"In a constantly changing world, one must always be ready for change. He who resists change will, in the end, lose precisely that which he desires to keep." True to this guiding principle of former German President Gustav Heinemann, the 50-employee company, Koopmann Printing, which was founded in 1924, not only offers full service from printing to finishing to lettershop and mailing; it also surprises its demanding mailing customers time and again with new and innovative products.

The two managers, Wilfried Winneckens (right) and Knut Winneckens (left) are pleased with the new Concepta web offset printing press. At center is Johannes Stötzel, Sales Representative from Müller Martini Germany.

Broad Finishing Scope
Card-in® (integrated thin plastic cards), Card-in®-Mirror (mirror in paper), Label-in® (integrated self-adhesive labels) or Label-on® (advertisement under the label) as well as scented varnishes, watermarks and magic inks are only a few examples from Koopmann Printing’s patented product finishing options. The breadth of business fields extends from media design to direct mail to intelligent forms solutions and laser papers.

Since 1995, Koopmann Printing has produced this high-quality advertising material on web offset printing presses from Muller Martini. Five of them are currently being used in Stuhr. Four of those (one Pronto, three Concept) were moved from the old production site to the new site a few months ago. In addition, Koopmann Printing replaced a five-color Concept by commissioning a new Concepta with eight printing units in the modern printing facility. It was officially inaugurated during the opening ceremony for the new production facility, to which Koopmann Printing invited 200 guests.

UV Pull and Cooling Station for Thermosensitive Substrates
"We have always felt like we were taken seriously as a partner by Muller Martini," says Managing Partner Wilfried Winneckens. "That’s why the decision for the new printing press was not difficult. The fact that the printing inserts are compatible with the ones from the Concept was an additional argument in favor of the Concepta."

In addition to the expanded printing capacity and higher speed (Koopmann Printing chose the faster, 365 meter-per-minute Concepta), the new printing press brings several other well-founded advantages to the mailings specialist. A UV pull and cooling station was installed after the last printing unit, with a view toward new printing applications. This allows thermosensitive substrates, such as thin foils, to be printed.

In addition, the register control and the UV drying were integrated into the Concepta’s control system for the first time. "With a central control panel, the operation of the machine is very clearly laid out and user friendly," says CEO Knut Winneckens.

When Flexibility is Required
Speaking of operation: The Concepta's short setup times are also advantageous for Koopmann Printing, because there are two clear trends in direct mail, according to Technical Manager Folker Neetzow: "First of all, order quantities are getting smaller while variety is increasing, which results in more frequent plate changes. Secondly, our customers are giving the 'printing go-ahead' with shorter notice – as a result of sales campaigns, for example. That is where the Concepta, with its flexibility, brings one of its great strengths into play."

Because they were already familiar with other Muller Martini printing presses, the machine operators had the Concepta quickly under control after an on-site training. For Koopmann Printing, well-trained employees are a decisive competitive argument. Wilfried Winneckens: "Our customers’ quality demands are continually rising. We are continually asked to create high-quality mailings with finished products and specialized documents. That’s why it doesn't end with a new machine. We also need the best qualified personnel in addition to the modern technology."