Sturm AG

What Sturm AG does

Sturm AG is a privately held Swiss service company (Aktiengesellschaft) headquartered at Fichtenhagstrasse 2 in Muttenz, Switzerland. Founded around 1945, the company self-describes as an independent service center for the communications industry and operates as a B2B prepress and image-processing bureau serving printing companies, graphic design studios, publishing houses, and product companies in Switzerland. The team consists of approximately five named individuals led by Nicolas Sturm and Antonio Papa in Geschäftsleitung, supported by office and technical staff.

The company delivers its services through an integrated portfolio of twelve interconnected offerings that span the prepress workflow from image capture to print-ready delivery: image editing (Bildbearbeitung), color corrections (Farbkorrekturen), cutouts and image combinations (Freisteller und Bildkombinationen), creative retouching (Kreativretuschen), digital proofing (Proof), drum and flatbed scanning (Scan), in-house product photography (Fotografie), layout design (Layout), print consulting (Druck), 3D rendering, ISO-compliant color management (Colormanagement), and training/support (Schulung/Support). Technical differentiation rests on specialized in-house equipment including a professional drum scanner capable of digitizing originals up to 500 x 650 mm, a photo studio, and digital proof production across multiple ISO print standards (PSO-Coated-V3, ISO-Coated-V2, ISO-Newspaper-26v4, rotogravure).

Sturm AG operates a direct B2B sales model with no disclosed partnerships, marketing channels beyond its company website, or published pricing. Services are customized per client brief and billed on a quote-based, project-by-project basis with 30-day net payment terms, with the company reserving the right to require advance or interim payments for orders exceeding two months in duration. The company references approximately 80 years of combined experience in image and text processing as its primary competitive differentiator. No revenue, headcount growth, funding, M&A, or customer names are publicly disclosed.

Name

Sturm AG

Legal name

Sturm AG

Website

https://sturm.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1945

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Muttenz

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Professional Image Processing Services: B2B professional services providing image editing, color correction, retouching, and composition services for printing applications. Services are customized per client brief and project-based.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Sturm AG is an independent prepress and image processing service center offering professional image editing, color correction, scanning, photography, layout design, 3D rendering, digital proofing, and color management services to the printing and communications industry. The company functions as the link between client, designer, and printer, delivering project-based, customized prepress work for printing companies, graphic design studios, publishing houses, and product companies primarily in Switzerland.

Product overview

Sturm AG is an independent professional services company serving the communications industry, functioning as a prepress and digital imaging service center with approximately 80 years of combined experience in image and text processing for the graphics industry. Rather than a unified software product, the company offers an integrated portfolio of professional services positioned as the link between client, designer, and printer. The service portfolio includes 12 interconnected offerings: Bildbearbeitung (image editing), Farbkorrekturen (color corrections), Freisteller und Bildkombinationen (cutouts and image combinations), Kreativretuschen (creative retouching), Proof (digital proofing), Scan (scanning), Fotografie (photography), Layout (layout design), Druck (printing), 3D Rendering, Colormanagement, and Schulung/Support (training/support). These services span the entire prepress workflow from image capture through final print-ready delivery.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bildbearbeitung (Image Editing) Professional image editing services including sharpness corrections, color adjustments, and creative retouching, optimized for both online and print applications. For printing companies, graphic design studios, publishing houses, and product companies.
• Farbkorrekturen (Color Corrections) Color correction services categorized by image type (food, people, nature) and mood, ensuring consistent high quality across multiple images in books, brochures, and advertising series. For publishing and advertising clients.
• Freisteller und Bildkombinationen (Cutouts and Image Combinations) Product cutout services using layer masks or clipping paths, combined with image composition including positioning, color world adjustments, and detailed retouching. For product companies and marketing teams.
• Kreativretuschen (Creative Retouching) Creative digital image manipulation services that transform client ideas into professional visual solutions without technical limitations. For advertising and publishing clients.
• Proof (Digital Proofing) Digital proof creation on coated and uncoated paper supporting multiple print standards including PSO-Coated-V3, ISO-Coated-V2, WAN-IFRAnewspaper26v5, and rotogravure specifications. For printing companies and publishers.
• Scan (Scanning Services) High-resolution digitization of transparency and reflection originals using drum scanner technology with maximum format of 500 x 650 mm, including basic color correction and retouching. For clients needing digitization of physical media.
• Fotografie (Photography) In-house product photography studio with professional shooting and post-processing including data preparation optimized for print. For product companies, brand owners, and marketing teams.
• Layout (Layout Design) Complete layout services including design, clean drawings, and integration of text, images, and graphics into print-ready layouts for books, flyers, advertisements, and posters. For publishers and advertising clients.
• Druck (Print Consultation) Print consultation and management services leveraging long-standing print industry experience to find optimal solutions, whether printed internally or through partner printers. For clients needing expert guidance on print production.
• 3D Rendering 3D visualization services for packshots, products, logos, and images from CAD plans, sketches, or concepts, with post-processing in Photoshop for print, web, or presentation use. For product companies and brand marketers.
• Colormanagement (Color Management) Color management services adhering to strict ISO printing standards, utilizing appropriate ICC profiles for substrates and print processes, with consultation on ICC profile handling. For printing companies and prepress departments.
• Schulung / Support (Training / Support) Technical training and support services covering color management, ICC profiles, print processes, substrates, and software handling, including on-site sessions and monitor calibration. For printing companies and in-house prepress teams.

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves3 records

Broad incumbents

• Esko (Danaher): Esko is a global leader in prepress workflow software, color management, and packaging production. While much larger and software-focused, it serves the same prepress workflow that Sturm AG operates in, and competes indirectly for prepress budget.
• Heidelberg Druckmaschinen: Heidelberg is a major German manufacturer of printing presses and prepress/workflow solutions. While primarily an equipment vendor, it serves the same printing-industry customers and competes for prepress and printing services budget.
• Fujifilm (Graphic Systems): Fujifilm's Graphic Systems division offers plates, CTP, and prepress workflow solutions for commercial printers. It competes with Sturm AG's prepress services in the same printing market, though as a much larger supplier.
• Agfa Graphics: Agfa provides prepress software, plates, and digital printing solutions to commercial printers worldwide. It is broadly comparable to Sturm AG's prepress focus and serves the same communications industry customers.

Regional players

• Galledia Print AG: Galledia is a Swiss printing and media company offering production and consulting services. It operates in the same Swiss market as Sturm AG and overlaps in print production and prepress-adjacent services for publishers and agencies.
• Printlink AG: Printlink is a Swiss printing services company offering prepress, digital printing, and finishing. It is a direct regional comparable for Sturm AG's prepress and printing advisory services in the Swiss market.
• Brüggli Industrie AG: Brüggli is a Swiss printing and media services company offering prepress, print production, and digital media. It serves the same Swiss SME and agency customer base as Sturm AG.

Emerging players

• GMG Color: GMG develops color management and proofing software used by prepress and printing operations worldwide. It is comparable to Sturm AG's color management expertise and competes for the same customer workflow.
• CGS Publishing Technologies International: CGS Publishing Technologies provides color management, prepress, and digital production software to commercial printers. It overlaps with Sturm AG's color correction and proofing services and targets the same printing customer base.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sturm-ag

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sturm AG