As the Supervisory Board of parent company manroland AG in Germany announced its plan to implement a package of measures to safeguard the   future with specific reductions in workforce and strategic facility planning for 2009 and 2010, manroland Inc. CEO Vince Lapinski, issued a strong statement for the company's North American operations.

"2008 has proven to be a difficult time for the industry.  However, due to the company's early reaction to the slowing economy, manroland ended the year with positive results," Lapinski said.  "For 2009, we remain committed to the industry of print and to North American printers.  manroland's position in North America is stronger today than any day in the past, and we remain positive about the eventual turnaround for the industry.  We will continue to think ahead of the problematic economic conditions and provide our customers with a strong strategic partner for the further advancement of print."

Due to the economic delay in customer purchasing decisions and, in a strategic move to eliminate redundant manufacturing processes, the Supervisory Board of manroland AG agreed to trim 515 jobs in indirect functions in the Sheetfed Press Business sector in Offenbach, Germany, and 110 jobs in indirect functions in the Web Press Business sector in Augsburg, Germany, for 2009 and 2010.  In addition, the Mainhausen factory located outside Frankfurt, Germany, will be closed and the product lines assembled there will be integrated into the main sheetfed press factory in Offenbach.