manroland web systems and Goss International (Goss), both long-time web offset printing manufacturers and service providers, have announced that they have completed the transaction to combine their businesses. The new company will operate under the brand name “manroland Goss web systems” and will be a strong supplier to web printing companies worldwide.

Alexander Wassermann, CEO of manroland web systems, will become CEO of the new company with global headquarters in Augsburg, Germany. The company’s North American headquarters will be in Durham, NH. Mohit Uberoi, previous CEO of Goss International, will stay connected with the business as a board member and assist the management team with business integration.

The shareholders of manroland web systems and Goss International, the Lübeck- based Possehl Group and NY-based American Industrial Partners (AIP) respectively, will both remain shareholders of the new company supporting the established business-building strategy.

The Contiweb business, as well as the manroland web production business, are not included in this transaction and will stay independent as AIP and Possehl portfolio companies, respectively.

Alexander Wassermann, CEO of manroland Goss web systems, has clear plans. "Both manroland web systems and Goss International were on a sustainable path to success," he says. "We will strengthen this path by increasing our global reach, continuing our innovative and focused R&D activities, and enhancing our market presence through targeted consolidation. Our customers will be able to choose from an even broader portfolio of products and services, supported by the industry leading e-commerce platform MARKET-X.”

manroland Goss web systems will concentrate on four main business areas: System Solutions (highly automated press and post-press equipment, including pre-owned offerings, press relocations), Engineered Solutions (mechanical, automation and closed-loop solutions for all types of presses), Service Solutions (best-in-class service in parts, labor, tele-support and performance based service agreements), and E-Commerce Solutions (electronic marketplace for efficient ordering and logistics performance for all suppliers to the web offset industry).

The starting point for the merger is promising, with the new company relying on the combined expertise of its 1,000+ employees and its suppliers. Both manroland web systems and Goss will leverage their successful structural and technological developments in recent years within new product development, expansive aftermarket product offerings and development of a lean business structure in line with overall market trends to build a strong business platform for the future.