The Contiweb Thallo variable-sleeve web offset hybrid system for printing labels and flexible packaging Photo: Contiweb
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.
The heading of this article has been corrected on 4 March 2018 and the photograph has also been changed.
2023 promises an interesting ride for print in India
Indian Printer and Publisher founded in 1979 is the oldest B2B trade publication in the multi-platform and
multi-channel IPPGroup. While the print and packaging industries have been resilient in the past 33 months since the pandemic lockdown of 25 March 2020, the commercial printing and newspaper industries have yet to recover their pre-Covid trajectory.
The fragmented commercial printing industry faces substantial challenges as does the newspaper industry.
While digital short-run printing and the signage industry seem to be recovering a bit faster, ultimately
their growth will also be moderated by the progress of the overall economy. On the other hand book
printing exports are doing well but they too face several supply-chain and logistics challenges.
The price of publication papers including newsprint has been high in the past year while availability is diminished by several mills shutting down their publication paper and newsprint machines in the past four years. Indian paper mills are also exporting many types of paper and have raised prices for Indian printers. To some extent, this has helped in the recovery of the digital printing industry with its on-demand short-run and low-wastage paradigm.
Ultimately digital print and other digital channels will help print grow in a country where we are still far behind in our paper and print consumption and where digital is a leapfrog technology that will only increase the demand for print in the foreseeable future. For instance, there is no alternative to a rise in textbook consumption but this segment will only reach normality in the next financial year beginning on 1 April 2023.
Thus while the new normal is a moving target and many commercial printers look to diversification, we believe that our target audiences may shift and change. Like them, we will also have to adapt with agility to keep up with their business and technical information needs.
Our 2023 media kit is ready, and it is the right time to take stock and reconnect with your potential markets and customers. Print is the glue for the growth of liberal education, new industry, and an emerging economy. We seek your participation in what promises to be an interesting ride.
