The experience that Kai Hanspach gathered as a data processing specialist in the EDP industry was the cornerstone for starting up his own business. He found out how difficult and complex it is at times to supply customers cheaply, fast and reliably with advertising mail. With the know-how he had gathered especially in connection with a smooth distribution of mailings, the way to self-employment was not far - the Mailing Service Hanspach was born. In 1996, a garage served as the first sales office and production site. The services offered were well received by the customers, and the steady growth required larger premises. The present site, where the company is based since 2001, has a production space of more than 2,000 square metres. The first award was not long in coming. In 2004, Mailing Service received the certificate "High Performance Partner“ from Deutsche Post AG (German Mail) for 1.6 billion pieces of direct mail. In the meantime the number has probably more than doubled, which means that the company is among the top 20 lettershops in Germany. More than 40 staff members see to it that each mailing is processed reliably and successfully. "We have a permanent staff. The rate of staff turnover is practically nil“, is Kai Hanspach's explanation for one of the company's keys to success. 

The range of services covers the classical mailing production as well as consulting and despatch. No matter whether two hazelnuts in a cardboard box or a press portfolio consisting of 40 items have to be sent, Mailing Service Hanspach finds the right solution. One is especially proud of the various possibilities of direct marking. By using ultraviolet-, wax- or alcohol-based inks, virtually all materials can be marked. The print runs range from one birthday card which has to be sent at a certain date to 10 million mailings in a row. Most customers are from the fashion or automotive industry, but also from the mail order business and advertising agencies. For some customers Hanspach also takes care of warehousing and the commissioning of advertising material. 

Mailing Service Hanspach places a special emphasis on the complete and modern equipment of its machinery pool, such as four digital printing systems for the production of mailings. As far as folding is concerned, the company has relied on the technology from MB Bäuerle since 2001. Last year the replacement of the folder model multimaster CAS 52 stood on the agenda. Because of the long and positive experience and the comprehensive advice and support, a decision in favour of the successor model prestigeFOLD NET 52 was taken. "The system has convinced us from the beginning through its excellent processing quality and reliability. The high degree of automation considerably reduces set-up times. Due to the larger number of fold plates, jobs which in the past had to be produced in two passes, can now be processed in just one work step. We are also much more flexible, because we are now able to turn over certain products in the machine“, explains Kai Hanspach the advantages of the new folding system. The prestigeFOLD NET 52 is equipped with six fold plates in the first and four fold plates in the second fold unit. For the production of selfmailers, a hot melt system with two application heads has been integrated. 

Short set-up times, simple operation and handling as a result of the high degree of automation are the ideal solution for frequently changing jobs. The decisive advantage of the high degree of automation is the fact that all important setting elements, such as side stops and the rear edge separator at the flat pile feeder, alignment rails, fold plate stops, deflectors, fold rollers and the delivery rollers in the shingled delivery are set automatically. This reduces set-up times by up to 90 per cent. All elements from the feeder to the delivery are set by means of the central display. Repeat jobs can naturally be saved in the memory and called up at a later date.

The new folding systems convinces through its automation and flexibility during production; here with Kai Hanspach (centre), machine operator Simon Falk (left) and MB Bäuerle sales representative Sebastian Scheel.