Trelleborg Printing Blankets – which appointed DS Chemport as its Australia and New Zealand distributor earlier this year – has acquired the operations of US rival MacDermid Offset Printing Blankets. Trelleborg says the acquisition is part of a strategy to grow within profitable industrial segments. “The graphic industry is an attractive and growing segment for us and since our acquisition of Reeves in 2006, the printing blankets area has developed very well,” says business area president Lennart Johansson. “From an overall perspective, this acquisition gives Trelleborg a solid platform for continued growth in offset printing blankets. We will be the market leader in Europe and will have a good second position in the US. The acquisition also provides the possibility of favourable synergies in terms of marketing and costs.” MacDermid Offset Printing Blankets, with its head office in Denver, Colorado, in the US, has production units in the US and France, as well as a global sales organisation. Operations will be integrated with the existing business in Trelleborg Engineered Systems. gx