A massive opportunity to take a share of the regional printing roller market has been seized by US-headquartered RotaDyne.

The company – which lists Australasia and Africa as the only two markets in the world in which it is not active – is reported to have acquired Angus Scott’s Ace Rollers/Rollmakers business.

Local trade magazine Print21 says its parent, Rotation Dynamics Corp will develop manufacturing facilities in Melbourne to service the region following the buyout.

The arrival of one of the world’s biggest suppliers of rubber and hard coated rollers for the printing industry is bound to send waves throughout an Australian industry currently dominated by a very small number of companies.

The country’s major players are the family-owned Brissett Rollers – still managed by its very hands-on founder, Terry Brissett – and German-owned Böttcher.

Scott set up Ace Rollers after working for Brissett, but is understood to have gained only a relatively small share of the local market. While Ace makes some of its own rollers at a plant in Riverstone, NSW, most come from associate company Rollmakers in Cheltenham, Victoria.

Established in 1908, RotaDyne has 36 worldwide locations including facilities in the USA, UK, Germany, Poland, Lebanon, Canada, Mexico, South America and Asia. Two roller production sites in China – in Kunshan City and Dongguan City, Guangzhou – are part of its regional operation.

Its close international connections with press manufacturers including manroland and Heidelberg will make it a formidable competitor for Brissett and Bottcher.

Print21 quotes RotaDyne president and chief executive Tom Gibson saying he sees the move as a springboard for further development in Australia and the region: “The printing industry in Australia and New Zealand has been an attractive market to us for quite some time,” he says.