Komori to acquire MBO Group

Japanese press manufacturer Komori is acquiring the MBO Group, the well-known German company specialising in post-press equipment.

Carsten Wendler, managing director of Print & Pack, Australian distributor of Komori and MBO products, said the acquisition would make no impact on the ground, and it will be “business as usual”.

Komori says the move is in line with its strategy of developing of its print engineering service provider (PESP) business.

MBO Group was founded in 1965 to manufacture paper-folding machines and now has two plants in Germany, and facilities in Portugal as well. It operates in 60 countries including Australia and New Zealand through Print & Pack.

Sales in the last financial year were €51.7m. It was set to be sold to Heidelberg 18 months ago, but the deal was blocked by the German competion authorities.

Furthermore, MBO subsidiary Herzog+Heymann develops machinery that performs a complex folding process that handles thin paper and requires specialised technology. MBO has also launched collaborations with robot makers.

MBO operations do not overlap with Komori’s, and through the acquisition, Komori expects to be able to market products that will support its PESP business.

“The inclusion of the aforementioned operations into Komori’s business portfolio will help it introduce post-press solutions for commercial printing, a new field for the company,” the company said.

“When coupled with IoT-based cloud solutions, KP-Connect Komori is promoting on a global basis, the MBO Group’s products will also help provide customers with even more robust, seamless printing production systems that include post-press processing. Komori is also looking to develop new solutions through the combination of the MBO Group’s technologies and Komori’s DPS, offset printing presses and other key products.”

Komori’s acquisition of MBO is subject to regulatory approvals.