Press maker Goss says customers will benefit from a merger of its French manufacturing and support centres.

M-600, Sunday 5000 and 4000 commercial webs, and Colorliner, Uniliner and Universal newspaper presses have all been built at Montataire since the assembly facility in Nantes closed, although engineering and service remains at Nantes.

Goss says uniting the two as a single legal entity, called Goss International France, this month will enhance service to customers.

It says the organisational move will not impact capabilities or the size of the workforce at either facility, or at Preston (UK) and Boxmeer (Netherlands).

Montataire is currently building the eight-tower Colorliner CPS newspaper press for DC Thomson in Scotland, together with 96-page Sunday 5000 and short-grain Sunday 4000 heatset webs for customers in Germany and France.

Goss International president and chief executive Jochen Meissner says merging the legal entities in France is “a natural step that will increase transparency for customers”.

“We continue to provide printers and publishers with a unique combination of local responsiveness and a worldwide manufacturing platform, including major press and auxiliary manufacturing operations in Europe.”

Pictured: Assembly of a 96-page Sunday 5000 at the Montataire facility