Miller Zell Relies on Durst for Innovation, Partnership, and Performance

In the wide-format retail graphics space, where speed, consistency, and reliability are non-negotiable, equipment choice can define a producer’s success, as well as its path ahead. Few companies illustrate this better than Miller Zell, a major player in the retail graphics space.

Speaking to the value of Durst’s equipment, and its partnership with Miller Zell, is Leslee Barker, director of graphics center operations, who says that in her more than two decades at the company, she has overseen an ambitious and carefully planned evolution of digital print production in the retail graphics space, using Durst technology.

“I’ve been with Miller Zell for 21 years,” Barker says. “And I’ve seen us grow and adapt over time, and digital printing has been a huge part of that evolution.”

Quality-Critical Signage Production

Miller Zell, headquartered in Atlanta, serves some of the most recognizable names in retail, including big box retailers, pharmacy brands, and financial institutions. The applications the company produces include various rigid sheets/materials, roll media, styrene-faced foam sheets of multiple thickness, dimensional letters, and strong production quality is must, non-negotiable.

Miller Zell's Atlanta Headquarters

“It’s often functional signage, but quality is definitely at our forefront,” Barker explains. “We’re our own worst critic. There’s probably a lot of stuff that other companies would let go that we don’t.” Color consistency, she adds, is especially critical. “You walk into some stores, and you can see a variety of brand colors as you go through. We don't let that happen with any of the stores that we service. Our clients trust us with their brand.”

The company’s decision to invest – and continue to invest – with Durst, helps Miller Zell, reach its quality goals.

Building, Maintaining a Partnership

Miller Zell’s first Durst installation came in 2018, a moment Barker remembers ‘fondly.’

“I got put into this role as an interim position in 2018, and one of my first orders of business was that the press was coming in,” she recalls. “I didn’t know anything about press installation at that point in my career, so it was trial by fire.”

That first Durst machine – a Rho 1312 with full automation – set the stage for what would become a steady, deliberate expansion founded on quality and driven by the need for greater capacity. Over the years, Miller Zell added multiple Durst hybrid presses and two five meter roll-to-roll machines and, most recently, two P5 350 D4 presses. A high-production P5 SMP (super multi-pass) system is next system to be installed.

“They are still cranking away on the production floor,” Barker says demonstrating the reliability and longevity of the printers. “That’s a big thing for us.”

Growth Bolstered by Evolving Technology

Asked why Miller Zell continues to return to Durst again and again, Barker speaks from experience.

“They’re always innovating. They’re not really comfortable with the status quo,” she says. “From 2018 on, there’s been new machines constantly: New upgrades, faster machines, new capabilities. I honestly don’t know when they’re ever going to slow down.”

For Miller Zell, that innovation has translated directly into gains in throughput and reductions in downtime. “These machines have less downtime than other manufacturers [machines] we’ve had,” Barker shares. “There’s a lot less ink waste and a lot less purging. And that alone makes a huge difference.”

Even operator sentiment shifted over time. At first, Barker recounts, equipment operators “had their allegiances” to the equipment they were using. “But as more Durst machines came in, you could see those allegiances fall. People would say, ‘Well, that Durst over there does this better.’”

Not Just a Vendor, But a Partner

For Barker, the quality and reliability of the technology alone – that which exists inside the machine – isn’t all she seeks. Partnership, she says, matters just as much.

“They’re always there when we need them,” she says. “Sales, service techs, software reps: They’re all super responsive. If they can’t fix it right away, they tell you the timeline. They try to understand your problem instead of just saying, ‘That’s not how it’s designed to work.’”

For almost 10 years, Durst has been more than a vendor to Miller Zell; they've been a supportive partner and a helpful resource for Miller Zell's continued growth.

And Miller Zell’s partnership with Durst extends beyond equipment and into the company’s software offering as well. The company currently uses Durst Workflow Plus for layout and RIP functionality and Lift as its MIS and scheduling platform.

“Workflow Plus takes a good chunk out of prepress and helps increase throughput and minimize mistakes,” Barker explains. “Lift is still growing, but [Durst is] very reactive.” She says the company takes time to help them maximize their Lift investment.

Looking Ahead

And what would she say if a colleague were to ask her about her Durst experience? “I’d tell them about the response time, the partnership, and the machines,” Barker says. “The reliability, the lower waste, the happier operators.”

For Miller Zell, the decision to continue investing in Durst isn’t just about equipment. It’s about shared goals, constant innovation, and a partnership that, like the equipment, is built to last.