Koni Neuhofer is retiring before Christmas, ending a 40-year career in prepress sales and almost 50 years in printing.

Oceania business manager at Agfa Graphic Systems – a position he took up in 2004 – he has worked with a succession of printing plate manufacturers starting with Howson-Algraphy in October 1973. When DuPont acquired the company, Neuhofer moved with it, as he did again when the DuPont business was sold to Agfa.

His career in printing began with an apprenticeship in Germany in 1964.

“Finally the time has come to bid farewell as the journey in life takes another turn so it is time to take the next step,” he says in an email to friends. “It has been a fabulous journey along the way, working in a great industry that has always been good to me and will continue to be good for many people in the future.

“I have met some wonderful people along the way not only within the company but also from the printing industry in general and in particular our customers. The immense changes in the industry since I started are far too numerous to mention, but just to be part of that has been an incredible experience. It has been an honour to work with and for some very talented people who have shaped our industry.”

He retires from Agfa on December 20.