Wifag Polytype Group Acquires L&P/Spuhl Digital Technologies

Wifag Polytype Group has acquired L&P Digital Technologies (USA) and Spuhl Digital Printing (Switzerland) from Leggett & Platt Inc. The acquisition includes the business, products, technologies, and staffs of each group, and Wifag will integrate the businesses as a new division of the Wifag Polytype Group under the “WP Digital AG” name.

Headquartered in Switzerland, Wifag Polytype is a supplier of high-end rotary offset presses for newspapers (Wifag) as well as container-decorating equipment for the food, cosmetics, and the packaging industry (Polytype), and is a supplier of consumables and equipment for the graphics industry (Wifac). The company employs 1500 worldwide.

WP Digital AG will continue the development, sales, and service of the former Spuhl digital printers and distribute these products via its Polytype America Corp. and Polytype Asia Pacific subsidiaries. The service and customer support of the Leggett & Platt printers in North America will be continued by Polytype America Corp.

In a statement, Wifag Polytype indicates that, 'The existing marketing channels and the opportunities provided by the Wifag Polytype Group constitute an ideal combination that will target further growth for WP Digital AG and expand into new areas involving digital printing.'

Leggett & Platt Digital released its Virtu HD8 printer in late 2007. a 6-color (CMYKcm) UV-curable printer that's compatible with rollfed and rigid media, the HD8 includes MEMS technology, a modular platform, and cold-curing lamps. Other machines on the company's roster, according to the website, are the Virtu 130, Virtu 72, and Virtu 36.

WP DIGITAL AG
www.wp-digital.com

POLYTYPE AMERICA
www.polytypeamerica.com

LEGGETT & PLATT DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES
www.lp-digital.com