The German press manufacturer has also revealed that it has made "good progress" in implementing its previously announced move to shed 500 jobs from its sites in Augsburg, Offenbach, and Plauen.

According to Manroland, the aforementioned job cuts will affect "indirect" functions in administration, as well as the production areas.

Therefore, Manroland’s global headcount will drop to around 6,000 by the end of 2012.

Manroland previously confirmed that the basic structure of the business would remain unchanged, with its Augsburg and Offenbach facilities maintaining the production of press parts and assembly.

However, the manufacturer's Plauen site, which formerly handled business units for small format newspaper presses, will become a centre for mechanical production and module assembly.

In addition, the business units for small and large newspaper presses will be consolidated at the Augsburg site, which will also handle the central functions for the manroland group.

Earlier this month, manroland announced the formation of a global alliance with Océ that will result in the German press manufacturer supplying Océ's digital high-speed continuous feed equipment from next year.

The two companies will work together in the fields of sales and development with the aim to offer a "single source" for all aspects of the print process within the graphic arts sector.