UK World Tour draws industry optimism and success
Potts Print’s Cramlington facility provided the perfect stage for the highly anticipated UK stop of the ROLAND Evolution World Tour, drawing in a wealth of print professionals, business leaders and industry innovators from across the country.
The event, held on 13th March 2025, offered a dynamic showcase of the Potts Print ROLAND 700 Evolution press operating live in a real-world production environment, leaving attendees inspired and impressed.
One of the day’s highlights was an address by Daniel Godbold, the newly appointed Managing Director of Manroland UK, who delivered a clear and passionate message about the future of print and the critical role Manroland is committed to playing.
Speaking to a full house, Godbold emphasised not only the technological excellence of the ROLAND Evolution presses but also the need to bring fresh talent and diversity into the print industry.
“Print is 20% of all manufacturing – that’s a staggering figure,” Godbold noted. “Yet, there’s a generation of bright, ambitious young people working in coffee shops and call centres who haven’t considered print as a viable career. We need to change that narrative, show them that print offers an exciting, sustainable, and future-proof profession. Whether it’s men or women – the latest technology levels the playing field, requiring brains, not brawn.”
Godbold also underlined Manroland’s unwavering commitment to partnership and long-term customer support. “We don’t just sell presses. We team up with you. From free training for life, to next-day parts delivery and immediate engineering support, we make your uptime and KPIs our priority. Couple that with German engineering excellence and low cost of ownership, and it’s easy to see why Manroland presses continue to lead the market, decade after decade.”
Throughout the day, attendees had the opportunity to engage directly with Manroland experts from Germany, observe the ROLAND 700 Evo’s cutting-edge features and network with peers from across the UK print landscape.
It was particularly meaningful to celebrate alongside Potts as they marked an incredible milestone -150 years of trading. As Daniel Godbold aptly remarked, “I’m certain Potts Print will still be operating another 150 years from now – though I might not be making that speech!”
The event’s success was capped with an evening’s entertainment at the Crowne Plaza, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, with pre-dinner drinks and in-depth discussions with Manroland experts.
Mirko Kern, CEO Manroland Sheetfed GmbH, thanked everyone who attended “It was truly a pleasure to see so many of you there and to share this exciting journey together. A special thank you goes to Potts Print, whose incredible support and hospitality played a key role in making the event the success it was”.
With overwhelmingly positive feedback and renewed industry confidence, the UK stop of the ROLAND Evolution World Tour proved not only a technical showcase but also a strong statement about the future of print: innovative, resilient and full of opportunity.
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Mirko Kern, CEO Manroland Sheetfed GmbH, opened the event.
Left to right: Bernard Langley, Main Board Director, Langley Holdings plc, with Mirko Kern.
Left: Michael Johnson, Managing Director Potts Print UK and William Langley, Main Board Director, Langley Holdings plc.
Daniel Godbold, the newly appointed Managing Director of Manroland UK, delivers a clear and passionate message about the future of print and the critical role Manroland is committed to playing.
Experts from Manroland Germany conducted a number of print demonstrations
The Manroland Sheetfed Technical Team
The day concludes with a relaxing dinner and entertainment.
About Manroland Sheetfed
Manroland Sheetfed GmbH is a leading German manufacturer of sheetfed offset litho printing presses. Founded in 1871, it is one of the world’s oldest and most respected printing press producers. With subsidiaries in over 40 countries, Manroland is synonymous with quality and reliability. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of the privately held UK engineering group, Langley Holdings plc.