Since May 2009, H+B Finishing GmbH & Co. KG produces with two high-performance saddle stitchers from Muller Martini and was founded by Klaus Heist and NexGen Holding GmbH & Co. KG, represented by Dr. Ida Bagel. Klaus Heist is Managing Director of Heira GmbH, located 260 km away in Gernsheim. There, the company has five high-performance saddle stitchers from Muller Martini in operation – including a Tempo machine installed 15 years ago on which the company has stitched its one billionth magazine in the recent days. According to Technical Director Peter Dickler, Heira’s positive experiences were a key reason why H+B chose a solution from Muller Martini at this year’s drupa in Düsseldorf. “We have opted for proven high-performance technology,” says Peter Dickler.

During the drupa, they sealed the deal for the installation of a Tempo E220 at H+B in Mönchengladbach, Germany (from left): Volker Leonhardt (Managing Director of Muller Martini Germany), Thomas Horn (Managing Director of H+B), Dr. Ida Bagel (Corporate Partner of H+B), Bruno Müller (CEO of Muller Martini), Klaus Heist (Corporate Partner of H+B), Reinhold Achtner (Sales Manager at Muller Martini Germany), Hans Leuenberger (Sales Director at Muller Martini).

The comprehensive Tempo E220 line, which will be commissioned in a few months, features six feeders with a stream feeder, merchandise tipper, an Asir 3 signature control, an Integro 300 inserting machine with a twin feeder as well as suction and sword opening, a Sitma addressing unit, Robusto compensating stacker equipped with Amrys and a bundle blocking unit. In between the saddle stitcher and the Robusto, a NewsGrip with an adjacent turnover belt to turn the products ensures a higher level of flexibility when addressing. It is also the first time that H+B has installed an addressing unit from Muller Martini’s partner, Sitma.

The Tempo E220 line is used almost exclusively to stitch magazines that are printed directly at the plant. This includes a partial print run of the customer magazine with the largest circulation of any other magazine of its kind in Germany (13 million copies per issue). This magazine features at least 100 pages and up to four inserts – which is one of the reasons why H+B decided in favor of a tandem feeder for its Integro inserting machine.