A strong presence was established in Europe with the creation of Hybrid Software NV, the new European headquarters in Kortrijk, Belgium, and Hybrid Software GmbH in Freiburg, Southern Germany, in June of 2011. The first six months in operation have been a resounding success for the two new companies, with employee numbers already at 11 and sales outstripping all initial expectations.
During this period Hybrid Software NV won a total of eight orders from printers in Europe, Latin America and the Middle East, the first Hybrid Software sales into these areas. The company's worldwide distributor network also grew significantly, with new appointments made in Australia, Hong Kong, Europe, Latin America and North America. The company's office in India now employs four people.
Hybrid Software, founded by USA CEO Mike Rottenborn, celebrated its fifth anniversary with a staggering increase in turnover in North America of more than 50 per cent compared to 2010, while in December the company achieved its highest ever level of sales in a single month, winning orders for around $500,000. Employee numbers in North America were also increased during this period to 17. During 2011 the company released five major new products covering the full scope of OLM, from customer orders through to production and delivery.
"By bringing together some of the most knowledgeable and out-of-the-box thinkers in software development and combining their skills with a management team that is highly experienced in the graphic arts industry, we've been able to create some extremely exciting innovations," says Mike Rottenborn.
"No-one has approached the integration of existing hardware, software and workflows - online ordering, production, MIS, financial systems etc - in the way that Hybrid Software has. By treating integration as a product printers have the opportunity to benefit from low cost of ownership in this area for the first time. From the reactions we've had so far we are anticipating a very busy Drupa!"
Hybrid Software was formed in 2007 as Hybrid Integration in Pennsylvania, North America. During 2011 the company created Hybrid Software NV in Kortrijk, Belgium, responsible for Europe, Eastern Europe and Latin America, and Hybrid Software GmbH in Freiburg, Southern Germany, responsible for the DACH area. At this point the USA operation changed its name to Hybrid Software. There are offices in India and distributors throughout many countries. Its Order Lifecycle Management concept treats integration as a product, turning on its head conventional thinking about how to integrate hardware, software and workflows. Hybrid's OLM software is designed for use in all areas of print, from commercial offset and digital to packaging, labels, inkjet and the screen/sign markets.