Manroland
German manufacturer of sheetfed and web offset printing systems, presses, automation and related services.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Manroland is a German printing-equipment brand whose roots reach back to the nineteenth-century press-building businesses of Augsburg and Offenbach. Its historical product portfolio centered on offset presses for newspapers, commercial publications, packaging and other industrial print applications. The company’s technical heritage includes the Reichenbach machine works in Augsburg, the Faber & Schleicher lithographic press business in Offenbach, and the later integration of both traditions within the MAN group. The Augsburg lineage began in 1844, when Carl August Reichenbach and Carl Buz established Reichenbach’sche Maschinenfabrik. In 1845 the business delivered an automatic cylinder press, or Schnellpresse, to an Augsburg printing plant. The enterprise subsequently became part of the Maschinenfabrik Augsburg and, through corporate combinations, the Vereinigte Maschinenfabrik Augsburg und Maschinenbaugesellschaft Nürnberg and ultimately Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-Nürnberg, commonly known as MAN. Its development work expanded from cylinder presses into rotary newspaper equipment and complete newspaper-plant installations. The Offenbach lineage was established in 1871 by Louis Faber and Adolf Schleicher. It developed automatic lithographic presses and later concentrated on offset technology. In 1911 it produced the Roland, described in the company’s historical account as the first sheetfed rotary offset press. The Roland name was selected partly because the founders’ original name, Faber & Schleicher, was difficult to pronounce in English-speaking markets. Over the following decades, the business developed the Roland family of sheetfed presses alongside web-offset systems for newspaper and commercial production. The two major traditions were combined in 1979, when MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG was formed through the merger of the Offenbach and Augsburg printing-machine operations. The company introduced increasingly automated and electronically controlled systems, including the ROLAND 800, LITHOMAN, ROLAND 900 and PECOM control technology. It also developed large web presses such as COLORMAN for newspapers and high-volume publication work. By 2010, the company and its subsidiaries employed approximately 7,000 people worldwide, according to the referenced company material. The printing-industry downturn of the early 2000s created severe financial and operational pressure. After restructuring, the business returned to profitability in 2005. In 2006, MAN sold a majority interest in MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG to an investment vehicle owned 65 percent by Allianz Capital Partners and 35 percent by MAN. The company was renamed manroland AG in 2008 and continued to expand press automation, remote service, workflow software and digital-printing partnerships. Manroland filed for insolvency in November 2011. The business was subsequently divided. The Augsburg web division was acquired by L. Possehl & Co. in January 2012 and became manroland web systems. The sheetfed division in Offenbach was acquired in February 2012 by Langley Holdings and continued as manroland sheetfed systems. The restructured businesses retained the manroland brand while operating under separate ownership and organizational arrangements. A 2012 strategic partnership with Landa Corporation addressed the potential use of Nanographic Printing technology, and the Roland 700 Evolution was introduced in 2014. In 2018, manroland web systems merged with Goss International, a major rival in web offset printing, to create Manroland Goss Web Systems. The continuing brand therefore represents both a historic German press-manufacturing tradition and specialized successor businesses serving web and sheetfed offset customers. Its offering includes small-, medium- and large-format sheetfed presses, newspaper and commercial web presses, press controls and automation, workflow and service capabilities, consumables, consulting and industrial support.
History
Manroland’s history combines two German press-manufacturing traditions. The Augsburg tradition began in 1844 with the creation of Reichenbach’sche Maschinenfabrik by Carl August Reichenbach and Carl Buz. In 1845, the company delivered an automatic cylinder press to Nikolaus Hartmann’s printing works in Augsburg. It later became associated with Maschinenfabrik Augsburg and, through mergers, with Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-Nürnberg, or MAN. Augsburg’s engineers expanded from automatic cylinder presses into rotary equipment. In 1873, the company presented a rotary press for continuous-paper printing at the Vienna World Fair. It also supplied complete newspaper-printing installations, including auxiliary power equipment. During the twentieth century, the Augsburg operation became especially important in newspaper web-offset production and developed large, high-speed rotary systems. The Offenbach tradition began in 1871, when Louis Faber and Adolf Schleicher founded a business focused on automatic lithographic presses. Its early machines included the Albatros, introduced in 1879. As offset printing developed in the early twentieth century, Faber & Schleicher specialized in the new indirect-printing process. In 1911 it introduced the Roland sheetfed rotary offset press. The Roland name was intended to be more accessible in international markets than Faber & Schleicher. The two businesses developed separate families of sheetfed and web presses before being combined in 1979 as MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG. The unified company built commercial and newspaper web presses as well as small-, medium- and large-format sheetfed machines. Important developments included the ROLAND 800, the COLORMAN newspaper press, the LITHOMAN commercial web press, the ROLAND 900 large-format sheetfed press and PECOM electronic press-control technology. DirectDrive, introduced in 2006, used directly driven plate cylinders to reduce press makeready time, while later automation programs sought to simplify setup and improve production consistency. MAN sold a majority stake in the printing-machine business to Allianz Capital Partners in 2006. The enterprise adopted the name manroland AG in 2008. It continued to add automation, remote-service capabilities, software and digital-printing partnerships, but faced a structural decline in parts of the print market and broader economic pressure. The company filed for insolvency in November 2011. The insolvency produced a division of the operating businesses. Possehl acquired the Augsburg web division in January 2012, creating manroland web systems. Langley Holdings acquired the sheetfed division in Offenbach in February 2012, creating manroland sheetfed systems. The separated businesses continued serving established press customers under the manroland name. In 2018, manroland web systems and Goss International merged to form Manroland Goss Web Systems. The modern brand is consequently associated with specialist manufacturers and service organizations rather than the pre-2012 single corporate structure.
- 2018
Manroland web systems merged with Goss
[1]The web-printing business combined with Goss International to form Manroland Goss Web Systems.
- 2012
Web and sheetfed businesses separated
[1]Possehl acquired the Augsburg web business and Langley Holdings acquired the Offenbach sheetfed business.
- 2011
Insolvency filing
[1]Manroland filed for insolvency in November, leading to the later separation and sale of its web and sheetfed divisions.
- 2010
autoprint automation concept introduced
[1]Manroland presented autoprint, a one-touch automation concept intended to simplify offset-press setup and operation.
- 2008
Company renamed manroland AG
[1]MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG adopted the manroland AG name and presented a new logo at drupa.
- 2006
Majority stake sold to Allianz Capital Partners
[1]MAN sold a majority interest in its printing-machine subsidiary to an investment vehicle controlled by Allianz Capital Partners.
- 2006
DirectDrive technology launched
[1]DirectDrive plate-cylinder technology was launched as a way to reduce makeready time.
- 2002
Controlling interest acquired in ppi Media
[1]Manroland acquired a controlling interest in ppi Media, a software company focused on publishing and print-production workflow.
- 1990
PECOM control technology introduced
[1]PECOM and related automation concepts were introduced for controlling and streamlining offset-press production.
- 1986
LITHOMAN introduced
[1]The LITHOMAN web-offset press was introduced with higher operating speed and electronic control-console technology.
Products and positioning
High-end industrial printing equipment and integrated offset-production systems for commercial, publication, newspaper and packaging printers.
Sheetfed offset press · 1911
ROLAND sheetfed offset presses
The ROLAND family covers sheetfed offset presses used for commercial print, publications and packaging. Historical and later models span small, medium and large formats and incorporate automation, color control, electronic monitoring and production-management functions. Notable generations include the ROLAND 700, ROLAND 800, ROLAND 900 and Roland 700 Evolution.
Commercial web offset press · 1986
LITHOMAN
LITHOMAN is a web-offset platform for high-volume commercial and publication printing. The line was developed with electronic control, modular production capabilities and automation intended to support demanding continuous-web workflows. Later configurations included very high page-count systems and additional components for multifunctional production.
Newspaper web offset press · 1974
COLORMAN
COLORMAN represents Manroland’s newspaper web-offset equipment. The product family was developed for large-scale newspaper production, including configurations with many printing units and high throughput. It belongs to the Augsburg web-press heritage and was designed for publishers requiring continuous production, color capability and industrial-scale reliability.
Press control and automation · 1990
PECOM
PECOM is an electronic control and automation platform for offset presses. It was associated with the automation of press operation, production monitoring and setup processes, helping printers manage speed, color and machine coordination through integrated control-console technology.
Services and consumables
Printvalue
Printvalue encompasses services, consumable materials and consulting associated with printing production. It extends the business beyond the sale of presses by supporting customers with operational expertise, supplies and production-related assistance.
Brand decisions
2018
Merger with Goss InternationalM&ABackground
The web-offset market was consolidating as publishers and commercial printers faced changing demand and equipment economics.
Action taken
Manroland web systems merged with Goss International to create Manroland Goss Web Systems.
Aftermath
The combined company continued to focus on web-printing systems, aftermarket support and related technologies.
2012
Strategic partnership with LandaOtherBackground
The company explored the relationship between conventional offset equipment and emerging digital printing technologies.
Action taken
Manroland sheetfed and Landa Corporation announced cooperation involving Landa Nanographic Printing technology.
Aftermath
The announcement positioned manroland sheetfed as a potential partner for integrating or supporting newer digital-printing approaches.
2011
Insolvency filing and business restructuringOtherBackground
A prolonged downturn in parts of the printing industry and pressure on the company’s financial position led to insolvency proceedings.
Action taken
Manroland filed for insolvency, after which the web and sheetfed activities were sold to separate owners.
Aftermath
The Augsburg web division became manroland web systems under Possehl, while the Offenbach sheetfed division became manroland sheetfed systems under Langley Holdings.
2008
Rebrand to manroland AGStrategyBackground
The business sought a unified identity for its press, automation and service activities.
Action taken
MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG changed its name to manroland AG and introduced a new logo at drupa.
Aftermath
The manroland name became the principal commercial identity until the company’s insolvency and subsequent division.
2006
Sale of majority interest to Allianz Capital PartnersM&ABackground
MAN sought to strengthen and further develop the printing-technology business while separating it from the wider MAN group.
Action taken
MAN transferred a 65 percent interest in an investment company owning the printing-machine business to Allianz Capital Partners; MAN retained 35 percent.
Aftermath
The company continued as a privately controlled printing-equipment business and later adopted the manroland name.
Sources1 sources
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