MAN Roland has announced that production at the new Offenbach “superplant” will
begin with the ROLAND 500 B2-format sheet-fed press, which will produce a new version of the
machine.
The new high-tech production line will provide for substantial changes to the way that
the company has constructed machines in the past, and MAN Roland GB is already anticipating
significant cost reductions in the resultant presses.
Gary Doman, Director of Sheet-Fed and Finishing Sales at MAN Roland GB, said, “We
understand that the new plant will provide for a number of economies with regard to the
assembly process, all of which we expect to be passed on through the system to the customer.
The company has also taken this opportunity to look closely at the specification of the
ROLAND 500.
“This press was introduced as a commercial solution for the high-end of the market.
Perhaps with the current economic situation within the industry in mind, it has been
decided to adjust the approach with this machine, and provide a stripped down basic
version of the press as a starting point.”
It is believed that the new entry level approach will begin immediately, with prices
for a basic ROLAND 500 four-colour machine starting from around the £500,000 mark. This change
in specification will come into effect ahead of the new production line at Offenbach,
which is expected to come on-stream in the late summer of 2005.
Packages can be added at time of order to upgrade the basic machine to a more sophisticated
product.
“The company has been brave enough to turn the whole selling process for this machine on
its head. Instead of approaching the market with a top of the range B2-press, we now have
a very basic printing system which can be enhanced to create a product tailored to the
printers needs,” added Gary Doman.
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