Manroland web systems GmbH born

The contract for the acquisition of manroland’s web-fed printing systems operations in Augsburg (pictured, left) has been signed by insolvency administrator Werner Schneider and Possehl Group, cementing the long-term future of the business in the area.

As a result, the operations taken over by Possehl are to be conducted under the business name manroland web systems GmbH. The company will continue the new press business as well as the services, spare and wear parts business, with the aim of achieving annual sales of €300 million.

Uwe Lüders, chairman of the board of the Possehl Group, preliminary takes over the management of the company. Lüders is being supported by a management team of five. Peter Kuisle, vice president of sales, leads the service and sales divisions complemented by the technical division led by Dieter Betzmeier. Franz Gumpp has taken on responsible for the production and purchasing division, while development and human resources management is carried on by Dr. Daniel Raffler. Dirk Rauh is in charge of the financial department.

Around 1,400 employees will find a long-term and secure job in manroland web systems GmbH, saving more than half of the jobs at the Augsburg site. A long-term delivery contract with the facilities at the former manroland assembly location in Plauen will support that site.

Lüders said: ‘We have an excellently skilled staff and a good market position as well as ultra-modern and highly efficient products. In my talks with many customers I learnt that we are needed as a reliable partner in the future, too.’

‘On Drupa 2012, we will show our competence as a high-performance business partner standing for innovation,' said Kuisle.