It is with deepest regret that we confirm the death of Mark Suter on Friday, 22nd March. He was 72 years old.
Mark was the former Managing Director of Andrew & Suter Ltd, one of the last remaining UK manufacturers of converting equipment for the corrugated and solidboard industry. He joined the family business in his mid twenties in the capacity of sales, where he quickly flourished and learnt all aspects of the business, under the tutelage of his father and brother. He became a Director of the company in 1981 and was then appointed as Managing Director of the company, following the untimely death of his older brother, David, in 1998.
He was well respected in the corrugated and solidboard industry, with the company’s range of gluers becoming synonymous for their build quality, ease of use and reliability. Mark also travelled extensively to build relationships with other machinery companies from around the world, looking to take on exclusive agencies for the UK, Ireland and parts of Europe. For example, his work with International, Rite-size, Tanabe, Marumatsu and Wook Il, among others, helped position some of these overseas manufacturers as names to be trusted and respected; Andrew & Suter did such good work with these companies in the 1990s and early 2000s that some of these names are leading players in the industry to this day.
In addition to the machinery sales and engineering support, Mark was an active member of various trade associations, which he always saw as a way of ‘giving back’ to the industry at large. Under Mark’s leadership, the company was ever present as industry events such as IPEX, Pakex, Corrugated Paris, SuperCorrExpo and so many more around the world.
Mark and his wife, Kay, decided to sell the business in 2012; the company was sold to Autobox Machinery, (now Kolbus Autobox), who continue to sell the Andrew & Suter Nova and SuperNova gluers. With a growing number of grandchildren and the desire to spend more time with them, the idea of retirement appealed to the Suters. Their love of travel, field sports, sailing and looking to spend more time at their second home on the Isle of Wight meant that life was no less hectic than when running the business; yet Mark managed to stay in touch with many of his friends that he made in the global packaging industry.
For more information about funeral arrangements, please email the Suter family via [email protected]
