What the new company calls "targeted consolidation" will enhance the market presence of newly-merged manroland Goss web systems.

The two press manufacturers say they have completed the transaction, crating the strongest supplier to web printing companies worldwide.

manroland web systems Alexander Wassermann head the new company, with Goss International chief executive Mohit Uberoi joining the board and in a business integration role.

Global headquarters will be in Augsburg, Germany, with those for North America in Durham, New Hampshire. Both Lübeck-based Possehl Group and Goss's New York-based owner, American Industrial Partners are to remain shareholders, with Contiweb and the recently-established manroland web production business separately owned by AIP and Possehl respectively.

Wassermann says the "sustainable path to success" of both manroland and Goss will be strengthened by "increasing global reach, continuing our innovative and focussed R&D activities, and enhancing our market presence through targeted consolidation."

This is likely to mean a review of their international presence: Both manroland and Goss have sales and service subsidiaries in Australia, for example.

Wassermann says customers will be able to choose from an even broader portfolio of products and services, supported by the Market-X e-commerce platform.

manroland Goss web systems will concentrate on four main business areas it calls System Solutions - press and post-press equipment including pre-owned offerings, press relocations - Engineered Solutions (for mechanical, automation and closed-loop solutions for all types of presses), Service Solutions (parts, labour, tele-support and performance-based service) and the E-Commerce Solutions electronic marketplace.

"The starting point for the merger is promising, with the new company relying on the combined expertise of its 1000+ employees and its suppliers," he says. "Both manroland web systems and Goss will leverage their successful structural and technological developments in recent years within new product development, expansive aftermarket product offerings and development of a lean business structure in line with overall market trends to build a strong business platform for the future."

With a common goal of supporting the performance of customers with a 'best of the best' approach, the new company's operations took effect on August 17.