Muller Martini has signalled its intention of becoming the hardcover market leader, at the inauguration of its new VBF building at Bad Mergentheim in Germany.

The firm acquired Stahls hardcover product range in 1998, but has now transferred all hardcover manufacturing and training to the 17,800m2 site.

Muller Martini group executive director Bernhard Schmid said: "Muller Martini will concentrate all hardcover activities here so that an even stronger market share can be achieved. With the acquisition of VBF Buchtechnologie, and the systematic refinement of the machinery line, Muller Martini has set a strong accent in the market."

VBF has a market share of 45%, as opposed to Kolbus 50%, but Muller Martini is confident of achieving market leader status by 2003.

The training centre houses a Ventura sewing machine, an Acoro perfect binder, a Diamant with BLSD 600D book stacker, a Jack Plus jacketing machine and a BDM Universal case maker.

Schmid said: "Market leadership is not achieved haphazardly but is the result of demanding and hard work by our employees, their know-how, and keeping skills up-to-date."

VBF has said that it intends to manufacture other hardcover machinery from Profinish at the plant. Profinishs Jack Plus will be integrated into VBFs production line from January 2002. This will be followed by a bookmark insertion machine, which is currently in development.

Story by John Davies