The insolvency administrator of manroland AG i.I., Werner Schneider, and the L. Possehl & Co. mbH, Lübeck, signed the contract for the acquisition of the web offset press business located in Augsburg. Therefore, the continuation of the business is long-term assured.

The business taken over by Possehl is to be conducted in the newly founded “manroland web systems GmbH”. Uwe Lüders, Chairman of the Board of the Possehl group, preliminary takes over the management of the company.

Uwe Lüders is being supported by a management team of five. Peter Kuisle, Vice President Sales for many years, leads the service and sales divisions, complemented by the technical division led by Dieter Betzmeier. Franz Gumpp is responsible for the production and purchasing division. Company development and human resources management are carried on by Dr. Daniel Raffler. Dirk Rauh is in charge of the financial department. With this management team the new company stands for a high degree of stability and experience as well as innovations.

Around 1,400 employees will find a long-term and secure job in the manroland web systems GmbH. Thus more than half of the jobs at the Augsburg site could be saved. Moreover, a long-term delivery contract with the facilities at Plauen will support the site.

Looking ahead Lüders is optimistic: “We have an excellently skilled staff and a good market position as well as ultra-modern and highly efficient products. In my talks with many customers I learnt that we are needed as a reliable partner in the future, too.” The new company that continues the new press business as well as the services, spare and wear parts business aims at annual sales of about 300 million euro.

Under the roof of the new owner Possehl web offset presses from Augsburg continue to stand for customized solutions in commercial web offset as well as newspaper printing. “On drupa 2012 we will show our competence as high performance business partner standing for innovations,” proudly mentioned Peter Kuisle, responsible for Sales and Service at manroland web systems GmbH.