Gidue and Smag end cooperation

After five years, during which Smag sold 18 presses in France and cooperated with Gidue for the installation of four more presses at major French printing groups, Smag and Gidue have announced that their cooperation will be over on May 31 2008.

Gidue has decided to restructure its distribution network in France by appointing a new agency and creating a dedicated and certified Gidue Service Point to offer direct installation, start-up and after-sale services and spares delivery.

Cristina Toffolo, general manager of Gidue, said: ‘Any divorce is hard but we felt that the moment to separate had arrived. Smag has always been a great and loyal partner but their manufacturing disposition could not match anymore with our expectations. We believe that Gidue’s strategy based on an increase in the sales of offset presses and on a new market segmentation was not in line anymore with the objectives of Smag for the French territory.’

Stphane Rateau, president of Sramag Group, added: ‘The cooperation with Gidue, started in 2003, meant a lot for us and helped us strengthen our position in the market. We have been happy to share with Gidue the same rapid growth path. The objective of further growth is common to both companies but it has started to create a few overlaps if Smag and Gidue equipment offers are compared. This is even more real on the offset market where Smag is already heavily involved with our semi rotary offset solution in France and in Italy. So it was better to separate our companies to avoid any conflict of interest in the medium-term. What is most important for us and for Gidue is to ensure a smooth transition for the customers who put their trust in our companies.’

Gidue and Smag are currently planning a visit of present customers to explain the reasons for the change. At the beginning of June 2008, Gidue will reveal to present customers the new agency name and contacts list.