On 1 March 2019, Goss and manroland web systems announced the combination of their printing press businesses, with expected completion in mid-2018, subject to regulatory [and other] approvals. However, Contiweb, which was owned by Goss before it was acquired by American Industrial partners, is not part of the Goss-manroland web systems combine and is to be spun off as a separate company under the ownership of American Industrial Partners with operations headquartered in Boxmeer, Netherlands, when the transaction closes.
Contiweb is a specialist in technologies for advanced drying and web-handling products for printing, and on the same date it announced its plan to formalize its separation and operate as an independent company. As an independent company, Contiweb will continue its growth agenda in becoming the premier ancillary supplier for commercial and digital inkjet printing applications and a press supplier for label and packaging applications. The company will also continue its strong focus on product lifetime support by offering its full suite of after-market solutions for customers.
In recent years Contiweb has diversified its offering to include splicers and dryers for web offset presses, Vits and JetWeb finishing equipment, auxiliary equipment for inkjet printing presses, and notably in 2016, it acquired the IP for the Thallo web offset press. At this point, there seem to be three web offset approaches or machines for printing on flexible packaging materials from the erstwhile combination parters and its cooperation partner – the Goss Vpak, the manroland web systems Varioman fp, and the Contitech’s Thallo.
Bert Schoonderbeek, managing director at Contiweb, sees this development as a natural step, following the Contiweb repositioning in 2016. “We will continue to build upon our successful relationship with both Goss and manroland, and are looking forward to continuing the cooperation as a strong partner of the combined company as we pursue other diversification opportunities. “Contiweb’s separation marks a new era for further growth of the company.” Until transaction close, sales and service channels will remain unchanged.
