Former managing director of Muller Martini Australia Livio Barbagallo is getting closer to print following a move to plastic welding equipment maker Leister.

Barbagallo has the Swiss mailroom systems maker's Australian operation for ten years from March 2003, after a head office role as marketing manager.

He joined Muller Martini in 1996 after working for lift company Schindler and print finishing systems maker Hunkeler.

He returned to Switzerland after his term in Australia, with roles there for Stoppani and Siemens. Leister makes hot air plastic welding equipment, laser welding systems and sensor equipment in Kaegiswil, and was founded in 1949 by German Karl Leister.

"I'm now working closely with the packaging and mining industries, so two of my passions - printing and Australia - are very much present in my new role," he told GXpress.