Web press giant manroland web systems will combine with US-owned Goss International. The owners of manroland, Possehl Group (Lübeck), and of Goss, American Industrial Partners, will own the combined company between them.
The merger is expected to be completed by the middle of this year, subject to regulatory approval. It will enable manroland and Goss, both manufacturers and service providers of web offset printing systems for newspapers, commercial products and packaging, to combine their geographic footprints and better support their customers, says Alexander Wasserman, CEO of manroland. “manroland is on the path for continued success. We want to continue to develop this path by creating synergies, fostering the further development of our R&D activities and strengthening our innovation focus. Our customers will be able to choose from a wider portfolio of products and services," he said.
Mohit Uberoi, CEO of Goss, added: “This combination will enable us to achieve extensive synergies that will help us optimally serve our customers into the future. The combination will strive to provide a best-in-class product offering and customer service.”
The deal does not include Contiweb, which specialises in advanced drying and web-handling products for printing. The company will separate from Goss and operate under the ownership of AIP in Boxmeer, Netherlands.
Bert Schoonderbeek, managing director Contiweb, said the separation would allow further growth of the company. "We will continue to build upon our successful relationship with both Goss and manroland and are looking forward to continuing the cooperation as a strong partner of the combined company as we pursue other diversification opportunities."
American Industral Partners bought Goss from Shanghai Electric Corporation in 2015, and the manufacturer has an office in Melbourne for sales, parts and service
According to Dennis Wickham,managing director, manroland Australasia, speaking from the company's HQ in Augsberg in Germany, it's a case of "business as usual" for the local company. "I think it's a good thing for the whole industry, and for the customers. I understand the whole range of manroland and Goss presses will continue to be made available,"he said
"There's a very positive atmosphere here and the workshops are busy with new presses. I think everyone is pleased with the outcome," he said.
He notes that it's unlikely there'll be any changes in the local situation until later in the year when then deal is done.
The Australian division of manroland underwent a changing of the guard in February last year, with Wickham replacing industry veteran Steve Dunwell as managing director and Andreas Schwoepfinger moving into the role of technical services director.
Two new manroland Rotoman 65 web presses were installed at Blue Star in Silverwater last year.