Zünd Australia is officially a year old as a company but, with recruiting good people, finding premises and sorting out the situation left behind by the collapse of former dealer Starleaton the official opening, attended by Oliver Zünd himself, took place in Melbourne on March 13th.
Dale Hawkins (2ndR) and Oliver Zünd (R) cut the ribbon watched by Zünd Australia staffers
Dale Hawkins opened procedings, saying: "Thank you all for joining us to celebrate this special occasion—your presence means a lot to us. This month marks the first anniversary of Zünd Australia. We’re still fairly young - one year old - but Zünd itself has been present in Australia for much longer. In fact, we have customers who have had their machines for over 20 years.
Dale Hawkins with the ceremonial cowbell presented by Zünd Switzerland
"In our first year, the Zünd Australia team, with the support of Zünd Switzerland, has already achieved so much. I want to take a moment to thank the Australian team - William, Edwin, and the rest of the team. These guys truly are the A-team when it comes to digital cutting, and it’s been an honour to work alongside such talented and experienced people.
"I also want to express my gratitude to some of our support partners. A big thanks to Mazars, a global partner of Zünd, handling our finance and HR here in Australia. Thanks to the team at ANZ Bank as well. We are also deeply grateful to the press and media for your continued support, especially through 2024, which was a challenging year for many. Your coverage of Zünd stories has been invaluable, and we hope you continue to seek us out.
" Most importantly, I’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our customers. We have some fantastic customers here, including major players with multiple cutting machines. You are our family, our friends, our partners, and our promoters, and we are so grateful for your trust and support.
"I’d now like to introduce someone very special - Oliver Zünd, the CEO and owner of Zünd Global. This is Oliver’s first time in 
Oliver Zünd addresses the guestsAustralia, and he has made the 22-hour journey from Switzerland to be here tonight. Oliver, thank you for your unwavering support and trust in us to establish and grow Zünd Australia.
Mr Zünd responded: "Thank you, Dale, for the kind introduction. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, valued customers, and distinguished guests. It is with great honour and excitement that I stand before you today as we celebrate a truly remarkable milestone- the official opening of Zünd Australia.
More than a simple expansion
" For decades, Zünd has been at the forefront of cutting-edge digital cutting technology, redefining efficiency, precision, and automation across industries such as graphics, packaging, textiles, and manufacturing. Today marks a significant step in bringing that expertise closer to the Australian market. The launch of Zünd Australia is more than just an expansion - it is a commitment. A commitment to local businesses, the Australian industry, and the future of smart manufacturing. We are here to empower businesses with state-of-the-art solutions, delivering world-class products, personalised service, local support, and industry-leading expertise.
Some of the guests, with G3-L2500 cutter in foreground"Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. Our technology is designed to optimise material usage, reduce waste, and maximise efficiency, helping businesses operate with both economic and environmental responsibility. With the strength of our local team and the trust of our valued customers, we look forward to shaping the future of digital cutting technology in Australia.
"And now, with great pride and anticipation, I officially declare Zünd Australia open!"
The 'cows have come home'
In true Swiss cultural fashion, Mr Zünd presented Dale and his team with a beautiful Swiss Cowbell. Cattle are a very important part of the Swiss tradition as they meander over alpine pastures and, although most cattle these days are electronically chipped and tracked, cowbells remain an important tradition and were once said to ward off evil spirits and keep households free from disease.
The ceremonial bell presented to Hawkins was on a leather strap with a brass plaque inscribed with:
"From the majestic peaks of Switzerland to the vibrant herd of down-under, here's to the journey ahead with Zund Australia towards future success and delivering unforgettable customer experiences! - Zünd Systemtechnik AG, March 2025."
The new showroom features some of Zünd’s most advanced cutting machines, including the G3 L-2500 and S3 models, fully equipped with all cutting tools for a wide range of applications. Guests included a broad section of the sign and graphics industry and also some from manufacturing requiring precision shape-cutting.
Zünd Australia is exhibiting at PacPrint 2025, Sydney from May 20th - 23rd, on stand C16 in the Dome area.
