Ferag Inserting, Stitching at Two Sites

By: E&P Staff In mid-year the Donaukurier, Ingolstadt, Germany, commissioned a Ferag mailroom capable of processing up to six supplements in one pass, with a production speed of 45,000 final products per hour. The system consists of an MSD2-C inserting drum, six-station RollStream, two MultiStack stackers, and QuickStrap inline strapping.

Carefully fit into the available space, the installation made room for further automation with MultiDisc for handling preprints. Extending RollStream with additional JetFeeder hoppers can increase future inserting capacity with minimal technical input. JetFeeder hoppers support system productivity with quick changeovers and simple, ergonomic operation. Besides inserting the maximum number of products, different supplements can be added to newspapers on the individual route level.

Donaukurier also is assessing demand for new advertising models such as MemoStick and glued-in cards. A suitable module for applying the advertising carriers to the newspaper can be integrated into the UTR conveyor system.

Donaukurier Verlags publishes seven local newspapers. Together, circulations of the daily Donaukurier, several advertising titles, and the weekend journal Xtrablatt approach 900,000 copies. The publisher also has interests in local radio and TV stations.

Near Hamburg, Axel Springer AG's Ahrensburg offset printing plant will retrofit its post-press operation with Ferag's StreamStitch inline stitching system integrated with the UTR conveyor behind an MSD inserting drum. Saddle stitching can be activated/deactivated as needed.

Stitching in Ahrensburg has until now been carried out at the press, preventing addition of preprints, according to Ferag. The operation sought to become independent of outside services while reducing production time. A high-circulation weekly auto advertiser is among the products to be produced entirely in-house, rather than sent as partial products to an outside bindery for inserting, provision of a cover, and stitching.

With StreamStitch, loading, unloading, and destacking logistics costs can be eliminated. Ahrensburg will be able to bind commercial and editorial content printed on its newspaper press with covers of higher-quality paper.