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After 35 years in the industry, Bob Moore has learned several irrefutable truths. First, a provider is only as good as the people behind it, which includes employees, partners and suppliers. Second, no entity can last 40 years without adapting to changing technologies and business conditions. That entails keeping an open line of communication with customers to develop product and program solutions that will drive client profitability and enhance their ability to service end users.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/KATUN-12.jpg\")
Bob Moore, president and CEO, Katun Corp.<\/p><\/div>\n
Moore is president and CEO of Minneapolis-based Katun Corp., a leading manufacturer and distributor of OEM-compatible imaging supplies and parts for the office technology dealership sector. And he\u2019s proud of the path Katun has forged in its 40 years of operation as a global provider. The company boasts more than 11,000 customers in 120 countries around the world, with approximately 3,700 SKUs in its product catalog. Katun has seven global points in its distribution network, with facilities and satellite offices across North and South America and Europe. Of its 350-employee roster, 150 are focused on sales and customer service, dedicated to delivering the best products and support to its clients.![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/HQ-building.jpg\")
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It\u2019s safe to say that Moore has worked his way up the vocational ladder, beginning his industry career as a service technician at a large office equipment dealer in 1984, which provided a fast education and instilled a customer perspective. He joined Katun in 1988, working first in the lab and then product development, which he would eventually go on to manage. His leadership path escalated as general manager for Katun\u2019s international business in Europe, followed by added responsibilities for Asia Pacific and Latin America. He became president and CEO in 2016.<\/p>\n
One-Stop Experience<\/strong><\/p>\n With Katun\u2019s foundation built on product quality and a mission of providing true value to its customers, a key point of differentiation for Katun is what Moore feels is an unsurpassed portfolio of products. In addressing the needs for copiers or printers, toners or parts, or machines or accessories, Katun provides a true one-stop shopping experience.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not just selling one part or part number at a time. We work with customers to drive their profitability to the bottom line,\u201d Moore emphasized. \u201cAt the core level, we\u2019re really selling profitability, and the best way to attain that is through having the portfolio and programs that offer it.\u201d<\/p>\n It truly takes a team to enable a company such as Katun to thrive for 40 years. Moore points out that Katun is highly mobile, with locations that are close to clients, backed by on-site sales representation and technical support that helps set Katun apart from competitors. Along with a core of vendors that are strategically located globally, Katun boasts a team of engineers and industry experts that help to create that unmatched portfolio of high-quality products.<\/p>\n Speaking of mobility, Katun\u2019s development teams spend a great deal of time on the road to ensure the company\u2019s products are designed to produce to Katun\u2019s specifications and standards. \u201cCustomers buy from Katun because we have the best combination of products that are high quality for the market and we provide the best support\u2014all the while adapting to the forces that are driving the industry,\u201d Moore noted. \u201cMoving forward, we have to be able to adapt to those forces and continue to drive value for our customers.\u201d<\/p>\n The company has a number of fun promotions lined up in conjunction with its 40th anniversary, most of which will be disseminated through social media, along with promotional items to trumpet the milestone. Katun is also bolstering its visibility at industry events, including BTA shows, IBPI meetings and users group gatherings throughout 2019.<\/p>\n IP Friendly<\/strong><\/p>\n Respect is a key element for both Moore and Katun. Quality and reliability are the twin fortes and the backbone of what the company was founded upon, but where the respect truly takes hold is Katun\u2019s quest to ensure that all of its products are mindful of the OEM\u2019s intellectual property. In the world of compatible parts and supplies, having that IP assurance provides confidence and peace of mind. \u201cAll of our products are IP friendly wherever they\u2019re sold around the world,\u201d Moore said. \u201cWe have to take our design efforts and work on designing around those protections that the OEMs have.\u201d<\/p>\n This is where the Katun personnel truly rise to the challenge. \u201cBehind the scenes, we have a really amazing team of product specialists, engineers, lab folks and legal department to really deliver that quality and reliability promise we make to our customers,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Strategic Partner<\/strong><\/p>\n Katun is also reaping the benefits of having a new parent company. In late 2017, General Plastic Industrial (GPI) of Taiwan acquired Katun from Monomoy Capital Partners. While Katun had done business with GPI for more than a decade, the pairing essentially brings manufacturing capabilities back into play. Katun previously had manufacturing assets that were divested under the private equity ownership.<\/p>\n \u201cThe combination of Katun and GPI is really powerful. We have an enhanced working capital structure tailored toward additional investments in the business,\u201d Moore said. \u201cWe also have an optimized supply chain, which allows us to deliver better service for our customers. With GPI being an experienced player in our industry, we have a much better long-term view of the industry. Just one year into the deal, I can say that Katun is a much stronger company and a more strategic player in the industry. It\u2019s going to continue well into the future as a result of this change and ultimately benefit our customers.\u201d<\/p>\n Katun is concentrating on increasing its global reach while expanding the number of products in its portfolio. Moore noted the company is developing some exciting new products toward that end. Developing strategic customer relationships enables Katun to demonstrate long-term value and confidence in being able to address an evolving market. The independent dealer channel, he says, is going to be challenged to ensure they continue to push technology forward to optimize their ability to reduce print costs.<\/p>\n The landscape is changing, with independent dealers joining the likes of industry consolidators such as Visual Edge Technology, Flex Technology Group and Marco. This increases their buying power and provides efficiencies not available to independent dealers. Now, with Staples foray into the channel courtesy of its pending acquisition of DEX Imaging, it adds another wrinkle to the landscape, with a potential disruptive impact. In the same vein, Katun\u2019s pairing with GPI has the company uniquely positioned to offer value to a company like Staples in a meaningful way that others cannot provide.<\/p>\n Katun aims to maintain pace with technology, in part, by enhancing the internal efficiencies that translate directly to customer value. \u201cA good example is warehousing and logistics,\u201d Moore noted. \u201cWe\u2019re currently putting new technology into our primary distribution sites that is going to help guarantee order and shipping accuracy. This technology should assist in our ability to guarantee time-sensitive delivery to an end-user location. This is going to enhance, end to end, our ability to service customers as they migrate more towards delivered product to the end user\u2019s site.\u201d<\/p>\n Building Blocks<\/strong><\/p>\n Maintaining customer focus remains the core value for Katun, which emanates from its employee base and extends through the company\u2019s strategic vendors and GPI relationship. Moore hopes to build upon that focus though enhanced time-to-market with new products that can help clients reach their objectives. The partnership with GPI will certainly enable the company to fulfill that mission, and Moore wouldn\u2019t rule out the possibility of expanding beyond consumable products.<\/p>\n In the final analysis, the key for Katun is to provide that end-to-end value proposition that has enabled it thrive for the past 40 years, and having the foresight that will carry the company for the next 40.<\/p>\n \u201cLong term, it\u2019s all about Katun having a rigorous pursuit to the best products, highest quality and the best value,\u201d he said. \u201cWhen you consider what we do from start to finish, we identify, design, manufacture, sell and distribute. Those things are all wrapped in a package of service and support that improves our dealers\u2019 and distributors\u2019 profitability. The better we\u2019re able to do that, the more we\u2019ll continue our long-term success in the industry.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" After 35 years in the industry, Bob Moore has learned several irrefutable truths. First, a provider is only as good as the people behind it, which includes employees, partners and suppliers. Second, no entity can last 40 years without adapting to changing technologies and business conditions. That entails keeping an open line of communication with customers to develop product and program solutions that will drive client profitability and enhance their ability to service end users. Moore is president and CEO of Minneapolis-based Katun Corp., a leading manufacturer and distributor of OEM-compatible imaging supplies and parts for the office technology dealership sector. And he\u2019s proud of the path Katun has forged in its 40 years of operation as a global provider. The company boasts more than 11,000 customers in 120 countries around the world, with approximately 3,700 SKUs in its product catalog. Katun has seven global points in its distribution network, with facilities and satellite offices across North and South America and Europe. Of its 350-employee roster, 150 are focused on sales and customer service, dedicated to delivering the best products and support to its clients. It\u2019s safe to say that Moore has worked his way up the vocational ladder, beginning his industry career as a service technician at a large office equipment dealer in 1984, which provided a fast education and instilled a customer perspective. He joined Katun in 1988, working first in the lab and then product development, which he would eventually go on to manage. His leadership path escalated as general manager for Katun\u2019s international business in Europe, followed by added responsibilities for Asia Pacific and Latin America. He became president and CEO in 2016. One-Stop Experience With Katun\u2019s foundation built on product quality and a mission of providing true value to its customers, a key point of differentiation for Katun is what Moore feels is an unsurpassed portfolio of products. In addressing the needs for copiers or printers, toners or parts, or machines or accessories, Katun provides a true one-stop shopping experience. \u201cWe\u2019re not just selling one part or part number at a time. We work with customers to drive their profitability to the bottom line,\u201d Moore emphasized. \u201cAt the core level, we\u2019re really selling profitability, and the best way to attain that is through having the portfolio and programs that offer it.\u201d It truly takes a team to enable a company such as Katun to thrive for 40 years. Moore points out that Katun is highly mobile, with locations that are close to clients, backed by on-site sales representation and technical support that helps set Katun apart from competitors. Along with a core of vendors that are strategically located globally, Katun boasts a team of engineers and industry experts that help to create that unmatched portfolio of high-quality products. Speaking of mobility, Katun\u2019s development teams spend a great deal of time on the road to ensure the company\u2019s products are designed to produce to Katun\u2019s specifications and standards. \u201cCustomers buy from Katun because we have the best combination of products that are high quality for the market and we provide the best support\u2014all the while adapting to the forces that are driving the industry,\u201d Moore noted. \u201cMoving forward, we have to be able to adapt to those forces and continue to drive value for our customers.\u201d The company has a number of fun promotions lined up in conjunction with its 40th anniversary, most of which will be disseminated through social media, along with promotional items to trumpet the milestone. Katun is also bolstering its visibility at industry events, including BTA shows, IBPI meetings and users group gatherings throughout 2019. IP Friendly Respect is a key element for both Moore and Katun. Quality and reliability are the twin fortes and the backbone of what the company was founded upon, but where the respect truly takes hold is Katun\u2019s quest to ensure that all of its products are mindful of the OEM\u2019s intellectual property. In the world of compatible parts and supplies, having that IP assurance provides confidence and peace of mind. \u201cAll of our products are IP friendly wherever they\u2019re sold around the world,\u201d Moore said. \u201cWe have to take our design efforts and work on designing around those protections that the OEMs have.\u201d This is where the Katun personnel truly rise to the challenge. \u201cBehind the scenes, we have a really amazing team of product specialists, engineers, lab folks and legal department to really deliver that quality and reliability promise we make to our customers,\u201d he said. Strategic Partner Katun is also reaping the benefits of having a new parent company. In late 2017, General Plastic Industrial (GPI) of Taiwan acquired Katun from Monomoy Capital Partners. While Katun had done business with GPI for more than a decade, the pairing essentially brings manufacturing capabilities back into play. Katun previously had manufacturing assets that were divested under the private equity ownership. \u201cThe combination of Katun and GPI is really powerful. We have an enhanced working capital structure tailored toward additional investments in the business,\u201d Moore said. \u201cWe also have an optimized supply chain, which allows us to deliver better service for our customers. With GPI being an experienced player in our industry, we have a much better long-term view of the industry. Just one year into the deal, I can say that Katun is a much stronger company and a more strategic player in the industry. It\u2019s going to continue well into the future as a result of this change and ultimately benefit our customers.\u201d Katun is concentrating on increasing its global reach while expanding the number of products in its portfolio. Moore noted the company is developing some exciting new products toward that end. Developing strategic customer relationships enables Katun to demonstrate long-term value and confidence in being able to address an evolving market. The independent dealer channel, he says, is going to be challenged to ensure they continue to push technology forward to optimize their ability to reduce print costs. The landscape is changing, with […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":166,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1640],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33633"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/166"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33633"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33633\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33638,"href":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33633\/revisions\/33638"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33633"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33633"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33633"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/katun-10332.jpg\")
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