manroland Web Systems Formed as Possehl Signs Contract

AUGSBURG, GERMANY—Feb. 1, 2012—The insolvency administrator of manroland AG i.I., Werner Schneider, and the L. Possehl & Co., signed the contract for the acquisition of the web offset press business. Therefore, the long-term continuation of the business is assured.

The business taken over by Possehl is to be conducted in the newly founded “manroland web systems GmbH.” Uwe Lüders, chairman of the board of the Possehl Group, assumes primary management of the company.

Lüders is being supported by a management team with five members.

• Peter Kuisle, vice president at manroland sales for many years, leads the service and sales divisions, complemented by the technical division led by Dieter Betzmeier.
• Franz Gumpp is responsible for the production and purchasing division.
• Company development and human resources management are carried on by Dr. Daniel Raffler.
• Dirk Rauh is in charge of the financial department.

With this management team leading it, the new company offers a high degree of stability and experience, as well as innovation.

Around 1,400 workers will find a long-term and secure employment with manroland web systems GmbH. That means more than half of the jobs at the Augsburg site could be saved. Moreover, a long-term delivery contract with the facilities at Plauen will help support that site as well.

Looking ahead, Lüders is optimistic. “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 learned that we are needed as a reliable partner in the future, too.”

This new company that continues the new web press production business, as well as the services, spare and wear parts business, aims at achieving annual sales of about €300 million.

Under the umbrella of the new owner Possehl, web offset presses from Augsburg continue to stand for customized solutions in commercial web offset as well as newspaper printing.

“At Drupa 2012, we will show our competence as high-performance business partner standing for innovation,” proudly mentioned Peter Kuisle, responsible for sales and service at manroland web systems GmbH.

About Possehl
Managed by the holding company L. Possehl & Co. mbH, the Possehl Group is a diversified group which currently has ten independently operating divisions organized within a decentralized structure. The Possehl Group is comprised of L. Possehl & Co. mbH and approximately 140 subsidiaries in more than 30 different countries. According to preliminary figures, the Possehl Group generated sales of around €2.5 billion in fiscal year 2011. At present, Possehl has more than 10,000 employees around the world.

Source: manroland.