What AST & FISCHER does

AST & Fischer AG is a privately held Swiss full-service media and communication company headquartered in Wabern (Bern), operating since 1889 with roughly 50 specialists (expanding by approximately ten following the September 2025 integration of Aeschbacher AG). The company runs two complementary divisions: a Print division spanning prepress, offset and digital printing (KBA Rapida 106-5, Heidelberg SM52-4, Canon iX3200 inkjet) at its shared production center Grünau Druck AG (a 2023 joint venture with Suter & Gerteis AG and Albrecht Druck AG), inline finishing (cutting, folding, binding, embossing, die-cutting, foil lamination), logistics and warehousing, and an in-house publishing arm producing titles such as 'Schweizer Garten'; and a Digital division offering web-to-print portals (built on Chili Publisher and Magento2), marketing automation based on Caymland M4, custom web development, and communication strategy workshops.

The business model is predominantly project-based and quote-driven, with revenue generated from one-off print production, recurring subscription and portal/marketing-automation fees, advertising in owned magazines, and licensed secure ticket production under the CIT Security Background 2012 standard (the only Swiss printer so licensed). Go-to-market combines direct enterprise field sales (with named accounts including Swisscom, BKW AG, Schweizerische Post, Senevita AG, STI Group, AMAG, Bucherer, and AEK BANK 1826) with the self-service e-commerce platform DruckEinfach.ch targeting SMBs. The September 2025 acquisition of Aeschbacher AG's print, ticketing, and publishing divisions, together with the October 2025 deepening of the CIT cooperation, indicates a deliberate strategy of consolidating Swiss secure-ticketing and adjacent publishing capacity around AST & Fischer's regulatory and production moat.

Name

AST & FISCHER

Legal name

AST & Fischer AG

Website

https://ast-fischer.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1889

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

AST & Fischer AG is a Swiss full-service media and print company, founded in 1889 and headquartered in Wabern, serving enterprise and SMB clients with offset and digital printing, web-to-print portals, marketing automation, publishing, and CIT-licensed secure ticketing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Printing and Communications Services

NAICS

Commercial Printing (except Screen and Books) (323111), Printing and Related Support Activities (3231), Support Activities for Printing (32312)

SIC

Service Industries For The Printing Trade (2790), Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330), Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Security & Specialty Print (Anti-Counterfeit, Secure Docs, Watermarks) (MPAJALAI)

Keywords

• Commercial printing services
• Web-to-print portals
• Secure ticket production
• Magazine publishing services
• Marketing automation platforms

Headquarters

HQ city

Wabern

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Print Production Services: Offset and digital printing production services for customer projects ranging from business cards to large-scale campaigns. Revenue generated per project based on specifications, quantities, and finishing requirements.
2. Publishing Services: Magazine and periodical publishing services including editorial support, reader acquisition, advertising acquisition, and subscription management. Revenue from publishing fees and advertising monetization.
3. Ticket Production: Secure ticket production for transport operators and event organizers including personalization, numbering, and security features. Licensed CIT security paper production.
4. Digital Services and Portals: Web portal solutions, marketing automation, and digital communication consulting services. Portal hosting and maintenance fees.
5. Processing and Finishing: Post-press services including cutting, folding, binding, embossing, laminating, and personalization. Revenue incorporated into overall project pricing.
6. Logistics and Warehousing: Storage services for publications and marketing materials, inventory monitoring, and fulfillment services. Revenue from storage fees and per-order fulfillment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

AST & Fischer AG is a Swiss full-service media and communications company that designs, produces, and delivers both digital and print communication solutions. The portfolio spans prepress, offset and digital printing, inline finishing, secure ticket production, web-to-print portals, marketing automation, and magazine publishing. Customers range from large enterprises to SMEs, with services delivered through direct sales, customized portals, and a self-service web shop.

Product overview

Ast & Fischer AG is a Swiss full-service media and communication company that has operated since 1889. Its portfolio spans two complementary worlds — Print and Digital — unified under the 'Gemeinsam die Zukunft denken' (Think the Future Together) strategy. The Print division covers the full value chain: Medienvorstufe (prepress/lithography), Druckproduktion (offset and digital printing, including the Canon iX3200 inkjet system achieving offset quality), Weiterverarbeitung (finishing/binding/embossing/veredelung), Logistik & Spedition (warehousing/distribution), and Verlag (publishing of magazines including 'Schweizer Garten'). The Digital division offers Portallösungen (web-to-print/online ordering portals using Magento2 and Chili Publisher), Marketing-Automation (powered by Caymland M4 CDP for CRM, e-mail, segmentation, and campaign automation), and Webentwicklung (custom web development). Consulting/Workshops (Business Model Canvas, Personas, Customer Journey) round out the offering. The company operates a joint printing center called Grünau Druck AG (formed April 2023 with Suter & Gerteis AG and Albrecht Druck AG) and runs the Druckeinfach.ch self-service web shop. Aeschbacher AG's print, ticketing, and publishing operations were integrated in September 2025. Ast & Fischer's own printing center also holds ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AstRein: The company's own ecological sustainability label encompassing all environmental initiatives, including waste separation, paper recycling, chemical waste management, and reporting according to GRI standards.

Products and services

• Portallösungen (Web-to-Print Portals) Web-based portal solutions enabling enterprise customers to create, personalize, and order print products (e.g., business cards, marketing materials) via templates. The W2P portals integrate Chili Publisher for template editing and Magento2 for ordering workflows, supporting automated production and multi-language, multi-brand environments with CD/CI compliance.
• Marketing Automation (Caymland M4) Marketing automation platform powered by Caymland M4 Customer Data Platform. Provides CRM and contact management, contact segmentation, visual e-mail builder, campaign automation with graphical workflow builder, and analytics. Enables personalized communication, lead nurturing, and automated marketing workflows for clients.
• Web Development Custom web development services for designing and building websites, web applications, and digital platforms, integrated with the company's broader digital communication and print offerings.
• Medienvorstufe (Prepress) Prepress services including typography and layout design, professional photo and image editing, lithography, data verification, and 'Gut zum Druck' (OK-to-print) approval workflows, preparing customer artwork for offset and digital production.
• Druckproduktion (Offset and Digital Printing) Offset printing (up to 18,000 sheets/hour on formats up to 74×106 cm via KBA Rapida 106-5 and Heidelberg SM52-4) and digital printing (Canon iX3200 inkjet achieving offset quality). Covers large-format plotting, ticket production (transport, events, Edmondson/retrobillets), and print-on-demand.
• Weiterverarbeitung (Finishing) Post-press finishing including precision cutting and folding (parallel, window, leporello, cross folds), binding (stapled, glued, spiral, Wire-O, thread-sewn open-back), personalization and couvertiering for mailing, die-cutting, embossing, debossing, and specialty coatings (soft-touch varnish, foil lamination, scented lacquers, protective laminates).
• Logistik & Spedition Logistics and warehousing services including professional packaging, on-time delivery, and on-demand storage until required. Monitors inventory levels for customers and coordinates distribution, including mailing and multi-format postal preparation.
• Verlag / Publishing Services Full-service publishing including subscription management, reader marketing, advertising acquisition, editorial support, and distribution. AST & Fischer publishes and produces the magazine 'Schweizer Garten' (most-read Swiss gardening magazine), 'KunstEinsicht' (Zentrum Paul Klee / Kunstmuseum Bern), 'In Dubio', and others. Offers ad marketing and media data services.
• Druckeinfach.ch Webshop A direct-order web shop for standard print products (business cards, flyers, brochures, etc.), targeting customers seeking quick, self-service print ordering without consulting a sales representative.
• Beratung / Workshops Advisory and workshop services including Business Model Canvas, Proto Personas, and Customer Journey Mapping to help clients build effective communication strategies. Supports both digital and print communication planning.
• Secure Ticket Production (CIT-licensed) Secure ticket production for transport operators and event organizers, including personalization, numbering, and security features (UV, barcodes). AST & Fischer is the only Swiss printer licensed to produce CIT security papers for international railway tickets and freight documents. Also produces Edmondson/retrobillets for nostalgic journeys, special events, and enthusiasts (since 1913).

Quantifiable outcome

• 165,000+ copies sold of 'Muggestutz' children's book
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability2 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CIT (International Rail Transport Committee)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025In October 2025, Ast & Fischer AG and CIT signed a new cooperation agreement for the management of CIT Security Background 2012. Following the integration of Aeschbacher AG, Ast & Fischer assumed responsibility for data management, archiving, and technical support related to security papers for international railway tickets and freight documents.
• Aeschbacher AGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Ast & Fischer AG acquired the Print, Ticketing, and Publishing divisions of Aeschbacher AG. All employees transferred to Wabern, and operations continued under Ast & Fischer brand. Tom Aeschbacher remains in advisory role.
• Grünau Druck AG (Suter & Gerteis AG, Albrecht Druck AG)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2023Joint production center established combining Ast & Fischer AG, Suter & Gerteis AG, and Albrecht Druck AG. The facility features modern infrastructure for offset and digital printing with high industrial competence. All companies remain independent while sharing production facilities.
• Suter & Gerteis AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture partner in Grünau Druck AG printing center.
• Albrecht Druck AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture partner in Grünau Druck AG printing center.
• ClimatePartnerminorOthersClimatePartner logo displayed on sustainability page as part of ASTrein sustainability initiatives.
• Swiss SRI (VOC Reduction)minorOthersVOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) reduction initiative in printing industry.
• Stiftung SileaminorOthersFoundation in Thun that collaborated on the Papyrus Switzerland sample folder project.
• Stiftung TRANSfairminorOthersFoundation that helped with assembly of 200 gift boxes for AEK BANK anniversary.
• GECKO Communication AGminorOthersAgency partner for Burgerbibliothek Bern anniversary project.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Stämpfli Verlag AG: Bern-based publishing and printing group with offset/digital production, web-to-print portals, and a content/services business. Closely comparable in product mix (print + digital + publishing) and in Swiss enterprise customer base.
• Galledia AG: One of the largest commercial printers in Eastern Switzerland with offset and digital production plus publishing services. Directly comparable to AST & Fischer as a full-service Swiss printing and media house serving enterprise and publishing customers.
• Orell Füssli Sicherheitsdruck AG: Swiss security printing specialist producing banknotes, identity documents, and secure tickets. Direct peer in the secure/specialty print category that competes for the same regulatory-driven, high-security printing mandates that anchor AST & Fischer's CIT rail ticketing business.
• Dietschi Druck AG: Swiss commercial printer offering offset, digital, and finishing services with a long operating history. Comparable to AST & Fischer as a mid-sized Swiss printing services company serving enterprise customers.
• Druckerei Schellenberg AG: Long-established Swiss commercial printer based in Winterthur offering offset, digital, and large-format print. Comparable regional Swiss printing house with overlapping enterprise and SME customer base.

Broad incumbents

• Cimpress plc (Vistaprint): Global mass-customization leader in web-to-print with broad SMB and enterprise offerings across commercial print, marketing materials, and signage. Broad incumbent whose W2P platform and scale economics set the benchmark for the portal offerings AST & Fischer builds for Swiss enterprises.
• Giesecke+Devrient GmbH: Global German-headquartered security and printing technology group active in banknotes, ID documents, and secure ticketing. Comparable as a much larger incumbent in the secure-print category that competes for high-security mandates adjacent to AST & Fischer's CIT rail business.

Others

• Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG: World-leading manufacturer of offset and digital printing presses. AST & Fischer operates KBA Rapida and Heidelberg SM52 presses from this and related vendors, so Heidelberg is an equipment ecosystem peer rather than a direct competitor in print services.
• CTS Eventim AG & Co. KGaA: European ticketing and live entertainment platform that also procures secure ticket production. Comparable as a buyer-side counterpart in the event ticketing value chain, where AST & Fischer produces secure tickets and event passes for venues like BERNEXPO.

Emerging players

• MOO Inc. Global SMB-focused online printing brand (business cards, marketing materials) with strong e-commerce and design tools. Comparable as an emerging player in the digital-first commercial print category that DruckEinfach.ch targets, but operating at much larger scale and serving international SMBs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ast-fischer-ag
• Xx.com/astfischer
• Facebookfacebook.com/astfischer

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 AST & FISCHER