GWS Printing Systems
GWS Printing Systems is a Dutch global supplier of used and refurbished webfed offset printing presses and ancillary equipment, serving newspaper, commercial, book, and packaging printers across 25+ countries with turnkey project delivery, proprietary retrofit modules, and an online spare parts platform.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersNieuwkuijk, Netherlands
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What GWS Printing Systems does
GWS Printing Systems B.V. is a Dutch-headquartered global supplier of used and refurbished webfed offset printing presses, ancillaries, and related systems to the printing industry. Founded in 1989 in Nieuwkuijk, the company has sold more than 1,250 machines across its history and serves newspaper publishers, commercial printers, semi-commercial printers, and book/catalog producers in over 25 countries. Its core product portfolio spans coldset presses (e.g., Goss Universal-50, manroland REGIOMAN) for newspaper production, heatset presses (e.g., manroland LITHOMAN, Goss M600, MAN UNISET-75) for commercial and magazine work, semi-commercial presses, and a broad range of ancillary equipment including pasters, folders, dryers, and stackers.
The company's technology stack is centered on mechanical engineering and proprietary retro-fit modules rather than software. Its two notable in-house products are the GWS Flexweb module, which enables variable web widths on fixed-width double-wide newspaper presses, and the Web Tension Improvement (Flexfeed) infeed/outfeed modules that solve register and web tension problems. A 2,600 m² technical center in Waalwijk supports engineering, refurbishment, installation, and R&D. GWS is wholly owned by manroland Goss web systems Group following a December 2018 acquisition, and operates three principal revenue streams: capital equipment sales (one-time transactions), engineering/installation/training services, and spare parts distributed through the graphicwebparts.com e-commerce platform. Operations are organized through a hybrid direct-sales and channel-partner model, with 13 offices and representatives across Europe, the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, and a recent 2024 acquisition (Galred Europe B.V.) extending the business into packaging equipment.
GWS Printing Systems firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- GWS Printing Systems
- Legal name
- GWS Printing Systems B.V.
- Website
- https://gws.nl
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- GWS Printing Systems is a Dutch global supplier of used and refurbished webfed offset printing presses and ancillary equipment, serving newspaper, commercial, book, and packaging printers across 25+ countries with turnkey project delivery, proprietary retrofit modules, and an online spare parts platform.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
GWS Printing Systems industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Used Printing Equipment
- NAICS
- Support Activities for Printing (323120), Printing and Related Support Activities (323)
- SIC
- Printing Trades Machinery & Equipment (3555), Service Industries For The Printing Trade (2790)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Production & High-Volume Printing Systems (HDACAEAJ)
Keywords
Where GWS Printing Systems is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Nieuwkuijk
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices13 records
Markets served
GWS Printing Systems business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Used Printing Equipment Sales: Sale of pre-owned and refurbished webfed offset presses, auxiliaries and related systems. Includes coldset, heatset, and semi-commercial presses from manufacturers including Goss, manroland, KBA, and others.
- Services: Engineering, project management, installation, training and after-sales service for printing equipment. Includes technical project solutions and press improvements.
- Spare Parts: Online webshop for spare parts through www.graphicwebparts.com. Parts harvested from dismantled equipment and kept in stock for sale.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Used equipment with varying conditions |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
GWS Printing Systems product offering
Product offeringCore offering
GWS Printing Systems is a global supplier of premium used and refurbished webfed offset printing presses (coldset, heatset, and semi-commercial) along with ancillary equipment and proprietary add-on modules such as GWS Flexweb. The company delivers turnkey projects including equipment sourcing, engineering, installation, commissioning, training, and after-sales service to newspaper publishers and commercial printers worldwide.
Product overview
GWS Printing Systems is a global supplier of premium webfed offset presses, auxiliaries, and related systems to the printing industry. The company operates as a platform-based offering centered on used and refurbished web offset printing equipment, complemented by proprietary add-on modules and comprehensive services. Core products include coldset presses (for newspaper printing), heatset presses (for commercial/magazine printing), and semi-commercial presses, along with extensive ancillary equipment (pasters, stackers, folders, dryers, trimmers). The proprietary GWS Flexweb module enables variable web widths on double-wide presses, while custom Flexfeed infeed/outfeed units address web tension issues. The Solutions Programme provides press improvements, control upgrades, rebuilding, and turnkey project management services. All offerings are supported by engineering, installation, training, and after-sales services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- GWS Flexweb: Variable web width application module that allows printing variable web widths on fixed width double wide newspaper presses
- GWS Web Tension Improvement
- GWS Parts
- Machinery Care
- GWS Services
Quantifiable outcome
- 1,250 machines sold since company founding
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use GWS Printing Systems
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
GWS Printing Systems technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
GWS Printing Systems partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- manroland Goss web systems Group (MGWS)coreGWS Printing Systems was acquired by manroland Goss web systems Group in December 2018. GWS operates as a standalone company within the MGWS group, maintaining its entrepreneurial approach while extending network and market reach. Current owners Eric van Kessel and Walter Donkers continued as managers after acquisition.
- The Siebold Company (TSC)corePartnership with Florida-based The Siebold Company to represent GWS in the US, Canada, and English-speaking Caribbean Islands. TSC specializes in electromechanical installation contracting for web offset equipment with over 5,000 installations since 1989.
- manroland Southern Africacoremanroland Southern Africa serves as exclusive representative for Southern African countries, based in Cape Town. Oversees and coordinates all used web-fed activities in the area.
- GWS ScandinaviacoreGWS Printing Systems Scandinavia office in Stockholm covering Scandinavian countries, Baltic states, Belarus, Poland, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Russia. Headed by Stefan Edwall.
- Galred Europe B.V.minorAcquired trading house specializing in used packaging industry equipment including flexo, rotogravure, pouch making and extruding equipment. Creates one-stop-shop experience for packaging solutions.
- MediaHuisminorPartnership for complete print plant clearance in Emmeloord, Netherlands. GWS Parts division critical in ensuring project success through parts recovery program.
- Rima (Germany)minorPost-press equipment supplier from Germany for complete post-press lines supplied with printing presses.
- manroland-Goss Web SystemscoreTechnical cooperation with manroland Goss specialists for press installation and commissioning in various projects worldwide.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
GWS Printing Systems competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Komori: Japanese commercial and webfed printing press manufacturer with global sales and service operations. Comparable to GWS because both sell and service high-volume printing presses to commercial printers, with Komori's offset lines competing in the same newspaper, book and commercial print end-markets GWS serves through its used/refurbished inventory.
- Heidelberger Druckmaschinen: Global sheetfed and webfed printing OEM with a certified pre-owned (used) equipment program. Comparable to GWS because both supply industrial printing presses to commercial and packaging printers, and Heidelberg's used equipment services compete directly with GWS's core resale business.
- Koenig & Bauer (KBA): German printing press OEM producing webfed and sheetfed presses for newspaper, commercial and packaging applications. Direct comparability through identical end-customer segments (newspaper and book printers); KBA press models such as the Comet and C32 are among the inventory GWS resells, positioning them as both a supplier and a competitor.
Others
- manroland Goss web systems: GWS's parent company and major webfed offset printing press OEM. Relevant as both the OEM whose presses form the core of GWS's inventory and an adjacent competitor whose direct-to-customer aftermarket services overlap with GWS's service business; both entities are described as 'global leader in used printing equipment'.
- Baldwin Technology: Global supplier of print technology, automation and consumables to commercial and newspaper printers. Adjacent rather than direct: Baldwin supplies ancillary equipment (cleaning, drying, automation) that complements web offset presses, positioning it as an ecosystem participant to GWS's press-and-ancillary bundle.
Direct peers
- GraphiPress: Belgian-based dealer of used and rebuilt offset printing equipment. Direct competitor to GWS in the European market for second-hand web offset presses and auxiliaries, with overlapping geographic coverage in Western Europe and a similar coldset/heatset press inventory focus.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
GWS Printing Systems social profiles
Digital presenceGWS Printing Systems financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
GWS Printing Systems leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
GWS Printing Systems subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
GWS Printing Systems funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
GWS Printing Systems M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about GWS Printing Systems
What does GWS Printing Systems do?
GWS Printing Systems is a global supplier of premium used and refurbished webfed offset printing presses (coldset, heatset, and semi-commercial) along with ancillary equipment and proprietary add-on modules such as GWS Flexweb. The company delivers turnkey projects including equipment sourcing, engineering, installation, commissioning, training, and after-sales service to newspaper publishers and commercial printers worldwide.
Is GWS Printing Systems a public or private company?
GWS Printing Systems is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was GWS Printing Systems founded?
GWS Printing Systems was founded in 1989. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is GWS Printing Systems based?
GWS Printing Systems is headquartered in Nieuwkuijk, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does GWS Printing Systems make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Used Printing Equipment Sales are the primary driver. The others are services and spare Parts.
Who are GWS Printing Systems's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Komori, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen and Koenig & Bauer (KBA). Others are manroland Goss web systems and Baldwin Technology. GraphiPress is listed as a direct peer.
Does GWS Printing Systems have an API?
No public API is recorded for GWS Printing Systems.
What industry is GWS Printing Systems in?
GWS Printing Systems's product category is Used Printing Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDACAEAJ, Production & High-Volume Printing Systems. Its NAICS code is 323120 and its SIC code is 3555.