In 1871, Louis Faber and Adolf Schleicher founded Faber & Schleicher, in Frankfurt, Germany, moving the following year to Offenbach, where the company’s headquarters are still kept today. Forty years after the founding of the company, they build the first Roland sheetfed offset press, which is awarded a gold medal in Turin, Italy. And so, in 1912, the company is renamed Roland. Always following the standard in printing excellence, in 1951 Roland showcases its first 4-color printer, the Roland Ultra, at the first Drupa.
After just over a century, in 1972, the Roland 800 is introduced to the large format industry — the first sheetfed offset press to be configured with an integrated color control system and speeds of up to 10,000 sheets/hour. The success of this equipment was so great that, four years after its debut, it was already present, in operation, in 20 countries around the world.
In 1979, the merger with Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-Nürnberg takes place and the company is renamed M.A.N.-Roland Druckmaschinen AG. Six years later, in 1985, the Roland 200 is launched, with speeds of up to 12,000 sheets/hour. And, in 1990, the iconic Roland 700 line appears, with speeds of up to 15,000 sheets/hour and an innovative automation concept, introducing a great novelty, the Pecom control console. Five more years later, the Roland 900 is introduced at Drupa, setting new standards in terms of speed and economy.
Following the same pattern, at Drupa 2000, the Roland 500 is launched — the fastest printer in the half-sheet segment — and, three years later, the market receives the Roland 900 XXL in giant 7/7 and 8 formats, as well as the Printvalue concept, designed to strengthen the services provided by the company (printservices, printcom, printnet and printadvice).
Always aiming for maximum technology, in 2004 the Roland InlineFoiler Printer was introduced to the graphics industry for in-line ennoblement with foil, intended to replace hot-stamping, and also the Roland 700 DirectDrive model — which stands out for its ultra-fast set-up times, both which, in 2007, leads one of the company’s customers to be mentioned in the Guinness Book for record in job exchanges with DirectDrive.
In 2010, the “One Touch” concept was launched, to provide a higher level of automation, and the Roland 900 XXL with reversal. Two years later, the company is acquired by the Langley group and, in 2014, just two years after the acquisition, the Roland 700 Evolution model is introduced — a new standard in printing technology. Continuing the focus on innovation, in 2020, the Roland 900 Evolution is launched.
To complete with a golden key the celebration of this century and a half of existence, Manroland is celebrating, in 2021, the sales record of the last ten years.
Brazil also celebrates
Responsible for the company’s activities in our country, Paulo Sérgio Raimundo, CEO of Manroland do Brasil Serviços, said this about this historic date: “Almost 30 years ago I started my journey with Roland and today I feel very honored and proud to be a part of the 150th anniversary of Manroland Sheetfed! Company that values the know-how of its employees and maintains the quality of its equipment, always focusing on customer satisfaction. It’s gratifying to know that our printers mark the trajectories of our customers and that they never stopped trusting, and believing, in our company. Congratulations, Manroland Sheetfed!”
Download: Manroland 150 years Editorial
About Manroland Sheetfed
Manroland Sheetfed GmbH is a leading German producer of sheetfed offset litho printing presses. Founded in 1871, the company is one of the oldest producers of printing presses in the world. Today the company has its own subsidiaries in over 40 countries and is a global watchword for supreme quality and reliability. Manroland Sheetfed GmbH is a wholly owned subsidiary of the privately owned UK engineering group, Langley Holdings plc.