Newly-merged manroland Goss web systems says its 200 million-Euro order backlog will keep it busy almost to the middle of 2020.

Chief executive Alexander Wassermann says its combined turnover of 293 million Euros and 327 million Euros order intake have "solidified its leading market position in web offset".

Major orders at the turn of the year were worth 50 million Euros raised the order backlog to 200 million Euros in its project business.

"Thereby, the company is currently at a very good capacity level, stretching into the second quarter of 2020," he says.

manroland Goss aims to provide products and a range of services with added value, and Wassermann says the merger has created a global company with the "most comprehensive offer available on the market, with reduced cost structures and with a focus on efficient business processes.

"This is reflected now in our operative performance indicators," he says, referring to the previous year's balance sheet.

"Our strategy is clear: A further expansion of our market position as well as the development of new profitable business fields."

Research and development funds have been mostly directed to future-oriented markets such as flexible packaging printing, the Maintellisense preventative press maintenance system and Market-X intelligent e-commerce platform.

Additionally, the purchase of assets of Harland Simon and shares of GWS support the company's strategy.

Wassermann says all activities now focus on benefits to existing and new customers. "This is what more than 1000 employees worldwide are working on," he says.