New Distributor Channels for Printing Blankets in Europe
12 January 2012
Trelleborg makes sure customers are served effectively with a new distribution network established across Europe after Manroland declared insolvency.
Thomas Linkenheil, Managing Director of Trelleborg Printing Blankets division, comments:
“We are pleased to announce that we now have new distributor channels set up in the UK, Germany, Switzerland and Norway, and would like to reassure our customers that we are doing everything in our power to ensure that all Trelleborg products are supplied in a timely and efficient manner.
“We have dedicated additional resources to support all Rollin and Vulcan customers previously served by Manroland/Printcom distributors following the unfortunate news that in late 2011, Manroland AG declared insolvency. In addition, with many of its marketing companies subsequently falling into administration, we feel that there has been an air of uncertainty across the printing industry as supply levels dropped due to the lack of resolution.
“While we have so far not faced supply problems, as a leading manufacturer of high quality printing blankets, Trelleborg’s top priority is to ensure seamless supply of its product across all segments of Trelleborg users.
“As such, these new distributors and sales channels have now been set up to ensure service levels are guaranteed. For those customers who are sourcing through new dealers, we will continue to pledge our full assistance if required. However, should any supply issues unexpectedly occur, we would like to advise our customers to contact us directly.
“In the UK, our Vulcan business has been divided across two distributors. Our longstanding partners, BSF, will look after the heatset and web solutions, alongside the Rollin series of blankets which it has been distributing since 1995. Meanwhile Nottingham based Stehlin Hostag Ink, which is also an established partner, will take responsibility for sheetfed products. We have also appointed Manroland’s former National Blanket Manager, Bob Whitney from the 1st February 2012, to establish a continued and direct supply of metal-back blankets and sleeves to major newspaper printers across the UK and Ireland
Further changes in Europe include:
Germany: Streb Gmbh will handle both the Vulcan & Rollin brands
Switzerland: Chromos AG will handle both the Vulcan & Rollin brands
Norway: Luth Gruppen AS will handle both the Vulcan & Rollin brands
Metal Back Blankets and Sleeves will be distributed directly through Trelleborg in the UK, Switzerland, Germany and Eastern Europe. For the UK please contact Bob Whitney, for all other countries please contact Matthias Horn at
