After integrating Akiyama International Company's North American organization within its American operations at the beginning of 2010, Goss International has taken another step to utilize its global resources to provide stronger support for current and future users of Akiyama products in Brazil.

Goss International Brazil, headquartered in Sao Paulo, has now assumed direct responsibility for sales and support of Akiyama products, including its unique Jprint sheetfed perfecting presses, in the country.

"We have considerable sheetfed as well as web offset expertise within our organization in Brazil, and we can now offer Akiyama press users direct access to our large-scale Americas parts, service and support network," explains Vitor Dragone, general manager of Goss International Brazil. "Adding these products to our portfolio allows us to present printers with a wider choice of products, including differentiating Goss and Akiyama options for sheetfed applications," he adds.

Akiyama International and Goss International are both affiliated with Shanghai Electric (Group) Corporation.

"Our local team in Brazil, backed by our worldwide sales and support infrastructure, provides a solid platform to support existing users and to promote a growth strategy for Akiyama products in this market," according to Goss International president and CEO Jochen Meissner. "The combination of unique technology and strong local support should encourage printers in Brazil to consider Akiyama sheetfed presses as an alternative, particularly to traditional four-over-four perfectors."

Akiyama International Company is headquartered near Tokyo, Japan, where its primary press manufacturing facility is located. The company's Jprint and MEGA Jprint perfecting models feature an exclusive technology that perfects without reversing the sheets. Close to 500 Jprint presses have been installed worldwide.

Akiyama also manufactures and sells versatile SUPERTECH, eXtreme and Bestech sheetfed press models for commercial and packaging applications.