Muller Martini
Swiss manufacturer of print-finishing, bookbinding, newspaper-inserting, and digital book-production systems.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Muller Martini is a Swiss industrial brand specializing in print-finishing and book-production equipment. Headquartered operationally in Zofingen, with its holding company based in Hergiswil, the group develops, manufactures, sells, and services systems used after printing, including saddle stitchers, perfect binders, hardcover and case-binding equipment, newspaper and magazine inserting systems, mailroom automation, conveyors, packaging lines, and finishing solutions for digitally produced books. It is a business-to-business supplier whose customers include commercial printers, book manufacturers, newspaper and magazine producers, direct-mail operators, and other graphic-arts companies. The company's origins date to 1946, when Hans Müller began producing bookbinding machinery under the name Grapha Maschinenfabrik. Its early products included a hand-fed saddle stitcher. The company later developed the automatic “Swiss Girl” feeder and demonstrated a fully automatic saddle stitcher with an in-line trimmer at the Drupa trade fair in 1954. In 1955, the business was incorporated as Grapha Maschinenfabrik Hans Müller A. G. and began selling equipment in the United States. Its product range expanded during the following decade, including newspaper and magazine inserting machines, which entered large-scale production in 1961. The Muller Martini identity emerged after Martini joined the Muller organization in 1969. Martini had a much older engineering history: Friedrich von Martini founded the original enterprise in the nineteenth century, and the company had produced folding and stitching machinery as well as book-sewing equipment. Martini's book-sewing machine, introduced in 1897, became an important part of its historical connection to book production. After ending automobile production in 1934, Martini concentrated on bookbinding equipment and subsequently developed adhesive-binding machinery. Muller Martini broadened beyond traditional bindery equipment in the 1970s. It developed an offset web press for business forms in 1972 and expanded its North American presence through sales, service, and manufacturing operations. Its United States manufacturing facility in Newport News, Virginia, was established in 1973 for bindery and mailroom equipment and was subsequently expanded for manufacturing, assembly, engineering, and product development. The group also added businesses and technologies in newspaper inserting, press finishing, conveyors, packaging, case binding, and related automation through acquisitions and organizational integrations. A significant strategic shift began in 2004 with the creation of the On Demand Solutions business segment, later renamed Digital Solutions. This division addressed the growing need to finish digitally printed books and other short-run products. The company continued to update its product platforms, including the Laserblue generation introduced in 2008. In 2014, Muller Martini announced that it would discontinue production of printing presses, indicating a stronger concentration on post-press and print-finishing activities. It also assumed service responsibility for Heidelberg saddle stitchers and perfect binders. The group subsequently continued to reshape its manufacturing and portfolio. It acquired the bookbinding division separated from Kolbus in 2018, transferred the MM Druckmaschinen business to the Goebel Group in 2020, integrated Muller Martini Electronic AG into Muller Martini Druckverarbeitungs-Systeme AG in the same year, and closed its Bad Mergentheim site in Germany in 2021. In 2023, it took over Hunkeler AG, a Swiss specialist associated with paper-processing and finishing technology. Muller Martini remains an internationally active, family-controlled supplier focused on automation, industrial book production, digital print finishing, and integrated post-press workflows.
History
Muller Martini traces its modern history to Hans Müller's 1946 bookbinding-machinery business, founded under the name Grapha Maschinenfabrik. The first machine was a hand-fed saddle stitcher. Subsequent development produced the “Swiss Girl” automatic feeder, which could be disengaged and tilted away when not required, and a fully automatic saddle stitcher with an in-line trimmer. The latter was exhibited at Drupa in 1954, while the company was also developing perfect-binding technology. In 1955, the business became Grapha Maschinenfabrik Hans Müller A. G. and sold its first machine in the United States. Its range grew to include inserting equipment, and large-scale production of newspaper and magazine inserting machines began in 1961. International expansion followed through overseas manufacturing, sales, and service operations. Hans Muller Corp., the United States subsidiary, was established in 1967. Martini joined the Muller organization in 1969, providing the combined group with a second engineering tradition in folding, stitching, book sewing, and binding equipment. Martini's roots reached back to Friedrich von Martini's nineteenth-century enterprise. It had introduced a book-sewing machine in 1897 and had also briefly manufactured automobiles. Automobile production ended in 1934, after which the company focused on bookbinding machinery. Martini developed adhesive-binding equipment in 1941. The combination of Muller and Martini expertise created a broad platform for industrial finishing and book production. During the 1970s, Muller Martini expanded into web-press and mailroom-related equipment. Its first offset web press for business forms appeared in 1972. The United States organization moved its offices to Hauppauge, Long Island, in 1973, changed its name to Muller Martini Corp., and established a Newport News, Virginia, manufacturing facility for bindery and mailroom equipment. The Newport News operation was expanded over time to support automated manufacturing, assembly, engineering, and new-product development. The group added further capabilities in the late twentieth century. Daverio in Switzerland and KJ in Denmark became part of Muller Martini in 1989, bringing expertise in newspaper inserting, press finishing, bindery systems, conveyors, and packaging lines. GMA, an Allentown, Pennsylvania, supplier of newspaper mailroom systems, was acquired in 1992 and renamed Muller Martini Mailroom Systems. In 1998, Muller Martini took over manufacture of the VBF case-binding product line. Production moved to Bad Mergentheim, Germany, and the business became Muller Martini Book Technology GmbH in 2007. Leadership passed from Hans Müller Sr. to his son Rudolf Müller in 1991. In 2004, the company created an On Demand Solutions segment, later called Digital Solutions, to provide commercial-quality finishing for digitally produced books. A new generation of machines in the Laserblue platform was introduced in 2008. In 2009, Rudolf Müller became chairman of the board and Bruno Müller became CEO. Founder Hans Müller died in 2013 at the age of 96. The company responded to structural changes in the graphic-arts industry through a major reorganization announced in 2013 and the closure of the Felben site. In 2014, it announced the end of printing-press production and assumed service responsibility for selected Heidelberg saddle stitchers and perfect binders. The group then pursued portfolio changes: it acquired the separated Kolbus bookbinding division in 2018, sold MM Druckmaschinen GmbH to the Goebel Group in 2020, integrated Muller Martini Electronic AG, and closed the Bad Mergentheim site in 2021. In 2023, it took over Hunkeler AG in Wikon. The contemporary group remains focused on automated print finishing, bookbinding, digital book production, and related workflow systems, with production facilities in Switzerland and Germany and an international sales and service presence.
- 2023
Hunkeler AG acquired
[1]Muller Martini takes over Hunkeler AG in Wikon, Switzerland.
- 2021
Bad Mergentheim site closed
[1]The German Bad Mergentheim location is closed.
- 2020
Portfolio and organizational changes
[1]MM Druckmaschinen GmbH is sold to the Goebel Group, while Muller Martini Electronic AG is taken over by Muller Martini Druckverarbeitungs-Systeme AG.
- 2018
Kolbus bookbinding division acquired
[1]Muller Martini acquires the bookbinding division separated from Kolbus and associated personnel at Rahden.
- 2014
Printing-press production discontinued
[1]The company announces that it will discontinue production of printing presses and take over service responsibility for selected Heidelberg equipment.
- 2013
Founder dies and corporate reform announced
[1]Hans Müller dies at age 96, while the group announces a restructuring program and the closure of its Felben site.
- 2009
Leadership transition
[1]Rudolf Müller becomes chairman of the board and Bruno Müller becomes CEO.
- 2008
Laserblue machine generation introduced
[1]Muller Martini introduces a new machine generation associated with the Laserblue platform.
- 2004
On Demand Solutions segment founded
[1]The company creates a business segment for finishing digitally produced books; it is later renamed Digital Solutions.
- 1998
VBF case-binding line taken over
[1]Muller Martini takes over manufacture of the VBF case-binding product line for hardcover book production.
Products and positioning
An integrated, engineering-led supplier of automated print-finishing and book-production systems, with particular emphasis on industrial book manufacturing, post-press workflow integration, and finishing for digital production.
Print finishing · 1946
Saddle Stitching
Muller Martini's saddle-stitching systems assemble folded printed sections and secure them with wire stitching before trimming. The category reflects the company's earliest core technology, which developed from hand-fed machinery into automated systems with feeders, gathering, stitching, three-knife trimming, and integrated production controls. These systems are used for magazines, catalogs, brochures, and other multi-section products.
Bookbinding
Softcover Production
Softcover production systems support the industrial manufacture of paperback books and other adhesive-bound products. Typical process stages include gathering printed sections or book blocks, spine preparation, adhesive application, cover feeding, pressing, and trimming. Muller Martini developed this area alongside its broader perfect-binding and digital-finishing portfolio for commercial and book-production customers.
Bookbinding · 1998
Hardcover Production
Hardcover production equipment covers industrial processes for case-bound books, including book-block preparation, casing-in, pressing, and related finishing operations. The portfolio was strengthened by the takeover of the VBF case-binding line in 1998 and the later acquisition of the Kolbus bookbinding division in 2018. These capabilities serve publishers, book manufacturers, and specialist binders producing durable hardcover volumes.
Digital print finishing · 2004
Digital Solutions
Digital Solutions originated as the On Demand Solutions segment founded in 2004. It was created to provide commercial-quality finishing for digitally produced books and other short-run products. The business addresses variable production volumes and the need to connect digital presses with automated gathering, binding, trimming, and downstream handling systems.
Inserting and mailroom equipment · 1961
Newspaper and Magazine Inserting Systems
These systems insert supplements, sections, and promotional materials into newspapers and magazines. Muller Martini entered large-scale production of newspaper and magazine inserting machines in 1961 and later expanded into complete mailroom systems incorporating conveyors, packaging, and automated production lines. The equipment is intended for high-volume publishing and distribution environments.
Printing equipment · 1972
Web Presses
Muller Martini developed an offset web press for business forms in 1972 and subsequently manufactured web presses for direct-mail, promotional-graphics, and commercial applications. The company announced in 2014 that it would discontinue printing-press production, making this a historical rather than a continuing core product category.
Brand decisions
2023
Takeover of Hunkeler AGM&ABackground
Hunkeler AG was a Swiss company active in paper-processing and related print-production technology.
Action taken
Muller Martini took over Hunkeler AG in Wikon, Switzerland.
Aftermath
The transaction broadened the group's capabilities in paper handling and print-finishing workflows.
2020
Sell MM Druckmaschinen and integrate Electronic AGM&ABackground
The group continued to adjust its operating structure and portfolio.
Action taken
Muller Martini sold MM Druckmaschinen GmbH to the Goebel Group and transferred Muller Martini Electronic AG into Muller Martini Druckverarbeitungs-Systeme AG.
Aftermath
The measures simplified parts of the portfolio while consolidating electronic and systems activities.
2018
Acquisition of the Kolbus bookbinding divisionM&ABackground
Kolbus had separated its bookbinding division from the wider business.
Action taken
Muller Martini took over the division and approximately 250 employees associated with the main Kolbus plant in Rahden, Germany.
Aftermath
The transaction expanded Muller Martini's hardcover and bookbinding capabilities in Germany.
2014
Exit from printing-press productionStrategyBackground
Muller Martini was repositioning itself in response to changes in the printing and graphic-arts equipment market.
Action taken
The company announced that it would discontinue production of printing presses and focus more strongly on print finishing. It also assumed service responsibility for Heidelberg saddle stitchers and perfect binders.
Aftermath
The move reinforced Muller Martini's concentration on post-press, bookbinding, and related service activities.
2013
Corporate reform and Felben site closureStrategyBackground
The graphic-arts industry was undergoing rapid technological and structural change.
Action taken
Muller Martini announced a major corporate reform and planned to close its Felben, Switzerland, site.
Aftermath
The decision formed part of a broader effort to adapt the group's organization and manufacturing footprint.
2004
Create the On Demand Solutions segmentStrategyBackground
Digital printing was creating demand for industrial finishing systems suited to shorter runs and digitally produced books.
Action taken
Muller Martini founded the On Demand Solutions business segment, later renamed Digital Solutions, to provide commercial-quality finishing for digital book production.
Aftermath
The segment became part of the group's longer-term digital book-production and print-finishing strategy.
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