In a joint statement, Felix Stirnimann, of Muller Martini corporate management and Aris Ballestrazzi, president of Sitma Machinery, say “With this cooperation, we are extending our range of flexible production systems equipped with intelligent automation. Our customers will have a higher level of investment security and will thus be able to significantly optimize the use of their machines.”

A spokesman for Muller Martini says, “We’ll have the exclusive rights in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea to sell Sitma in line and offline inserting and film wrapping systems except for enveloping and inline newspaper mailroom systems.

“The inserting machine Onyx, the film wrapper Rubin and the Integro 160 will be discontinued. However, we’ll still provide the inserter Integro 300 for Tempo E220, Supra and Corona high-performance lines. Service and spare parts support will be through Muller Martini Australia.”

The companies say that markets for inserts and individually film wrapped publications are growing worldwide. Film wrapping provides a high level of protection in transport and ensures that printed products, along with inserts, gadgets and coupons reach the reader in a compact package and in excellent quality. They claim that, contrary to paper wrapping, film wrapping has a proven extra environmental bonus and that several countries require subscription magazines to be film-wrapped for delivery by mail. They add that more companies within graphic arts are investing in in-line and off-line systems to enhance their saddle stitchers and perfect binders.

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