Tensor primarily targets small and medium size newspapers with its T1400 and T400BE printing towers, as well as H50 folders.

Sales vice president and COO Mike Pavone told PrintWeek that the market had been a slow in the US over the last couple of years but that the company had achieved overall success with its single-width.

He said: "A lot of newspapers, instead of going with double-width, are opting for single width because they can use it to produce commercial work during the day that can subsidize the paper they produce in the evening."

Pavone added that much of that commercial work was local auto or real estate magazines as well as some inserts. "Even some the bigger newspapers are looking to print on single-width," he said.

Announcing the deal, Manroland Web Systems sales vice president Ron Sams said: "As the consolidation of newspapers and commercial printing continues, Tensor’s product line for the single-width web market fills a void for cost-effective solutions that meet the market’s needs.

"We are excited to have the opportunity to represent Tensor in our region, because it gives us another product line to respond to the needs of the North American print market."

Manroland financial troubles are well known, but Pavone expressed confidence in the newly reborn Manroland Web Systems. "A lot of manufacturers have had some difficulties; it’s been a tough two and half years. They went through some changes and they’ve been split into two companies and we’re dealing with the web systems company that’s under new ownership."

Pavone also said that he wasn’t concerned that Manroland Web Systems might put sales of their own single-width presses ahead of Tensor. "They have a single-width but it’s more of a commercial type," he explained. "They do not have a press that fits in our niche of the market."