Kongsberg now under new owners
Digital cutting table developer, Kongsberg, is now a stand-alone entity, with its sale from Esko to a private equity group complete.
Its customers in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands will now deal directly with Kongsberg Oceania manager, Scott Barry. The local team will provide all sales, service, consumables and spare parts, which will continue as usual.
The company is now known as Kongsberg Precision Cutting Systems (Kongsberg PCS). The transformation follows the acquisition of the business by OpenGate Capital, and marks a new chapter for Kongsberg PCS, a brand with a heritage spanning more than half a century.
The head office in Belgium, manufacturing base in the Czech Republic, and the R+D centre in Norway are all part of the deal.
Stuart Fox, president of Kongsberg PCS said, “Following the acquisition by OpenGate Capital, we will now focus on our future, and the next generation innovation and growth.”
Founded in Norway in 1965, Kongsberg was purchased by Esko (then Barco) in 1998. In December Esko agreed the sale of Kongsberg to private equity firm OpenGate Capital.
“This is an opportunity for the Kongsberg team to realise its ambitions, and to explore new markets,” added Fox. “We will be developing strategic initiatives to further innovate our digital finishing hardware and software solutions, as well as growing the Kongsberg brand beyond the packaging industry.
“While we are excited about the future, we are also committed to ensuring we honour our heritage. We have a team of 400 people, many of whom have been a part of the Kongsberg family for more than 30 years,” said Fox. “The Kongsberg values that are important to our customers – the strength, the performance, the longevity of the machine – will endure.
“Sales, service, consumables and spare parts will all continue as usual,” added Fox. “Customers will receive the same level of service during the transition and they can look forward to business as usual throughout 2021.
“We will continue investing in our table technology, and in the coming months we will be showcasing the latest developments with our automation solutions.”
Kongsberg customers in ANZ can contact the local service and support operation on +61 (3) 9544 1117 or by emailing support.oce@kongsbergsystems.com.
Stuart Fox told Print21, “Our customers will continue to receive the same level of service from our team and they can expect business as usual throughout 2021. They can be reassured they will recognise not just many faces but also the quality of service they receive, and that they will continue to receive the same professional and passionate assistance from our dedicated team at Kongsberg Precision Cutting Systems.”