Printing press manufacturer manroland Great Britain, and Friedheim International, a leading supplier of finishing, converting and packaging machinery, have today announced the transfer of the UK sales and service representation for guillotine and binding systems manufacturer, Wohlenberg, and Baumann handling equipment, from manroland GB to Friedheim International. Operations will be officially handed over on 2nd November 2009. Members of manroland GB's Wohlenberg sales and service team will also be transferred to Friedheim International.
 
The move is a strategic step for the three companies involved. manroland GB will now focus totally on its printing technology, and expanding range of service and support for products with consumables and maintenance packages; Friedheim International has gained a product range that is fully complementary to their existing business, and Wohlenberg and Baumann will benefit from a partnership with a dedicated post-press agency in the UK.
 
Norman Revill, Managing Director, manroland GB said: "manroland GB has been in partnership with Wohlenberg and Baumann for many years. However, manroland's strategy of building a market-leading service and support package to complement its press technology requires it to now focus all of its efforts on its core business and further develop our offering in the UK. In Friedheim International, Wohlenberg and Baumann have found a natural home in a very professional organisation and we wish them all the very best for the future."
 
Peter Morris, Managing Director, Friedheim International said: "Until now, Friedheim has had a presence in all areas of post-press, except for perfect binding. But with Wohlenberg and Baumann on board that gap has been filled and in that respect this is a very exciting move for Friedheim. Both are strong brands and their products have a reputation in the market for being well built. And Friedheim's well established infrastructure for supply, service and support of post-press products is the ideal platform from which to drive these products ever further into the market. Crucially, the timing of the move means that the new sales and service structure will be established well in advance of IPEX 2010, which will be the ideal venue to demonstrate the new set up to the market and act as a launch pad for the economic recovery."