manroland Inc.

manroland Inc. has launched a new dedicated Web page in advance of the PRINT 09 show, to be held September 11-16 at McCormick Place in Chicago.

The German companies are in talks to combine, according to two people familiar with the negotiations. To win backing from European Union authorities, the companies may agree to sell assets in areas where they overlap, said one of the people, who declined to be identified because the talks aren’t public.

Ripon Printers, a leading printer of catalogs, publications, manuals and soft-cover educational products, announces the purchase of a manroland Rotoman N heatset web press.

Rumours of a possible merger between press manufacturing giants Heidelberg and Manroland have resurfaced, following reports in the German trade press.

For the seventh year, manroland will again sponsor Dr. Joe Webb’s annual industry forecast at the PRINT 09 show. Free to all show attendees, the event will be held on the morning of Monday, September 14 in rooms S106A/B at McCormick Place in Chicago.

NORMALLY, THE point of comparison for PRINT 09 would be the 2005 show and maybe Drupa 08, but attendees will find the show floor more akin to Graph Expo 08 in terms of the number of exhibitors and the makeup of their booths. The Graphic Arts Show Co. (GASC) has taken an unprecedented step to maximize the amount of equipment on hand by offering exhibitors a stimulus program to offset most of their setup costs.

PHILADELPHIA—A merger might not have worked out for Quebecor World and RR Donnelley, but that apparently hasn't stopped two of the biggest press manufacturers from discussing the possibility of joining forces. Heidelberger Druckmaschinen and manroland AG are reportedly in merger talks, according to Bloomberg News.

Bloomberg, quoting financial newsletter Platow Brief, said that German insurer Allianz SE—which holds a 12 percent share in Heidelberg and a 65 percent stake in manroland—is pressuring the companies to merge and protect its investments. Platow did not cite a source for the information, according to Bloomberg.

Mattias Hartung, who serves corporate communications for Heidelberg, told Bloomberg, "These are market rumors and we don't comment on market rumors."

A spokesman for manroland did not respond to a Printing Impressions request for comment.

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, the world’s largest maker of printing presses, rose to its highest price in six weeks in Frankfurt trading after a financial newsletter reported it’s in talks to merge with a competitor. The company is negotiating with closely held Manroland AG, the second largest printing-press manufacturer, the Platow Brief said after the stock exchange closed July 24.

Since manroland introduced the DirectDrive press at drupa in 2008, there has been growing interest from printers wanting to get a look at and learn more about this extraordinary 40-inch press. That was the case on June 24 at the company’s Print Technology Center in suburban Chicago when printers had the opportunity to see a live demonstration of the Roland 700 DirectDrive.

Printing Industries of America (PIA) and manroland Inc. are moving to a next level in their partnership that will include collaborative research and training activities, the two organizations announced today.