The clocks have stopped for Manroland Sheetfed

Manroland Sheetfed has been added to the long list of press manufacturers that no longer exist. The role of honour includes manufacturers from the UK: Gestetner, Rotaprint, Thompson and Crabtree (excepting Crabtree of Gateshead for metal decorating); from Italy, Aurelia and Nebiolo; from France, Marinoni; from the US, Harris and Miehle; Solna from Sweden, Shinohara and Hamada from Japan. Even the Germans have lost businesses with Miller and Albert disappearing before the latest casualty. Some closed because they could not compete, others were taken over and more recently some have been victim to the digital transition, either in printing or communications more widely.

Effectively the choice for a sheetfed litho press is down to four suppliers, though there are Chinese manufacturers that may or may not see an opportunity in parts of the world where economies are growing but existing presses are still too expensive. This was in essence the Manroland Sheetfed strategy as part of Langley Holdings, choosing to place its emphasis on China and economies in South and Central America. But when the Chinese economy hit the buffers in terms of printing press investment, its owner was unwilling to underwrite the losses in the hope that things could only get better. And perhaps there was an awareness that Chinese-made machines, like motor manufacturers, could become very competitive if the will existed.

The loss of Manroland Sheetfed will not lead to celebrations in other suppliers, rather more consternation at least for Heidelberg which had pinned its hopes in large format on rebadging the Roland 900. One was scheduled to arrive in the Heidelberg showroom this summer and is among the machines being completed before the doors are shut forever. Nobody knows what happens next. The extensive user base means there is plenty of service business and spares to supply to customers and this provides an opportunity for either a large international company or independent regional operations. There will be no official funeral, no wake to share stories about the printing machines. The name though will be etched among those we have lost. It may not be the last.