Erik Strik, Founder and CEO

Frustrated by the intricacies of getting the LFP process right, founder and CEO Erik Strik was determined to use his software developer skills to solve one of wide-format’s biggest problems: achieving consistent outputs efficiently.

After many years and numerous software releases, Erik and his team have now developed a complex series of algorithms that can deliver advanced capabilities via a much simplified workflow. But it took decades of development to crack the code.

Solving the problem first started at Dunaway Systems - a software company Erik co-founded and built into a global business with 18 employees, serving 45 countries.

In 1999, Dunaway became Aurelon and Erik took on the role of VP technology. Later he became Director of R&D and spearheaded the launch of ProofMaster in 2001 and the landmark PrintFactory release in 2006. The success of the PrintFactory platform put Aurelon on the radar of Germany-based colour management software giant, GMG. The technology business bought Aureon in 2011 and Erik worked with GMG to introduce further enhancements to the platform, brought to market under the GMG ProductionSuite banner.

In 2015, however, Erik took the decision to lead a management buyback in order to accelerate his automated workflow vision. As CEO of Aurelon and its market facing PrintFactory brand, Erik is achieving his ambition to alleviate wide-format print of the complexities and cost implications of relying on systems that are simply no longer fit for purpose.

Marcus Wright, Chief Technical Officer

Coming from a creative environment, PrintFactory’s Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Marcus Wright, knows too well the importance of print quality outputs from a brand management perspective. As UK Director of IT for acclaimed advertising agency network, McCann-Erickson, Marcus was responsible for managing all IT services and developing and delivering the overall group IT strategy. Later he started his own digital asset management and workflow company. With a passion for making progress possible, he used his technology expertise and creative insight to specialise in high-end workflow software automation solutions for the graphics industry.

Before joining PrintFactory, Marcus worked for GMG Color GmbH, where he was responsible for developing and delivering the company’s cloud product strategy. Today, Marcus is responsible for managing the development and support of the PrintFactory software and cloud services - with an emphasis on defining the future direction and roadmap for all PrintFactory products.

Simon Landau, Head of Sales EMEA

Similar to Marcus, Simon Landau, PrintFactory’s Head of Sales EMEA has experienced first hand the frustrations of poor workflow management.

Simon Landau has been in the graphics arts industry for 30 years. His transition to print came when he made the move to a well-known London graphics supplies company. From there he joined a large format print distributor and later a Harlequin RIP developer and supplier, where he became an inkjet RIP colour specialist.

It was then he went to one of the UK’s largest inkjet resellers, where he focused on high-end colour management. Joining GMG Color UK was the natural next step, providing advanced colour management systems to the traditional photo retouch, agency and flexo, gravure and litho printing markets, as well as large format print companies. Simon joined PrintFactory’s holding company, Aurelon, when CEO Erik Strik made the decision to move forward as an independent brand to grow the potential for cloud-based platforms.

Excited by the proposition of championing LFP automation, Simon makes it his mission to evidence the tangible benefits of automated technologies for commercial printers stuck in a traditional workflow rut.

Ivan Khoo, Managing Director APAC

Ivan Khoo started his career as an advertising PR executive for Microsoft magazine, moving in 1998 to Printer Magazine Group, where he worked as an advertising sales executive on titles such as Asian Printer Magazine, Australia Printer, New Zealand Printer, Asian Newspaper Today and Asian Packaging. In 2001, Ivan was promoted to become Advertising Sales Manager and feature editor for Print Pack Publish Asia Magazine, owner of Asia Printer Magazine. His role was taking care of all the sales of the magazine and the group sales, covering monthly feature stories and magazine planning.

In August 2003, Ivan joined GMG Color GmbH as Sales and Marketing Manager SE & West Asia & ANZ, with responsibility for Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, India, Australia and New Zealand. His duties included setting up channel partners, sales development, marketing programs and training in color solutions sales. In August 2005, Ivan was posted to KL to set up GMG Malaysia, and in 2006 he set up GMG Australia’s channel base in ANZ. In 2012, he became Managing Director of GMG China Shanghai, managing the whole GMG operation in Asia.

In 2015 he joined Aurelon Asia Pacific as Managing Director.

Toby Burnett, Director (EMEA)

Toby has over 20 years experience of software sales and business management in the graphic arts and printing industries.

With a wealth of experience in channel management and product marketing, he is responsible for building our EMEA regions.