Installation of new drum stitching and trimming technology is helping a Swiss newspaper printer tap into new markets.
Following the installation of Ferag’s StreamStitch and SNT-50 trimming systems, Somedia Partner in Haag can now produce newspaper-like products that go beyond classic daily and weekly newspapers.
The company produces several daily and weekly regional newspapers at a plant opened in 2003. About 40 employees work here seven days a week, with double shifts from Monday to Friday.
A new Koenig & Bauer Commander CL newspaper press is due to start operation this (northern) summer or autumn, and with three four-high towers is expected to double print capacity.
An earlier two-phase mailroom modernisation saw two finishing lines – each with one RollSertDrum inserter and inkjet addressing – enabled Somedia to produce newspapers with advertising supplements differentiated by region, and ready for mailing.
Eight regional daily newspapers have print runs of between 3500 and 35,000 copies, resulting in more than 1000 plate changes a night. A further 48,000 copies of Liechtensteiner Woche are printed on Saturday night in addition to 20 weekly regional titles with print runs of between 1500 and 72,000 copies.
Somedia is already producing inserts for its three partners as well as external customers, but chief executive Urs Zieri says he believes there is an attractive market for high-quality and cost-effective coldset print in Switzerland and neighbouring countries.Acquisition of several new customers and regular orders in recent weeks has made the company optimistic that the concept can be a success.
with Ferag