Gallus acquires BHS

Following Gallus’ initial purchase of a 30 per cent stake in BHS in October 2005, the takeover will result in expansion of the folding carton range through mid and wide web printing presses and flatbed die cutters. A highly innovative narrow web folding carton reel machine including a flatbed die cutter, unveiled at Drupa 2004, marked the first step towards entry into the folding carton business.

Gallus is to apply the multiprocess expertise developed in the narrow web printing press business, namely the modular linking of several printing and processing steps on the same platform, to the mid and wide web machines of BHS. This will result in a range of solutions for folding carton production that takes place in one machine primarily by linking up several process steps, thus leading to higher productivity with more refined folding cartons. Printing, refinement and die cutting in one manufacturing process is thus possible. Gallus will incorporate the folding carton business in a separate business unit based in Weiden, Germany.