Pragma was founded in 1992. Its Chroma ERP system is used by medium-to-large size printing companies.
Director Michael Baumeister said the Pragma team was excited to join forces with Dataline and described the firm’s new owner as “a strong partner”.
“Under their guidance, we can ensure the continuity of service and support for our customers. We share the same vision: the graphic arts industry in Germany needs advanced automation and powerful workflows to maintain its competitiveness in the global market.
“Dataline’s expertise and products have proven to be perfectly suited for this, and we firmly believe that together we can make great strides,” he said.
The two companies have immediately embarked upon an integration process, focused on customers.
Belgium-headquartered Dataline’s core MIS/ERP product is MultiPress, used by more than 1,000 printing businesses across Europe. It claims a market-leading position in the region.
Dataline remains on the lookout for further buys, and the firm said it was always open to fresh collaborations and partnerships “to jointly help print production companies become more profitable”.
Founder and CEO Dirk Deroo said the Pragma buy would strengthen Dataline’s presence in the DACH region.
“This investment not only adds a valuable customer portfolio to our company but also brings a team of experienced and motivated specialists,” he stated.
Separately, Dataline has boosted its customer support offering with the appointment of workflow specialist Peter Claes to helm its new Solutions Architect services.
Claes has more than 30 years’ experience in the industry, having begun his career at the family print business.
He will help customers with automation and integration projects, such as designing workflows to streamline operations; automation of repetitive tasks; Switch workflow enhancements; and fine-tuning of PDF handling and Callas profiles.
Product director Christoph Krohn said Claes was perfect for the role: “Automation has become a critical focus for print production companies. Business leaders recognise that by embracing advanced automation, they can significantly reduce overhead costs.
“Using the MIS system as a foundation, companies can integrate and align their processes more effectively, resulting in faster production and higher quality. Peter is the ideal person to help our customers address their automation needs and deliver cutting-edge solutions."
Dataline employs more than 90 and has five offices across Europe along with a network of certified partners.
