Koenig & Bauer AG (KBA) and MBO Maschinenbau Oppenweiler Binder GmbH & Co KG (MBO) have sealed an agreement on a cooperation relating to the international distribution of folding machines and finishing systems from MBO.

KBA's sheetfed offset organisation will be taking on exclusive sales and service responsibility for MBO machines in selected countries in Europe, Asia, Latin America and Africa, and will be assisting the existing MBO sales teams on a commission basis in respect of suitable projects elsewhere. MBO has its own sales offices in the USA, China and France. The cooperation agreement was signed by MBO managing director Frank Eckert and KBA executive vice-president for sheetfed offset sales Ralf Sammeck at the 2013 China Print trade fair in Beijing. Further details are to be announced over the coming weeks.

MBO managing director Frank Eckert: "KBA offers a very broad range of sheetfed offset, web and digital presses. And MBO adds to this spectrum ideally with its own comprehensive portfolio of folding machines and systems for digital web finishing and postpress handling. KBA builds the largest and fastest sheetfed offset presses and we build the largest and fastest folding machines on the world market. Both companies are extremely technology-oriented. We are looking forward to cooperating with the second-largest press manufacturer in the world."

KBA executive vice-president Ralf Sammeck: "MBO has a very good reputation in the print industry, not least thanks to its efficient products and its strong focus on innovative technology. I am confident that we will complement each other well in the combination of print and finishing, and that our joint customers around the world will benefit from our extensive know-how and new ideas on both sides."