Muller Martini has taken over Kolbus’ perfect binding and bookline business complete with all the servicing and spare parts for all Kolbus bookbinding systems installed worldwide.
Muller Martini, which was set up in 1946 and is still a family business based in Zofingen, Switzerland will set up a new division, Müller Martini Buchbinde-Systeme GmbH, in Rahden, Germany, where Kolbus also has its headquarters. This means that the 250 or so staff from the Kolbus book binding operation will transfer seamlessly to a new Muller Martini facility, separate from the Kolbus factory.
Bruno Müller, CEO of Muller Martini, notes: “Customers need innovations on a regular basis, which have to be financed with lower sales quantities. Above all, our customers benefit from the efficiency gains bringing together the bookbinding activities.” He says that such structural change has become common to the graphic arts industry in recent years, adding: “This secures the future of the softcover and hardcover business of both the customers and the two machine manufacturers – and thus also jobs in the graphic arts industry.”
Kolbus, which dates back to the year 1775, will continue to concentrate on its packaging and case making business and parts manufacturing. In the future, Kolbus will produce a large spectrum of case makers and machine modules for tight packaging from cardboard and paper – especially for the luxury goods market. Kolbus also has an ultra-modern factory with foundry and metal working and has been a supplier of the high technology machine construction in Germany and other countries for many years.
Kai Büntemeyer, CEO of Kolbus, explains: “In recent years, the packaging market was growing consistently. We see a good potential and will vigorously expand our current activities in this business. There are also very good perspectives in the segment of component manufacturing for sophisticated mechanical engineering companies including Müller Martini Buchbinde-Systeme GmbH and Kolbus Luxury Packaging.”
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