The WKS Druckholding is going to invest in the world’s largest commercial web offset press. 

Even for the manroland web systems drupa booth in hall 6 this is something special: the two-web 80-page LITHOMAN project with a total of 4.5 meter web width comes up to a 160-page press and is extraordinary for all involved persons. It was now in Düsseldorf that WKS gave manroland web systems the commitment. Predominantly, the LITHOMAN will take over the production of magazines, catalogs, and supplements. It is going to replace a competitor’s press so that in the future there’ll be eight manroland rotary presses featuring 48 to 80 pages at the two WKS sites in Wassenberg and Essen/Germany.

With this investment WKS Managing Director Dr. Ralph Dittmann is consequently aiming at technology leadership and once again puts his trust in Augsburg printing press technology. “For us the cooperation with manroland web systems paid off, the producing LITHOMAN presses have absolutely proven their worth in terms of printing stability, quality, and most of all productivity.” Peter Kuisle, member of the Management Board at manroland web systems: “WKS’ trust in the new manroland web systems confirms our efforts and motivates us. We could offer the suitable high-end solutions to meet the special demands of WKS concerning the production process and the product variety.”

In 2009 WKS evolved as a leading web offset printing house in Central Europe from the merger of Westend Druckereibetriebe GmbH in Essen and Kraft-Schlötels GmbH in Wassenberg. The financial investor Vibro, standing behind the associated companies of WKS, sets a benchmark with this large investment and thus extends his commitment to the printing market as announced.