Manroland Web Systems (Augsburg, Germany) and Goss International (Durham, New Hampshire), both major, long-time web-offset printing manufacturers and service providers, have announced that they’ve officially completed the transaction to combine their businesses. The new company will operate under the brand name Manroland Goss Web Systems and will be “the strongest supplier to web printing companies worldwide,” said the OEMs. The merger will facilitate a global market presence, broad product range, technological excellence, long-term comprehensive customer support, and e-business in the web-fed printing market. Alexander Wassermann, CEO of Manroland Web Systems, will become CEO of the new company with global headquarters in Augsburg, Germany.
The company’s North American headquarters will be in Durham, New Hampshire. Mohit Uberoi, previous CEO of Goss International, will stay connected with the business as a board member and assist the management team with business integration. The shareholders of Manroland Web Systems and Goss International (the Lübeck-based Possehl Group and NY-based American Industrial Partners (AIP) respectively) will both remain shareholders of the new company supporting the established business-building strategies. The Goss Contiweb business as well as the Manroland Web Production business are not included in this transaction and will stay independent as AIP and Possehl portfolio companies, respectively.
“Both Manroland Web Systems and Goss International were on a sustainable path to success,” said Wasserman. “We’ll 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,” he added. Manroland Goss Web Systems will concentrate on four main business areas: System Solutions (highly automated press and post-press equipment including pre-owned offerings, press relocations), Engineered Solutions (mechanical, automation and closed-loop solutions for all types of presses), Service Solutions (best-in-class service in parts, labour, tele-support and performance-based service agreements), and E-Commerce Solutions (electronic marketplace solutions for efficient ordering and logistics performance for all suppliers to the web offset industry).
Both companies feel that the starting point for the merger is promising, with the new company relying on the combined expertise of its over 1,000 employees and its suppliers. Both Manroland Web Systems and Goss Internatioinal will leverage their successful structural and technological developments in recent years within new product development, expansive aftermarket product offerings, and development of a lean business structure in line with overall market trends to build a strong business platform for the future. “With its broad range of products and services, the new company will be the high-performance partner for all web printers,” said the companies. “The common goal is to support the performance of customers with a ‘best of the best’ approach. The combined company will work actively with all customers on a positive development of the web-fed printing business.”
Web offset giants Goss and Manroland officially complete their merger
