MAN Roland Web Services opens in Australia

MAN Roland launches new standalone company, MAN Roland Web Services, catering for all web press servicing operations in Australia.

Graham Wickham will head up the company, which opens for business on 1 January 2008. Wickham comes from a senior management position at PMP Print's Moorebank facility, where he gained exposure in both the web sector and with MAN Roland presses.

"I am very pleased and excited to be a part of this new approach to service delivery in the web sector," Wickham said.

"MAN Roland has a reputation for technical excellence that is second to none in the web market and it is my goal to ensure this extends to service and support functions as well."

Wickham's role will be to concentrate on providing customers with service and support for their web facilities. Managing director of MAN Ferrostaal, Markus Haefeli, welcomed Wickham on board.

"He (Wickham) understands the servicing requirements of web presses from the client's perspective and knows what is required from us as a service operation," he said.

Growth in the web sector led to the creation of MAN Roland Web Services, according to Haefeli. "The web press sector is one in which we have had great success over many years, including some of the largest press installations anywhere in the print world," he said.

"It seemed important that we focus on the needs of those customers by means of a specialised, dedicated service operation for this market. Having a one-stop service provider, jointly-owned with MAN Roland and with its own team of engineers and technicians will ensure that web customers receive priority access to MAN Roland expertise and support around the clock, both here and from Germany."

Gerd Finkbeiner, chairman of the executive board of MAN Roland, praised the initiative, which he believes demonstrates the company's commitment to providing quality service to Australian customers.

"This collaboration underlines the importance of the Australian market for us," he said. "It is vital that we continue to ensure our customers receive the highest level of support for their operations."