On 1 June Ralf Gumbel (45) succeeded Jens Junker (47) as managing director of Stuttgart-based KBA-MetalPrint, a subsidiary of Koenig & Bauer AG in Würzburg and the global market leader in metal-decorating presses. 
The company also manufactures industrial air-purification systems and heat accumulators for solar thermal plants. Following a slump in turnover triggered by the economic crisis, KBA-MetalPrint has rebounded in recent months and will post a substantial increase in sales and earnings in the current business year. 
A qualified engineer with extensive experience in press technology, business administration and management practices, Ralf Gumbel initially trained and worked as an offset printer before taking a degree in print production technology at Wuppertal University. He also received an award from the Dr. Hubert H.A. Sternberg Foundation. Ralf Gumbel was subsequently head of an experimental printing plant and applications technology at K+E Druckfarben in Stuttgart for several years. After holding the office of managing director at Colordruck Leimen, also for a number of years, he transferred to Heidelberger Druckmaschinen, where as head of special presses and project manager for large-format presses for over six years he was instrumental in developing a new generation of LF presses. Following a two-year stint as managing director of W. Kohlhammer Druckerei in Stuttgart he sought fresh challenges at KBA’s globally successful specialist for metal-decorating press, KBA-MetalPrint. 
After 14 years of service at KBA Jens Junker will be taking up a managerial position outside the printing industry. A widely respected member of KBA’s executive, Mr Junker has held a number of positions at the world’s second-biggest press manufacturer. Prior to heading up KBA-MetalPrint in August 2010 he was managing director of KBA-Grafitec in Dobruška (Czech Republic), where he oversaw the company’s restructuring and integration following its acquisition by KBA, and the joint development of small-format Rapidas with engineers at KBA’s sheetfed offset operation in Radebeul.