Initiative Online Print: Spring conference saw record attendance

The two new members of the Initiative Online Print are by no means strangers: Flyerline Schweiz AG, based in Altnau on Lake Constance, was founded in 2002 by CEO Steffen Tomasi and is now one of the leading online print shops in Switzerland with more than 60 employees and a range of over 400 standard products. Buch- und Offsetdruckerei H.Heenemann GmbH & Co. KG, which was presented by Managing Director Dirk Hentschler, sees itself as a commercial printer whose strengths lie primarily in hybrid production with offset and digital printing. Founded in 1906 as a family business, the fully integrated printing company now has 85 employees and also offers marketing, store and logistics solutions.

Trend-setting position paper

At the spring conference, the members also adopted an official position paper explaining the IOP and its activities and positions. Such a position paper had become necessary primarily due to the fact that, with more than 50 members, the IOP is of a relevant size and wants to take a stand in a rapidly changing environment and an industry that has to find new ways: for print, technological progress, diversity and sustainability. The internationalization of the Initiative Online Print and the further growth associated with it have also become an increasingly important factor. The full version of the paper will be published shortly on the website of the Initiative Online Print.

Bernd Zipper, Chairman of the Board, was delighted with the commitment of the IOP members: "It’s just great to see how everyone involved is exchanging ideas and contributing their own ideas, and not just to the position paper. In general, the members address their own topics, which the Initiative Online Print then deals with controversially. That’s what the IOP is all about: a strong community that gets stuck in and passionately drives our industry forward."

Cooperation with the bevh

At their spring conference, the members of the Initiative Online Print also decided to enter into a cooperation with the Bundesverband E-Commerce und Versandhandel Deutschland e.V. ("German E-Commerce and E-Commerce Association", bevh). This is intended to intensify the previously loose cooperation. In future, the members of both associations will have even better access to the expertise of the other association and the interest groups will strengthen each other.

In future, there will be joint political press work, for example in the form of joint statements. The bevh and IOP also want to attend political meetings together in the future and establish joint external representation. The exchange of know-how will be at the forefront of this cooperation and will also include joint event organization and joint appearances.

Other topics and presentations 

Other issues were also discussed, resolutions passed and interesting topics presented and discussed at the Initiative Online Print Spring Conference 2024. The content of the presentations by Flavio Froehli, Vice President Marketing & Sales at Sappi Europe, on production capacities, paper availability and pricing and by Dr. Martin Schirmbacher from Härting Rechtsanwälte on the EU Data Act will be discussed in a separate press release.