Despite the fact Heidelberg has confirmed it has had discussions with Goss International over the future of the German manufacturer’s web press operations, neither company intends to shed much more light on what might happen next.

According to an article in PrintWeek UK, Heidelberg spokesman Hans-Dieter Siegfried characterized discussions with Goss as “open,” adding that there was no timetable governing the next step.

Accordingly, neither company had much more to add. Heidelberg web officials in Dover, N.H., declined further comment while Goss spokesman David Stamp said only that “Goss will be evaluating opportunities to grow our business as they arise.”

“Based on our strong global Goss brand, we will consider both internal and external business growth opportunities,” Stamp said.

Rumors about a possible combination of Goss and Heidelberg have been swirling about for months, particularly as press vendors continue to grapple with lagging U.S. demand for new systems.

“Heidelberg is facing a new world in the print-media market,” said press analyst Karl Malik. “The remaining business is not the same as 10 years ago.” Malik, a German-based analyst, said it’s likely if the companies do come to some agreement that Goss would be more interested in  Heidelberg’s commercial and heatset businesses.

That makes sense, said a U.S. newspaper industry executive, who declined to be identified. “Such a combination would give Goss additional market share,” he said. But, he added, the challenges associated with merging the cultures of two companies as disparate as Goss and Heidelberg could be considerable.

“The question is how these companies can mesh, given the nature of their corporate cultures.”

The discussions come on the heels of continued reports that Heidelberg plans to significantly downsize its 1,000-employee U.S. operations in Dover and Durham, N.H. Werner Albrecht, president and chief executive officer of Heidelberg Web Systems, said there were no plans to move the majority of its operations to a facility it owns in France, according to an article published in Foster’s Daily Democrat in late August.