manroland web systems GmbH Opens New Operation in North America

WESTMONT, IL—March 19, 2012—manroland web systems, the U.S. sales and service organization for manroland web systems GmbH (Augsburg, Germany), was founded this past week and came into existence on March 16. The new company is a completely separate legal entity from the manroland sheetfed organization, which is owned by Langley Holdings.

Primary activities of this new organization are focused on supporting the substantial base of manroland commercial web and newspaper equipment users through extensive parts and service offerings, and the sale of new commercial web and newspaper printing presses in North America.

To facilitate a smooth start-up with as little disruption in customer support as possible, the new company will operate out of the existing manroland facility in Westmont, IL, for the foreseeable future. The transfer of experienced commercial web and newspaper technical, service and sales staff to the new organization will further ensure a seamless continuation of customer support.

Roland Ortbach, who’s most recent function at manroland Inc. was vice president of commercial web press sales and technical product support, has been named CEO of manroland web systems North America. With 28 years of experience in the printing industry, Ortbach has worked internationally in a variety of sales capacities covering sheetfed, commercial web and newspaper presses for both independent and international corporate printers. He started his North American management career as director of operations with manroland in Canada in 1991.

Ortbach stated, “Feb. 1, 2012, the day L. Possehl & Co. GmbH became the new owners of manroland web systems GmbH in Germany, marked the end of uncertainty, and the beginning of an exciting new era for the web press division of the insolvent manroland AG. It took six weeks to solidify the company’s presence in North America, but that as well has now been accomplished.