1950
With a firm grip on the Lebanese printing market Youssef Kara & Fils opens its first subsidiary in neighboring Syria in 1960.
By 1965, the company had grown to 15 staff members, and had expanded into a full floor of the L’Azarieh Building.
'60
In 1967, Youssef Kara & Fils signs a Sales Agreement with Roland Offset, Nicolas El Kara secures a major achievement in the short history of the firm. With the introduction of Offset Printing in the region, YKF gains a reputation as a technological innovator and leader in the industry.
'67
Antoine Youssef Kara begins to aggressively develop the business in the Gulf market, diligently building personal relationships with customers.
His contagious passion, enthusiasm and service cultural earns him the admiration of his clients.
'68
2010
After many years groomed under the guidance of Nicolas and Antoine Youssef El Kara, Ihsan El Kara becomes a partner in the firm in 1971.
'71
2000
1990
1980
1970
With the introduction of electronic controllers and computers to the printing operation, Jack Yaghdjian was brought in 1972 as YKF’s lead technical support engineer, overseeing the installation, maintenance of a growing number of photo typesetting devices and the establishment of a service department within Youssef Kara & Fils.
'72
At the start of the civil war Youssef Kara & Fils’ headquarter in central Beirut is hit by incendiary rockets dealing a devastating blow to a company still mourning the loss of one of its founders. Youssef Kara & Fils relocates its offices to Tabaris close to downtown Beirut.
'75
Trans Orient Modern Machinery (TOMM) is registered in Saudi Arabia as the first subsidiary outside the Levant region in Riyadh. The Jeddah and Dammam open soon after.
'76
YKF Dubai is registered in Dubai the commercial capital of the United Arab Emirates.
'77
Seeking greater proximity to suppliers, and realizing that the conflict in Lebanon was showing no sign of waning, Ihsan El Kara registers an office in Frankfurt, Germany in 1978.
'78
Tabaris would soon be infamously known as the “Green Line” separating the conflicting areas of Beirut. YKF continues serving customers on both sides of the Line, with employees routinely risking their lives in the course of business.
'79
Alghanim & Kara, Youssef Kara & Fils Kuwait branch is established in Kuwait in partnership with Mr. Dirar Youssef Ahmad Alghanim.
'81
Drupa 1982, despite the backdrop of a conflict tearing its home country apart Youssef Kara & Fils welcomes all customers from the region alongside its partners in Duesseldorf, Germany.
'82
The Middle East’s first regional printing exhibition is organized in Dubai with the participation of YKF as a key player in the region’s graphic industry.
'85
Another Drupa '86 another year, another successful event to epitomize Youssef Kara & Fils as a leading distributor of offset press in the Middle East region.
'86
Trading in paper had proven to be a successful commercial venture, but the blaze from a nearby military depot engulfs YKF's warehouse in Beirut and with it the desire to become a player in the region's paper industry.
'89
'90
The company YKF is renamed Dynagraph.
'98
In 1999, Antoine El Kara, representing the third generation, joins Dynagraph, perpetuating the family's legacy and its leadership and close association with the print industry.
'99
The MAN TTC (Technology Transfer Center), the first-of-its-kind regional training centre is inaugurated in partnership with Manroland to promote printing in the Middle East region.
'00
The Manroland TTC training center shows initial signs of success, with 56 print operators & maintenance applicants enrolled between the year 2000 and 2001.
'01
Dynagraph participates in the 7th Gulf Print exhibition in Dubai. Dynagraph demonstrates automation, integration and networking solutions for the printing industry. Dynagraph and Manroland sign an agreement for the establishment of the Manroland web service hub in Dubai, with the objective of servicing all existing Newspaper & Commercial webfed presses in the Middle East region and beyond.
'05
Dynagraph inaugurates its Headquarter in Beirut as it anticipates a radical move of the country away from decades of civil war.
'06
The subprime lending crisis of 2008 spills over from the United States into the global financial system. The Middle East feels the impact with the printing & publishing industry bearing the brunt of the downturn. The consumable strategy pre-emptively adopted years before proved to be a wise decision, playing a large role in the company’s ability to weather a particularly difficult period.
'08
Dynagraph seeks stronger ties with consumable vendors to foment its leadership as a supplier of Printmedia products and is officially appointed as the Gulf region’s distributor of Flint Group, a leading manufacturer of newspaper & commercial offset printing inks.
'10
Signing of a reseller agreement with HP for the supply of large format printers aimed at the Signage & Graphic industry.
'11
1960
In the 1950s a time of political uncertainty and regional turmoil, Beirut establishes itself as the center of Arab publishing and printing.
In 1952, Youssef Kara & Fils registered to take advantage of a growing demand for modern offset printing
'50
During the Drupa of 1990, YKF Introduces the ROLAND 700, medium format offset press, with a revolutionary digitalized control concept, a higher print quality standard setting a new benchmark for the printing industry.
Drupa 2012 follows an eventful year with manroland reaching a new financial start after filling for bankruptcy. The year is equally marked by a drop in demand for print and the outbreak of the civil war in Syria.
'12
In 2017, Dynagraph is appointed as the new EFI print equipment dealer. As part of the effort to continue delivering the best to the customers, EFI has recently made some changes in the channels in the Middle East.
'17
In 2018, Dynagraph inaugurates the OptiDesign Decoration Center.
'18
In 2019, Dynagraph inaugurates the 3D Additive Manufacturing Technology Transfer Center.
'19
In 2018, Dynagraph inaugurates its showroom in Kuwait to demonstrate a number of digital printing production systems from Canon as well as offline digital finishing solutions.
'18
In 2020, under the terms of the agreement, Dynagraph will distribute the complete ESKO range of finishing, flexo and software solutions in the Middle East region.