Timsons stopped making the presses in 2014 in order to focus on digital models, but the strategy failed and the company was placed into voluntary liquidation in January 2015.
Kolbus subsequently stepped in to take over the Timsons T-Fold folder.
Timsons Engineering, which was not affected by Timsons’ failure, has been working with the German finishing specialist on the T-Fold project, and the duo have now extended their co-operation to bring the much-valued Timsons litho book presses back to the market.
The deal covers the mono T48 web press and ZMR two-colour press. Timsons Engineering will manufacture the print towers, and Kolbus will make the inking system and folders in Germany.
Stackers and reelstands will be bought in from third-party suppliers according to customer requirements.
“There’s always been a demand for the presses, the problem was the demand was too erratic. As a bigger business, we can withstand those fluctuations,” explained Kolbus UK managing director Robert Flather. “We know there are people who want to buy one.”
The presses will be Kolbus badged in future. It has not been decided if the Timsons name will continue on the product in some form.
“This is good for British engineering, and also good for books. The vast majority of mass market books are printed on Timsons presses. We’re increasing the longevity of high-volume, litho-printed books,” Flather added.
Timsons Engineering has its own foundry and manufactures high-precision parts for a variety of industries, including printing, aerospace, automotive and renewable energy. It has sales of around £3.5m and employs 48 staff.
Managing director Troy McCourt described the presses as “wonderful bits of kit”.
“We think this partnership with Kolbus is a really good thing. We’ve got the technical expertise and the technical drawings, and the marketplace is looking to reinvest now, so it was a logical next step.”
The Timsons presses are renowned for their longevity, and the worldwide installed base encompasses some 300 presses.
“We’re still supplying parts for machines that are 35 years old!” McCourt added.
Kolbus and its agencies will now sell the Timsons presses worldwide, apart from in the USA and Canada where sales will continue to be handled by Timsons Incorporated.
Kolbus is expected to show some new product development on the T-Fold at Drupa.
