There’s Nothing Like a Trusting Relationship
Because Friedrich Pustet GmbH & Co. KG, a company specializing in book production based in Regensburg, Germany, recently made a major move into digital printing, it also modernized its finishing operations at the same time. Since the two companies have had a close partnership in the areas of softcover and hardcover books for over three decades, they chose a highly automated solution from Muller Martini.
When the family-owned company – founded in 1820 by Friedrich Pustet – invested in a Muller Martini Alegro perfect binder eleven years ago, the company’s CEO at the time, Paul Pustet, explained the decision as follows: “With our modern machinery, we are keeping pace with market changes.”
At the end of 2024, Paul Pustet retired at the age of 89. For Jakob Pustet, a seventh-generation co-partner and member of the executive board, his great-uncle’s motto remains as relevant as ever: “Especially given the declining print runs of books, we must continuously adapt our machinery to meet the challenges of the market, increase automation, and reduce production lead times.”
Recently made a major move into digital printing
This is all the truer given the growing importance of digital printing. Although Friedrich Pustet GmbH & Co. KG has been operating on a hybrid basis for some time now, However, it only truly entered the digital printing market recently with the commissioning of an HP PageWide Web Press T490. “I expect that the share of digitally printed products in our operations will reach 50 percent in the future,” says Operations Manager Florian Hetzenecker.
Because even the best digital press is only half as valuable if the finishing process doesn’t meet the latest technological standards, Friedrich Pustet GmbH & Co. KG invested in a SigmaLine III alongside the HP PageWide Web Press T490. This is one of the last book production systems of this type that Muller Martini has delivered. For Jakob Pustet, however, there was never any doubt during the evaluation phase for the finishing solution.
A close partnership spanning over three decades
“First, the SigmaLine III – which we put through its paces with our own products at the Print Finishing Center in Zofingen – is an outstanding machine thanks to its great versatility,” says Florian Hetzenecker. “Second, Muller Martini didn’t discontinue it because it hadn’t proven itself in the market, but because there was an overlap with a Hunkeler solution. Third, Connex not only offers us major advantages in production with the SigmaLine III, but we’ll also be integrating our two Alegro presses into the workflow system. And fourth, we have great confidence in Muller Martini systems, as our companies have been linked by a close partnership for over three decades.”
It’s important to note that, in addition to the SigmaLine III and the two Alegro perfect binding lines, a Diamant MC book line and three Ventura MC thread swing machines from Muller Martini are also in operation in Regensburg. “For us, it’s extremely important to work with reliable partners in both the printing press and postpress sectors,” says Jakob Pustet. “Given the high investment costs, nothing beats a trusting relationship. We know and value each other and maintain close contact. And we also appreciate Muller Martini’s quick service response times whenever we encounter a problem.”
Two-thirds hardcover, one-third softcover
Until 1945, the long-established Bavarian company produced exclusively for its in-house publishing house. For decades, the many Pustet books printed in Latin were regarded as seminal works for the Catholic Church and were held in high esteem at the Vatican.
Today, it generates 93 percent of its revenue on the open market – two-thirds in hardcover and one-third in softcover. Approximately 8 million books are produced annually.
Pustet prints and binds primarily fiction, as well as school and reference books, for around 70 publishers from the three German-speaking countries: Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Print runs for individual titles start at 100 and go up to six figures – with a (gradually declining) average of 3,000 to 4,000 copies and ten different jobs per day.
Printing, publishing, book retail – the entire book value chain
Located in the heart of Regensburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site world-famous for its cathedral and boys’ choir (the Regensburger Domspatzen), Friedrich Pustet GmbH & Co. KG operates not only a printing plant and bookbinding facility but also its own publishing house. Its focus is on history books and works with a theological background. Pustet has also become known as a specialist in the production of thin-paper books. In the 19th century, Pustet was the first publisher of Karl May’s “Winnetou.”
In addition, Pustet operates eleven bookstores in seven Bavarian cities. “So we cover the entire book value chain,” Jakob Pustet notes proudly. In total, the company employs 380 people on a 5/24 schedule – 100 of whom work in the printing and bookbinding facilities.
