Hamburg-based drying specialist Eltosch and sheet-fed offset printing expert Grafix come together under the umbrella of the Hönle Group to form Eltosch Grafix GmbH. Eltosch and Grafix share much in common: both have decades of experience in sheet-fed offset printing and industrial applications, both have achieved success all over the world and both belong to the Hönle Group.

This merger to form Eltosch Grafix GmbH brings together two companies specialising in the fields of thermal air, infrared and UV technology, as well as powder and cooling, to create a formidable team. The joint managing directors of Eltosch Grafix GmbH are Carsten Scheffel, formerly managing director of Eltosch Torsten Schmidt GmbH, and Andreas Döderlein, who was previously head of sales at Grafix.

Together, they will shape the future direction of the new company. "We are convinced that by bringing together know-how and providing a platform for continuous dialogue between our employees, synergies will be created from which our customers will benefit. Further to the cooperation in joint subsidiary companies in America and Asia, this merger is the next logical step as we strive to strengthen the position of the company," says Carsten Scheffel, reflecting on the events that led to the merger.

However, the opportunity for joint research and development is certainly not the only benefit of the amalgamation. Explaining the decision, managing director Andreas Döderlein says: "Bringing Eltosch and Grafix together is the best way to meet the requirements of the world market."

Synergies are particularly apparent in the areas of sales and service, where resources have now joined forces to find the best applications and solutions for customers. Entirely new opportunities are also arising in purchasing and production. "We are going to need the support of all of our employees in meeting the challenges we now face," stresses Andreas Döderlein. No jobs are to be lost as a direct result of the merger and the existing sites in Hamburg, Stuttgart and Unterlüß will remain open.