Manroland Sheetfed GmbH, the beleaguered German press builder, has entered into Schutzschirmverfahren insolvency proceedings, with financial support from parent company Langley Holdings plc. The reorganisation is taking place within the framework of so-called “protective shield” proceedings – a similar process to Chapter 11 in the USA.
Despite a technologically advanced product portfolio, sales at the press builder have declined significantly in recent years with mounting losses. The decline is primarily due to a sharply shrinking market for printing presses. China, which historically represented around 40% of new press sales, has been hardest hit.
Langley has provided the company with considerable financial support since acquiring the sheetfed division of the former Manroland AG out of insolvency in February 2012.
In its Annual Report & Accounts 2025, the family-owned engineering group announced that losses at Manroland Sheetfed for 2025 alone were €43.2 million. Even so, the group reported a profit before tax for the year of €152.3 million.
A sustainable reversal of the external factors is not expected in the foreseeable future and a major structural reorientation is needed to enable Manroland Sheetfed to return to profitability, albeit on a much reduced scale.
Under protective shield proceedings, management remains responsible for running the business with a neutral supervisor appointed by the court accompanying the proceedings as an administrator.
External restructuring and legal experts from SGP Schneider Geiwitz and BUSE are supporting the management as general representatives.
Alongside corporate restructuring lawyer Prof. Dr. Peter Fissenewert of BUSE and Oliver Brückner of SGP Schneider Geiwitz, restructuring expert Arndt Geiwitz is one of the general representatives.
Geiwitz said, “I see Manroland Sheetfed has a viable core business. However, we will have to implement drastic and far-reaching measures. Then the restructuring has a chance of success. This is also confirmed by an independent expert opinion.”
Manroland Sheetfed CEO, Mirko Kern, said, “It is regrettable that a great many jobs will be lost but I call upon the workers council and the unions to co-operate with what we and restructuring experts have concluded are the necessary measures to arrive at a viable business and preserve the remaining positions.”
