Offset, digital and large-format printing, print finishing, direct mailing production and fulfillment from Bexbach in Saarland.
Kern GmbH
Bexbach (headquarters, production, logistics, administration)New on Amplifa
About Kern GmbH
Kern GmbH is a printing company based in Bexbach, Saarland, producing media products on more than 7,200 m² of production space in offset printing, digital printing and large-format printing. With more than 63 million printed sheets per year in sheet-fed offset according to ISO 12647 (PSO), short runs and print-on-demand in digital printing, and one-off pieces in large-format printing up to 320 cm print width, the company covers the entire print-run spectrum. As a specialist in direct mailing production, Kern operates its own lettershop handling more than 8 million mailings per year; print processing includes more than 40 million stitching operations annually. The entire value chain from concept and media design through prepress, printing, finishing and processing to fulfillment and postal dispatch is handled in-house. Founded in 1862, the company is family-run in its sixth generation, employs around 150 staff and is a reference customer of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG.
- Site
- Bexbach
- Processes
- Offset printing (sheet-fed offset, ISO 12647/PSO, UV varnish, inline die-cutting, perforating), Digital printing (inkjet colour printing, black-and-white laser printing, print-on-demand,, Large-format printing (banners, textiles, adhesive films, acrylic glass, aluminium composite, rigid, Direct mailing production / lettershop (data preparation, personalization, enveloping,, Print finishing (spot varnish, UV varnish, dispersion varnish, film lamination, hot foil stamping,, Print processing (cutting, die-cutting, perforating, creasing, folding, collating, stitching,, Textile printing (DTF printing, transfer presses), Laminating/overlaminating (hot/cold laminators)
- Materials
- Paper (FSC-certified), Paper (PEFC-certified), Coated paper (ISO Coated v2 300%), Uncoated paper (PSO Uncoated ISO12647), Recycled material (paper), Textiles, Acrylic glass (PMMA), Aluminium composite
- Certificates
- ISO 9001:2015, ISO 12647 Process Standard Offset Printing (PSO), Blue Angel DE-UZ 195, EMAS III, ISO 14001, FSC CoC, PEFC CoC, DDV Quality and Performance Seal Lettershop, Performance Partner of Deutsche Post, PrintCheck Digital, EcoVadis sustainability rating, ISO 12647 (PSO), DDV Seal of Quality Lettershop
- Founded
- 1862
- Employees
- 150
- Industries
- Advertising/marketing, Publishing/media, Retail/POS, Trade fairs and events
- 01
Concept and media design
- 02
Prepress (CTP imaging, print data pre-check)
- 03
Offset/digital/large-format printing
- 04
Print finishing (varnish, embossing, film lamination)
- 05
Print processing (cutting, folding, stitching, binding)
- 06
Lettershop and personalization
- 07
Fulfillment and postal processing
Substrates and processes
Paper (FSC-certified)
Paper from responsibly managed forestry for all printing processes.
Paper (PEFC-certified)
Certified recycled raw material for sustainable printed products.
Coated paper (ISO Coated v2 300%)
Standard substrate for high-quality offset printing according to the process standard.
Uncoated paper (PSO Uncoated)
For natural-finish printed products according to ISO 12647.
Rigid foam and hollow-chamber boards
Board material for displays, signs and POS applications in large-format printing.
Aluminium composite
Dimensionally stable board material for high-quality advertising technology and signage.
Acrylic glass (PMMA)
Printable and machinable board material for displays and light boxes.
Textiles and flag fabric
Substrates for banners, flags and textile printing in large format.
Adhesive films (vinyl, perforated, frosted glass films)
For vehicle wrapping, window decoration and contour cuts.
Re-Board honeycomb cardboard
Lightweight, stable cardboard material for displays and trade fair systems.
Bexbach site
Bexbach
DEHeadquarters with production, print processing, lettershop, logistics and administration
- Lot size
- Single piece to millions of copies
- Materials
- Paper, cardboard, textiles, adhesive films, acrylic glass, aluminium composite, rigid foam, honeycomb cardboard
- Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 106 8C 4/4
- Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 106 5C + coating
- Heidelberg Speedmaster SX 52 Anicolor
- Canon varioPRINT iX3200
- Canon imagePRESS V1350
- Durst Rho P10-160
- HP Latex 1500
- Zünd G3 XL-3200
- Polar 137 XT
- Kolbus KM 610
- Müller Martini Primera MC
- Buhrs BB700
- Heidelberg StackStar C
Products
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offset printing (sheet-fed offset, ISO 12647/PSO, UV varnish, inline die-cutting, perforating)Surface | – | – | – | Single piece/short run – more than 63 million printed sheets per | Paper (FSC-certified), Paper (PEFC-certified), Substrates |
| Digital printing (inkjet colour printing, black-and-white laser printing, print-on-demand,Surface | – | – | – | Short run/print-on-demand | Paper, Substrates |
| Large-format printing (banners, textiles, adhesive films, acrylic glass, aluminium composite, rigidSurface | – | 320 cm print width (HP Latex 1500) | – | Single piece | Textiles, Adhesive films, Acrylic glass, Aluminium composite, Rigid foam, Honeycomb cardboard |
| Direct mailing production / lettershop (data preparation, personalization, enveloping,Assembly | – | – | – | more than 8 million mailings per year | Paper, Envelopes |
| Print finishing (spot varnish, UV varnish, dispersion varnish, film lamination, hot foil stamping,Surface | – | – | – | – | Paper, Films |
| Print processing (cutting, die-cutting, perforating, creasing, folding, collating, stitching,Joining | – | – | – | more than 40 million stitching | Paper, Cardboard |
| Textile printing (DTF printing, transfer presses)Surface | – | – | – | – | Textiles |
| Laminating/overlaminating (hot/cold laminators)Surface | – | 160 cm | – | – | Films, Substrates |
| Graphics and concept / media design (prepress, design, final artwork, constructionEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Fulfillment (storage, order retrieval, picking, packaging, franking, customs clearance,Assembly | – | – | – | – | – |
49 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Imaging system (CTP) | Heidelberg Suprasetter 106 fully automatic (FM screening, APL) | 1 | – | – | Bexbach |
| Proof printer | Epson Stylus Pro 9900 | 1 | – | – | Bexbach |
| Production digital press | Canon varioPRINT iX3200 | 1 | – | – | Bexbach |
| Digital printing system | Canon imagePRESS V1350 | 1 | – | – | Bexbach |
| Digital printing system | Canon imagePRESS C710 | 1 | – | – | Bexbach |
| B/W laser system | Xerox Nuvera 314 EA | – | – | – | Bexbach |
| Inkjet complete system | AstroJet S1 | 1 | – | – | Bexbach |
| UV flatbed direct printer | Durst Rho P10-160 | 1 | – | – | Bexbach |
| Digital cutter (milling, creasing, cutting, kiss-cut, V-cut) | Zünd G3 XL-3200 | 1 | – | – | Bexbach |
| Roll-to-roll solvent printer | Epson SureColor S80600 | 2 | 162.6 cm print width | – | Bexbach |
| Roll printer | HP Latex 1500 | 1 | 320 cm print width | – | Bexbach |
| Cutting plotter | Summa S-Class S2 160T-2E | 1 | 160 cm cutting width | – | Bexbach |
| Hot/cold laminator | Kala Mistral 1650 | 2 | 160 cm width | – | Bexbach |
| Roll cutter | Fotoba XLD 170 | 1 | – | – | Bexbach |
| DTF printing system with fixing unit | XP600-Pro / PE600-Pro / CUT-600 | 1 | – | – | Bexbach |
| Transfer press | Secabo TPD7 Premium | 1 | – | – | Bexbach |
| Cap press | Secabo TCC Smart | 1 | – | – | Bexbach |
| Sheet-fed offset press (5-colour + UV coating, inline die-cutting, perforating) | Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 106 5C + coating | 1 | – | – | Bexbach |
| Sheet-fed offset press 8C 4/4 with web cutter | Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 106 8C 4/4 + Mabeg RS 106 | 1 | – | – | Bexbach |
| Sheet-fed offset press Anicolor | Heidelberg Speedmaster SX 52 Anicolor 5C + L | 1 | – | – | Bexbach |
| Letterpress platen press (letterpress, blind embossing, hot foil stamping, die-cutting) | Heidelberg Original Heidelberger Tiegel (OHT) | 2 | – | – | Bexbach |
| Letterpress cylinder press (blind embossing, die-cutting) | Heidelberg Original Heidelberger Zylinder (OHZ) | 1 | – | – | Bexbach |
| Celloglazing machine (film lamination) | D&K Europa System | 1 | – | – | Bexbach |
| Guillotine cutter | Polar 137 XT (incl. Transomat, Autotrim) | 2 | – | – | Bexbach |
| Robot for automatic unloading/stacking | Heidelberg StackStar C | 2 | – | – | Bexbach |
| Poly bagging machine | Buhrs 1000 | 1 | – | – | Bexbach |
| Paper drilling line | Dürselen Corta PB 09 | 1 | – | – | Bexbach |
| Bar grooving machine | Binderhaus | 1 | – | – | Bexbach |
| Angle welder with shrink tunnel | Minipack Sealmatic 54T | 1 | – | – | Bexbach |
| Paper drilling machine | Hang 4-spindle | 1 | – | – | Bexbach |
| Punch | Renz Punch 500 | 1 | – | – | Bexbach |
| Wire comb binding machine | Renz Autobind 500 | 1 | – | – | Bexbach |
| Perfect binder (20 stations, barcode matching) | Kolbus KM 610 | 1 | – | – | Bexbach |
| Gathering and stitching machine (8 stations, image reading) | Müller Martini Primera MC | 1 | – | – | Bexbach |
| Gathering and stitching machine | Heidelberg Stitchmaster ST 450 | 1 | – | – | Bexbach |
| Gathering and stitching machine | Horizon Mark III | 1 | – | – | Bexbach |
| Collating towers (20 stations) | Horizon Collator VAC 100 | – | – | – | Bexbach |
| Inline shrink-wrapping system | Hugo Beck | 2 | – | – | Bexbach |
| Folding machine | Heidelberg Stahlfolder BH 56 | 2 | – | – | Bexbach |
| Folding machine | Heidelberg Stahlfolder CH 56 | 1 | – | – | Bexbach |
| Folding machine | Heidelberg Stahlfolder KH 82 | 1 | – | – | Bexbach |
| Folding machine | Heidelberg Stahlfolder TH 82 8 | 3 | – | – | Bexbach |
| Folding machine (signature production with top-sheet separation) | Heidelberg Stahlfolder TH 82 p-Folder | 1 | – | – | Bexbach |
| Folding machine | Heidelberg Stahlfolder TH 82 6/6/4 | 1 | – | – | Bexbach |
| Folding machine (smallest formats) | Heidelberg Stahlfolder Ti 36 | 1 | – | – | Bexbach |
| Folding machine | Horizon AF-406T6S | 1 | – | – | Bexbach |
| Bundling system (shaking, pressing, bundling inline) | Palamides Delta and Alpha | – | – | – | Bexbach |
| Multi-enveloping system (camera reading, selective enveloping, documenting) | Buhrs BB700 | 2 | – | – | Bexbach |
| Workflow system | Heidelberg Prinect workflow with MetaDimension and SignaStation | 1 | – | – | Bexbach |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality and certifications
Production is standardized according to ISO 9001 and ISO 12647 (PSO) with qualified colour management and standardized plate making; digital printing is operated according to PrintCheck Digital (PSD). As a Performance Partner of Deutsche Post and a DDV-certified lettershop, Kern works in accordance with externally audited data protection policies.
| Evidence | Bexbach |
|---|---|
| ISO 9001:2015 | |
| ISO 12647 (PSO) | |
| ISO 14001 | |
| EMAS III | |
| Blue Angel DE-UZ 195 | |
| FSC CoC | |
| PEFC CoC | |
| DDV Seal of Quality Lettershop |
Company history
- 1862
Founded as a printing house; more than 160 years of company history, today family-run in the sixth generation.
- 2012
Reference customer of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG; FSC certification.
- 2014
ISO 9001 implemented; PEFC certification; DDV lettershop seal.
- 2018
Replacement of the eight-colour offset press (Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 106 8P).
- 2019
Establishment of an in-house print finishing department (letterpress, hot foil stamping, celloglazing).
- 2020
Large-format production of disinfection displays during the pandemic; Druck&Medien Award Large-Format Printer of the Year.
- 2022
Canon varioPRINT iX3200 replaces toner-based colour digital printing; second Epson SureColor SC-S80600.
- 2024
HP Latex 1500 (3.20 m print width) in large-format printing; Heidelberg StackStar C robot (Drupa innovation).
- 2025
Conversion of the front section of Hall 1 into an open-plan office for prepress, digital printing and media design.