The Lübeck-based Possehl Group, an internationally active, diversified industrial conglomerate, is acquiring the remaining shares in manroland Goss web systems GmbH, a leading provider of web offset printing solutions, effective 1 October 2026.
The Possehl Group previously held a 51% stake and will continue to provide full financing for the company. The former co-shareholder, American Industrial Partners (AIP), is exiting the shareholder structure. With this full acquisition, the Possehl Group is consolidating managerial responsibility for manroland Goss under a single ownership structure.
A clear ownership structure means shorter decision-making processes strengthen collaboration with customers and partners, a press release stated on the manroland Goss website.
Long-term planning certainty: The ownership structure supports investments in the product portfolio, service, spare parts supply, and retrofits.
A Hanseatic owner with a long-term perspective
With this full acquisition, Possehl is further expanding its commitment to manroland Goss. The Possehl Group is a corporate group founded in Lübeck in 1847 and has been wholly owned by the nonprofit Possehl Foundation for more than 100 years.
With 10 operationally independent business divisions, more than 200 companies, approximately 13,000 employees in over 30 countries, and most recent consolidated revenue of 8.4 billion Euros, the Possehl Group ranks among the large, solid, and renowned German corporate groups in the industrial SME sector. Its activities include, among other things, mechanical and plant engineering, construction, precious metal processing, as well as electronics and digital technologies.
As a foundation-managed company, the Possehl Group is focused on the long term and spans generations. Its strong equity structure thus provides a reliable foundation for the further development of manroland Goss.
Dr.-Ing. Joachim Brenk, chairman of the Board, L. Possehl & Co. mbH, said, “manroland Goss is an important part of our industrial portfolio. With this full acquisition, we are creating a long-term foundation to invest strategically in technology, product development, and support for our installed base of machines. This includes the further development of the product portfolio, new solutions, and the expansion of service, spare parts supply, and retrofits.”
Continuity and planning certainty for customers and partners
For customers and business partners, day-to-day operations will remain unchanged. The strategic focus will continue to follow two main directions: first, the new-equipment business for system solutions in packaging, book, commercial, and newspaper printing, as well as digital post-press; and second, the customer-oriented expansion of aftermarket solutions. Existing contacts, contracts, and terms and conditions, as well as ongoing projects, will continue as before. Delivery dates and service obligations will also remain in effect.
At the same time, the long-term ownership structure provides additional planning certainty for the support of the installed machine base – from spare parts supply and the service network to retrofit offerings throughout the entire service life of the machines.
Franz Kriechbaum, CEO of manroland Goss, said, “The full acquisition by the Possehl Group gives manroland Goss a clear ownership structure and a robust financial foundation. For our customers, this means, above all, continuity and planning certainty – in terms of investments, service, and the long-term support of their machines. At the same time, we can consistently continue our technological development and our portfolio of solutions.”
manroland Goss is a leading provider of web offset printing and digital finishing solutions. With approximately 1,000 experts worldwide, manroland Goss develops and implements highly automated printing and finishing systems, retrofit and upgrade solutions, intelligent automation concepts, and global service offerings for customers in the packaging, book, commercial, and newspaper printing industries. The portfolio is complemented by data-driven solutions such as Maintellisense and industry-specific e-commerce applications.
The Possehl Group is a diversified, medium-sized corporate group founded in Lübeck in 1847. With ten operationally independent business divisions and more than 200 companies, the group operates internationally in over 30 countries.
Its business activities include, among other things, mechanical and plant engineering, construction, precious metal processing, as well as electronics and digital solutions. With approximately 13,000 employees, the Group most recently generated consolidated revenue of 8.4 billion euros. The sole shareholder of the Group, which is managed by the management holding company L. Possehl & Co. mbH, is the nonprofit Possehl Foundation.
