It's been just three months since the sheetfed division of insolvent manroland AG was rescued from insolvency and, as widely expected, manroland aficionado's from around the world beat a path to the new manroland sheetfed GmbH booth in Hall 6 at Messe Dusseldorf.  

Those that made the journey were not to be disappointed. With well over 10,000 presses installed, manroland users worldwide breathed a collective sigh of relief that an investor had come forward in February and at drupa 2012 the new company showed that it was not only very much alive and kicking, but maintaining its reputation for innovation by unveiling several new developments to its 700 and 900 series machines. 

The company also confirmed that it would continue selling and developing its entire product range and added that it would not be discontinuing certain press formats, despite the predictions of some industry commentators.

On the day before the show opened, the new manroland sheetfed pulled another ace from the pack by announcing a tie up with what turned out to be the sensation of drupa 2012; Benny Landa and his "Nano Digital” technology. The deal was formally signed during the show. 

manroland sheetfed has dedicated followers, especially with high end application and packaging print customers, many believing that when it comes to quality, speed and reliability, there is nothing to touch ROLAND machines and visitors came to the booth in numbers. The company reported over 3000 visitors and announced good press sales either confirmed or agreed at the fair, which represents over 30% of the company's planned production for 2012. Together with existing pre-drupa orders, the firm says it expects to reach or exceed all of its targets for this year and with re-structuring largely completed during the short period of Administration, it is in line to post a profit within the current year.

Describing the company's presence at the 2012 event as "a success in itself", Board Member Rafael Penuela, speaking from the famous drupa "red sofa", said that as well as showcasing its technological developments, the company had a special task to fulfil at this drupa: to show the world and the print community, that the company was back. Citing the firm's drupa motto, "The legend goes on", he said that that task had been firmly achieved and that the show had been a great success.   He said that the company had settled down well in the first 100 days under new ownership and that it would not be going back to how the old manroland company was managed in the past, saying that the new company was being shaped in a different way, under the guidance of Langley, its new and highly experienced industrial shareholder, becoming more "Mittelstand" in style. 

In his staff round up of the show on day 13, Penuela said that visitors to the new manroland had sensed the tremendous team spirit existing amongst the firm's 100-plus drupa team and that feedback from the many visitors to the stand had been overwhelmingly positive.