As part of manroland’s drive to get closer to its customer base main board members Peter Kuisle (Executive Vice President Sales) together with Marco Faulhaber (Executive Vice President printservices) flew in for the event, enabling the printers to communicate directly with the company’s most senior management, an opportunity that was quickly taken.
In a brief presentation Kuisle told the audience that manroland was in a very strong position to move forward, with major shareholder Allianz showing its confidence in the company and the industry by injecting fresh cash to completely remove any debt from the company. Kuisle spent most of his time stating manroland’s commitment to the market, evidenced in part by the establishment of manroland Australasia at this time of economic difficulty.
He highlighted the desire within manroland’s highest echelons for direct communication with its customers. He also indicated that the company would be taking a more aggressive marketing position, and urged printers to do the same with their own businesses.
Speaking from the podium just prior to dinner Steve Dunwell, managing director of manroland Australasia told the printers present that the company was introducing a raft of new services aimed at ensuring manroland users are able to continuously optimise their productivity. He also said the company would be launching a range of specially developed consumables in the new year.
The press giant has had mixed fortunes in Australia in recent years; it is the biggest web press vendor, with News, Fairfax, PMP, Hannanprint and Blue Star all customers and all represented last night, and has maintained its position in sheetfed packaging, while commercial sheetfed has proved a more difficult market. However Kuisle and Dunwell are optimistic that the investment the company is making in establishing local direct subsidiaries, together with the capabilities of the presses themselves, and the support provided, will swing the wheel back in its direction. The company is the world’s second biggest offset press manufacturer.
Victorian printers will have their chance to get close to manroland at the customer club dinner planned for Wednesday December 2 in Port Melbourne.
Comment below to have your say on this story.
If you have a news story or tip-off, get in touch at editorial@sprinter.com.au.
Sign up to the Sprinter newsletter