Heavy and Tense Atmosphere

The printing companies Merkur Grafisk and Make!Graphics have filed for bankruptcy, resulting in the loss of 155 jobs. According to board chairman Erik Harg, the companies faced insurmountable pressure from rising operational costs, declining market demand, and intense international competition. The two firms, which shared a headquarters at Langhus in Nordre Follo, hold a combined debt of approximately 185 million Norwegian kroner.

Did You Know? Merkur Grafisk has a long-standing history in the industry, having been established in 1927, while Make!Graphics traces its origins back to 1957 under the name Allkopi.

Why the industry is facing consolidation

The collapse of these companies follows a period of significant structural changes within the Norwegian printing sector. In January 2025, Merkur Grafisk initiated an expansion by acquiring several companies to form a new entity focused on book production. At that time, leadership invested over half a billion kroner into a state-of-the-art production facility at Langhus, with the stated goal of bringing printing jobs back to Norway. Despite this investment and a client list that included major entities like Ikea and Scenekvelder, the company ultimately succumbed to a lack of liquidity, according to Harg.

Expert Insight: The cost of domestic production

Expert Insight: The closure highlights the volatility of capital-intensive manufacturing in a digital-first economy. While the half-billion-kroner investment at Langhus was intended to secure a competitive edge through domestic production, the burden of such high fixed costs proved unsustainable when faced with shifting market demand and global price competition. The failure underscores a difficult reality: infrastructure investment alone cannot offset the erosion of market share caused by external economic pressures.

What happens to the assets and employees

The immediate consequence is the termination of 155 positions across the companies’ various locations. Make!Graphics, which had been a wholly-owned subsidiary of Merkur Grafisk since March 2025, maintained departments in Oslo, Kristiansand, Sandnes, Bergen, and Trondheim. Harg is scheduled to meet with a bankruptcy trustee on Monday to discuss the future of the estate. While the company’s operations have ceased, management has expressed hope that the modern production facility at Langhus may be utilized by other parties in the future.

Financial breakdown

The scale of the financial collapse is divided between the two entities. Merkur Grafisk reported 171 million kroner in revenue for 2024, with an estimated debt of 140 million kroner in its bankruptcy petition. Make!Graphics, which recorded 136 million kroner in revenue for the same period, faces an estimated debt of 45 million kroner.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many people are affected by the bankruptcy?
A total of 155 employees have lost their jobs following the closure of Merkur Grafisk and Make!Graphics.

What was the primary reason for the insolvency?
According to board chairman Erik Harg, the companies suffered from a lack of liquidity, rising costs, reduced market demand, and stiff competition from abroad.

What is the status of the production facility at Langhus?
The facility, which was subject to a major investment of over half a billion kroner, is now part of the bankruptcy estate. The board chairman intends to discuss its potential future use with a bankruptcy trustee on Monday.

How do you believe the decline of traditional printing houses impacts the accessibility of physical media in your local community?