KBA acquires Grafitec
Mar 10, 2005 2:29 PM
Koenig & Bauer AG (KBA) (Wurzburg, Germany) has agreed to purchase Czech press manufacturer Grafitec, spol. s r. o. from American investment fund Charles Investment Partners and minority shareholders for an undisclosed sum.
Grafitec employs 400 people and experienced more than 50 percent year-over-year sales growth in 2004. Its Polly Prestige and Polly Performer presses, for 20 .5 x 29-inch and 19 x 26-inch sheets, respectively, are sold in Europe and the United States. At Drupa 2004, the company launched the Polly Prestige 74DE for 2, 4, 5 or 6 colors plus optional coater, with which it is targeting midsize printers and expansion in the Latin American and Asian markets.
Grafitec’s product line will complement KBA’s Rapida 74, Rapida 74 G and 74 Karat whose higher level of automation, broader choice of substrates (including plastic and board), inline finishing options and configurations (long perfectors) address the high end of the market.
Albrecht Bolza-Schunemann, president and CEO of KBA, comments, “Grafitec strengthens our strategic position in small-format presses and our market position in Central and Eastern Europe. We believe we will be able to continue to service and further grow Grafitec’s customer base.”
Caption: Pictured (l. to r.) are Petr Skrla, designated CFO of the new entity; Lubos Moravec, Grafitec operations manager; Andreas Mössner, KBA’s executive vice president of sheetfed offset sales and controlling; Jens Junker, KBA’s sales director and designated CEO of Grafitec; Dr Hans-Bernhard Bolza-Schünemann, KBA’s deputy chairman; Albrecht Bolza-Schünemann, KBA’s president and CEO; Jan Korenc, Grafitec’s sales, marketing and service manager; and Zdenek Forejtek, Grafitec’s current CFO.
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