First announced on 1 March, the two web offset press manufacturers – previously arch rivals – said they have come together to form a global market presence and offer a broad product range, technological excellence, long-term comprehensive customer support, and e-business in the web-fed printing market.
Effective from Friday (17 August), the combined company, which will operate under the brand name Manroland Goss Web Systems, said it “will work actively with all customers on a positive development of the web-fed printing business”.
Manroland Web Systems chief executive Alexander Wassermann will become chief executive of the new company, with its global headquarters in Augsburg, Germany and North American headquarters in Durham, New Hampshire.
Mohit Uberoi, previous chief executive of Goss International, will remain with the business as a board member and will assist the management team with business integration.
The current shareholders of Manroland Web Systems and Goss International, Possehl Group and American Industrial Partners (AIP) respectively, will both remain shareholders of the new company, supporting the established business-building strategy.
The Contiweb business, which offers drying and web-handling products, as well as Manroland’s web production business are not included in the transaction and will remain independent as AIP and Possehl portfolio companies, respectively.
Wassermann said: “Both Manroland Web Systems and Goss International were on a sustainable path to success. We will strengthen this path by increasing our global reach, continuing our innovative and focused R&D activities, and enhancing our market presence through targeted consolidation.
“Our customers will be able to choose from an even broader portfolio of products and services, supported by the industry-leading e-commerce platform Market-X.”
Manroland Goss Web Systems will concentrate on four main business areas. System Solutions will encompass highly-automated press and post-press equipment, including pre-owned offerings and press relocations, and Engineered Solutions will focus on mechanical, automation and closed-loop systems for all types of presses.
Service Solutions, meanwhile, will offer “best-in-class service” in parts, labour, tele-support and performance-based service agreements while E-Commerce Solutions is an electronic marketplace that will offer efficient ordering and logistics performance for all suppliers to the web offset industry.
The company, which will employ more than 1,000 staff, said it will leverage both firms’ successful structural and technological developments of recent years within new product development.
It also intends to develop a lean business structure in line with overall market trends to build a strong business platform for the future.
