"One of the reasons the R500 hasn't really sold is that it was so highly spec'd it wasn't price competitive," said MAN Roland GB director of sheetfed and finishing sales Gary Doman. "We're now able to meet our mainstream competition head on."
The introduction of the entry-level R500 comes about as a result of the firm moving the press' production to Offenbach following the closure of Geisenheim.
The move gave the firm the opportunity to take a fresh look at the market. The basic press will be a 16,000sph unit handling up to 600micron board, with semi-automatic plate changing.
MAN Roland will introduce a host of option packages for the press allowing customers an element of customisation.
The "Premium" packages will include: Board, for running heavyweight stocks up to 1,000microns; Speed, giving 18,000sph.
The firm is taking orders for the press now and expects the first models to ship sometime in Q3.
Story by Darryl Danielli
Have your say in the Printweek Poll
Related stories
Latest comments
"And here's me thinking they bought the Docklands Light Railway."
"15 x members? Why don't they throw their lot in with the Strategic Mailing Partnership (SMP) and get a louder voice?"
"Some forty plus years ago I was at a "sales" training seminar and got chatting to the trainer after the session had finished.
In that conversation he told me about another seminar he had..."
Up next...
Environment Agency gathering evidence
Manchester pair arrested over Packaging Export Recovery Notes fraud
"Breakthrough technology"
IGS inkjet press achieves food-safe ink accreditation
175th anniversary in March
Heidelberg outlines growth strategy as anniversary year begins
Process to be completed by 10 January