Swiss double-width press maker Wifag has moved from takeover target to buyer with the acquisition of Swiss single-width maker Solna and its Hong Kong-based distributor EKPAC Graphics.

After shrinking its organisation after failed talks with manroland, Wifag has survived the worst effects of the market turndown and global economic crisis to gain access to high-growth markets in China, South East Asia and the Gulf states.

Jörgen Karlsson, former chief executive and owner of Solna, has been named to run the expanded business from headquarters in Fribourg, where he will report to Peter Ruth, chief executive of the Wifag and Polytype Group. 

He is joined by Wifag management team members Christian Miescher (engineering), Hugo Haymoz (services), Andreas Thüler (special projects) and Noel McEvoy (sales, projects and marketing).

Solna makes mostly single-width presses for newspaper and book printing, and is number two in China for single-width (one or two-around) presses in terms of sold units. Its 70,000 cph presses are among the fastest in the segment. 

A new manufacturing supply chain in China provides the opportunity for presses and parts to be made in either China or Europe, and Wifag will have immediate access to this low-cost manufacturing option for both newspaper press products and other products of the parent group.

The arrangement brings new life to the Wifag newspaper press brand, with high performance Evolution presses built in 4x1, 4x2 and 6x2 formats, as well as “very affordable” Solna 390 presses for the 2x1, 2x2 formats.

The company says the existing Solna organisation in Sweden will remain and serve be responsible for Solna product orders. Wifag and Solna presses for the European, North and South American markets will be assembled in Switzerland.