Offenbach am Main – 3rd March, 2026
Langley supports protective shield reorganisation
Manroland Sheetfed GmbH, the beleaguered German press builder, today announced that it has entered into Schutzschirmverfahren insolvency proceedings, with financial support from parent company Langley Holdings plc.
The reorganisation is taking place within the framework of so-called “protective shield” proceedings – a similar process to Chapter 11 in the USA.
Despite a technologically advanced product portfolio, sales at the press builder have declined significantly in recent years with mounting losses.
The decline is primarily due to a sharply shrinking market for printing presses. China, which historically represented around 40% of new press sales, has been hardest hit.
Langley has provided the company with considerable financial support since acquiring the sheetfed division of the former Manroland AG out of insolvency in February 2012.
In its Annual Report & Accounts 2025, the diverse family-owned engineering group announced that losses at Manroland Sheetfed for 2025 alone were €43.2 million. Even so, the group reported a profit before tax for the year of €152.3 million.
Chairman & CEO Anthony Langley stated in his Chairman’s Review: “The board has concluded that the situation [at Manroland Sheetfed] is unsustainable and is currently considering its options”.
Mr Langley goes on to say: “We are conscious, however, that a great many printing businesses, the vast majority of them privately owned SMEs, rely on Manroland presses and it is our goal that whatever solution we ultimately decide upon, the installed base will continue to be supported”
A sustainable reversal of the external factors is not expected in the foreseeable future and a major structural reorientation is needed to enable Manroland Sheetfed to return to profitability, albeit on a much reduced scale.
Under protective shield proceedings, management remains responsible for running the business with a neutral supervisor appointed by the court accompanying the proceedings as an administrator.
External restructuring and legal experts from SGP Schneider Geiwitz and BUSE are supporting the management as general representatives.
Alongside corporate restructuring lawyer Prof. Dr. Peter Fissenewert of BUSE and Mr Oliver Brückner of SGP Schneider Geiwitz, restructuring expert Mr Arndt Geiwitz is one of the general representatives.
Mr Geiwitz said: “I see Manroland Sheetfed has a viable core business. However, we will have to implement drastic and far-reaching measures. Then the restructuring has a chance of success. This is also confirmed by an independent expert opinion.”
Manroland Sheetfed CEO Mr Mirko Kern said: “It is regrettable that a great many jobs will be lost but I call upon the workers council and the unions to co-operate with what we and restructuring experts have concluded are the necessary measures to arrive at a viable business and preserve the remaining positions.”
About Protective Shield
Schutzschirmverfahren, or “protective shield” insolvency proceedings, are similar to Chapter 11 in the USA. It is a variant of provisional self-administration (debtor-in-possession) regulated by Section 270d (formerly 270b) of the German Insolvency Code (InSo). It allows a company to restructure while its management remains in control, rather than being replaced by a court-appointed administrator.
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 sales and service subsidiaries in over 40 countries and is a global watchword for supreme quality and reliability. Manroland Sheetfed GmbH was acquired by Langley Holdings plc in February 2012.
About Langley Holdings
Langley Holdings plc is a privately owned UK-based engineering and industrial manufacturing group, principally producing capital equipment for diverse markets worldwide. Langley businesses are either outright market leaders, or occupy strong niche positions in their respective fields, providing advanced technologies in a solutions-based approach. The group operates in three principal areas: Power Solutions, Print Technologies and Diverse Industrials. The group’s operations are based in Germany, Italy, France the UK and Norway, with 18 production facilities in Europe, Scandinavia, the UK and the USA. The group has more than 90 sales and service subsidiaries worldwide and employs over 5,000 people. Langley Holdings was established in 1975 by the current Chairman & CEO, Anthony Langley and remains entirely in family ownership.