Technology and Logistics

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Technology and Logistics

Considerable investments in technology, logistics and marketing ensure Axel Springer AG a maximum of flexibility, quality and independence.

Axel Springer’s newspapers and magazines are produced at the Group’s own printing facilities and by outside firms on a contractual basis. The company’s own offset printing works in Ahrensburg, Essen-Kettwig and Spandau are equipped with the latest technology and supply the core markets of Berlin, Hamburg and North Rhine-Westphalia. These are the big population centers where most of the publishers’ newspapers are sold. Split runs are also produced by outside printing firms in Germany and abroad. Apart from Axel Springer AG publications, the offset printing works also publish other companies’ products as a subcontractor.

Since 2005 Axel Springer AG's rotogravure printing works in Ahrensburg and Darmstadt have been a part of the newly established co-operative venture Prinovis, in which Axel Springer, arvato and Gruner + Jahr have combined their German rotogravure printing activities. A printing plant in Liverpool, Great Britain, will start production in 2006. As Europe’s largest illustration printing company, Prinovis will offer flexible capacities for printing magazines such as HÖRZU, BILD der FRAU and TV DIGITAL.

To ensure that all the newspapers and magazines reach their readers on time, Axel Springer maintains a complex distribution network with over 110,000 sales outlets throughout Germany. New marketing channels are also continually being opened.

Axel Springer sells its press products in both domestic and foreign markets. The ASV Vertriebs GmbH subsidiary is responsible for the worldwide distribution of newspapers and magazines published primarily by other companies. Axel Springer AG also holds participating interests in several press wholesale companies and some press import firms in Eastern Europe.

In order to expand its postal business, the Axel Springer, Georg von Holtzbrinck and WAZ publishing companies, in co-operation with Rosalia AG, have founded the nationwide mail delivery company PIN Group AG.

Axel Springer’s printing centers are equipped with the latest technology. Newspapers and magazines reach their buyers through a complex distribution network.