In order to provide their customers with optimized production processes for press delivery systems and offer a comprehensive support service, the two system manufacturers, Muller Martini and RIMA-SYSTEM will be working together in the future.

Now, more than ever before, price competition and surplus capacities in the market due to increasingly efficient press delivery systems require the graphic arts industry to confront high cost pressure with flexible systems and intelligent automation of production systems.

A strong team seals the close partnership between Muller Martini and RIMA-SYSTEM with a handshake (from right to left.): Felix Stirnimann (Market Manager Print Finishing Systems, Müller Martini), Bruno Müller (CEO Müller Martini), Horst Steinhart (President RIMA-SYSTEM), Dr. Axel B. Tübke (President RIMA-SYSTEM), Dr. Christian Tübke (Member of the Board RIMA-SYSTEM), Daniel Langenegger (Member of the Executive Board Müller Martini) and Klaus Kalthoff (Executive Vice President RIMA-SYSTEM).

This is particularly true for press delivery systems, which are an important interface between printing and finishing. High availability is an important factor alongside process intelligence and reliability when it comes to cost-optimized finishing. To achieve this, leading edge technology as well as optimum service support are required.

For this reason, the two finishing specialists, RIMA-SYSTEM and Muller Martini have entered into a cooperative agreement, which will enable them to use shared synergies and offer their customers perfect, customized solutions.

Bruno Müller, CEO of Muller Martini, said that "for web printers in particular, it is important in today's environment to be able to use the right technology for their production facilities. The cooperation with RIMA-SYSTEM allows our customers to choose their ideal and individual solution from the extensive product line offered by the two market leaders. This means users can benefit from the most efficient solution in each case – e.g. a Newsveyor conveyor system from Muller Martini paired with a compensating stacker and palletizing robot from RIMA-SYSTEM."

The two partners have coordinated and streamlined their joint product lines in accordance with current requirements. This optimized product line includes the areas of conveying, cutting, stack production, bundle production and roll production as well as palletizing and will be supplemented with a professional range of services with comprehensive service being provided by the Muller Martini national companies and the RIMA-SYSTEM project centers.

"Our partnership with Muller Martini is much more than a cooperation agreement. It is a commitment to finding the best solution for the customer, which is defined independently of the manufacturer label and must be optimally adapted to the respective application. After all, our main priority is that the customer benefits from the solution," said Dr. Axel B. Tübke, CEO of RIMA-SYSTEM.
 
In the past, the two organizations have already worked together very successfully on projects in rotogravure processing and printing commercial work. For example, Grafiche Mazzuchelli in Seriate near Bergamo, Italy, opted for a joint solution by the two new system partners. At the Italian location, a Muller Martini Newsveyor conveyor brings the printed products of the 96-page printing press safely to the RIMA-SYSTEM stackers and robots. Another, current example is Eurogravure, a rotogravure company near Milan, Italy, where RIMA-SYSTEM, in close cooperation with Muller Martini, is currently integrating a palletizing robot solution into a complete Muller Martini press delivery system.

"Together, we are creating investment security and the basis for maximum availability of printing presses and print finishing systems," said Bruno Müller and Dr. Axel B. Tübke with confidence. "With the partnership between Muller Martini and RIMA-SYSTEM, our customers will benefit from the best technology, a global sales and service network with extensive system knowledge and the stability of two financially strong manufacturers."

Details of the agreement will be available at the end of July on the websites of the two manufacturers.