Adam James
Starting in a stores and dispatch role at Amberley Labels at the turn of the century, he moved onto the production floor and cut his printing teeth on a Mark Andy flexo press. Alongside the art of printing, his time at Amberley Labels exposed Adam to the role of finishing in label and packaging production.
“Back then, flexo printing was very different to what it is today and was very much a hands-on process,” says Adam. “This experience proved invaluable in laying the groundwork for my career over the next two decades, where technical innovation in printing has been rampant and changed the way printing businesses work and serve their customers.
“The same is true of finishing. The world of finishing is unrecognisable from 25 years ago, when customers were less demanding with their wants and the machinery was not as sophisticated.”
Over time, Adam moved into production control and production management, learning how to balance throughput, quality, and cost across an entire plant.
In 2009, Adam joined CS Labels as production manager and quickly became central to its operational growth. This was heavily focused on the development of digital flexible packaging that utilised technology that was, at the time, exclusive to CS Labels and its fledgling pouch business. He was also heavily involved in the printing and finishing of digital labels.
By 2015, he had risen to the role of Operations Director and in 2021 became joint Managing Director following the takeover of CS to Asteria Group.
Next steps
During his time at CS Labels, Adam guided the company through investment decisions, the adoption of new technologies, as well as the transition of ownership.
That type of experience made Adam the ideal choice to lead BGM into the future following its acquisition by Duplo International.
“The experiences I have gained over the last quarter of a century give me a unique perspective on market requirements that is founded in the reality of being an operator and gives me great insight into what printers and converters require.
“As important are the people that make a business. The team here at BGM are excellent, producing very well engineered machines over the years under the leadership of Bill and Annemarie [Rhodes, the founders of BGM].”
When Adam’s real-world experience and operational mindset are combined with a team renowned for building functional and high-quality machinery, BGM is set-up for strong growth in the future.
For printers and converters, that translates to machinery that is tailored to their needs, customers’ requirements, and growth aspirations.
“If we can make the operator’s day-to-day life easier, you get more throughput, more product out the door, faster and more consistently, so you can sell more.
“We don’t just say, ‘Here’s a machine, it does what it does’; we listen, design and create solutions that work for labels and packaging businesses.”
This will include updates to existing products and new machinery that prioritises efficiency and cost-effective finishing.
“It’s true that labels and packaging has become more sophisticated and customer demands have increased, at the same time as short runs and fast changeovers have become the norm, and margins have got tighter.
“The reality is that much as 80% of labels produced today still only require varnish or laminating and die-cutting. By providing high-quality machinery that supports the reality of label manufacturing, we are supporting the overall prosperity of the industry through efficient processes that maximise throughput and value creation through sales.”
He continues: “With my 25 years as a user and operator, plus the fantastic engineering team at BGM, we can have a really positive influence on the industry and still be disruptive with bespoke solutions when and where customers need them.”
Looking ahead, Adam is clear about his goal: to help fill BGM’s factory with orders by giving converters equipment that is easier to run, quicker to set up, and better matched to their commercial realities.
“For our customers, that means they are partnering with a leadership team that has been in your shoes, understands the pressures on your operators and P&L, and is committed to building finishing equipment that genuinely moves the needle in favour of your business.”