Milestones

The foundations of WRH Walter Reist Holding AG were laid 50 years ago by pioneer, engineer and entrepreneur Walter Reist. His idea was to use the transport line between press and bundle dispatch productively. It was to change the production of print media for ever.
We are completely focussed on the future. Our eagerness to embrace changes and our comprehensive approach to the new tasks have always influenced the way we think and act. We accept new challenges with enthusiasm and commitment.

1955

Patent for the first conveyor developed by Walter Reist for smudge-proof newspaper transport.

1956

Installation of the first prototype at "Tages-Anzeiger" in Zurich, Switzerland.

1958

First major contract for six conveyors for "Augsburger Allgemeine Zeitung".

1963

"Prawda" and "Iswestija" install mailroom systems by Ferag.

1974

The dawn of processing conveyor technology – with single-copy gripping, spiral stacking and rotary inserting into newspaper products.

1976

Single-copy gripping technology and rotary processing successfully enter service at the "Stuttgarter Zeitung".

1980

RotaDisc: patented rotary winding technology for intermediate product storage.

1986

Rupert Murdoch and Robert Maxwell place major orders for integrated inserting systems in Great Britain and Australia.

1990

Entry into industrial-scale magazine production with rotary SHT gathering-stitching technology and the rotary SNT trimming process.

1992

Launch of the compact, space-saving RollPack system.

1993

First success in the marketplace for high-performance rotary SNT trimming technology.

1996

The MultiSertDrum heralds a new inserting drum generation.

1998

First use of the small SNT-U trimming drum for the three-side trim with only one rotor.

1998

Pilot contract for MultiDisc high-flexibility, multi-functional winding technology.

2000

The MultiSertDrum system gets a new model in the form of the MultiSertDrum Compact (MSD2-C) inserting drum.

2000

Market release of the “Regbi” control for zoned inserting of preprints and supplements.

2002

JetFeeder: development of a new, universal hopper technology.

2002

First application of RollStream for the multiple insertion of preprints, supplements, magazines and CDs.

2003

Launch of the MultiStack bundling system – a new energy-efficient, high-performance stacker generation.

2004

Alpha customer orders the new UniDrum gatherer-stitcher technology.

2004

The compact RollSert inserting system is released for series production.

2004

All-new foil-wrapping with PolyStream. Polybagging at high net performance.

2004

Launch of the MultiLog log former for commercial web offset and rotogravure printing.

2004

StreamStitch: world premiere of the inline stitching system at IfraExpo 2004.

2005

The SmartStack bundling system is in everyday use.

2005

TriLine: a new development for gluing on cards and MemoStick®.

2006

Promotion of MemoFlag™, a new format for advertising on the front page of newspapers.

2006

First use of the new TPC gripper in the high-performance sector at News International.

2006

SplitTrim and the launch of high-efficiency, two-up technology.

2008

World premier for EasySert. The all-new inserting process is distinguished by its almost unlimited uses. Typical application fields are advertising titles, regional newspapers and also Sunday packages in the USA. EasySert is an interesting commercial option for publishers and printers entering the lucrative supplement business, and also for major operators wishing to access new markets. EasySert’s potential is also evident in the zoned advertising market, when supplements are gathered and then packed in a cover for distribution to individually addressed households.

2009

At IFRA Expo 2009 in Vienna, Ferag is presenting StreamFold. The new quarterfold system based on more than 30 years of know-how has been adapted to the increased demands for speed and flexibility.

2010

At IFRA Expo, Ferag surprised the industry with a new development –"fold n’ stitch". The high-performance line combines quarter-folding and saddle-stitching into a single compact system. With "fold n’ stitch", Ferag is responding to a growing demand from newspaper printers for a solution that brings top efficiency to the creation of supplements and magazine-like products.

2011

At IFRA Expo, Ferag is presenting Navigator, a groundbreaking production control concept centred around intuitive multi-touch technology. Which is why Navigator sets completely new standards in the marketplace with regard to operating comfort and planning and production security.