The Merganthaler Linotype Company was an American corporation founded in 1886 to produce the Linotype machine invented by Ottmar Merganthaler. The Linotype machine revolutionised the process of casting metal type used in the printing industry. Whereas before type had to be set by hand the machine automated this process and in doing so increased the amount of printed material available. The company operated for many years until it was eventually taken over by Monotype Imaging in 2006.