Wifag Services

What Wifag Services does

Wifag Services AG is a privately held Swiss industrial services company that specializes in the servicing, retrofitting, and modernization of Wifag rotary offset printing presses used primarily by newspaper publishers and commercial printing plants. The company was established as an independent entity in April 2018 when it was divested by WIFAG-Polytype Group to a group of entrepreneurs from the Canton of Bern, though its technical heritage dates back to 1904. Headquartered in Aefligen, Switzerland, the firm operates with approximately 55 employees across Wifag Services AG (27 staff) and its wholly-owned subsidiary Dyno AG (28 staff), which was acquired in April 2022 to expand into heavy industrial robot manufacturing and assembly.

The company's core offering is built around a modular retrofit system that allows gradual renewal of entire printing presses by replacing obsolete electronic control components (AS-PL12/AS-PL14, Pilz and KeTop terminals, Fan-Out motors, drive boards) with current AMKAMAC-based standard components. Its technology stack includes proprietary software for press optimization (lateral register, color register, temperature equalization), additional printing functions (Flyover, Flying Page, Free Front, Spadea, Half Cover), webwidth reduction solutions, and machine relocation/reconfiguration services. The firm also supplies the WIFAG evolution 473/4, a 32-page rotary offset printing press used as replacement equipment. Notable customers include Ouest-France, DDV Druck GmbH, Lensing Zeitungsdruck, DPG Printing, Funke Mediengruppe, and Ruhr Nachrichten, with active projects completed or ongoing in Switzerland, France, Germany, Netherlands, USA, and India.

Wifag Services generates revenue through five streams: recurring service contracts (multi-year packages with 24/7 hotline, spare parts, audits, remote diagnostics, and training), transactional spare parts sales using original Wifag components, one-time retrofit and modernization projects, professional services for machine overhauls and engineering projects (relocations, reconfigurations), and equipment sales of new WIFAG evolution 473/4 presses. The go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales led by a dedicated Head of Sales and Projects, targeting a narrow base of large newspaper publishers operating legacy Wifag presses whose mechanical lifespans (decades) exceed electronic component cycles (5-7 years), creating a structural need for retrofit services. The firm maintains no disclosed public pricing, no external funding rounds, and operates as an entrepreneur-led private company with no institutional investor involvement.

Name

Wifag Services

Legal name

Wifag Services AG

Website

https://wifag-services.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Wifag Services AG is a Swiss industrial services firm that provides retrofitting, modernization, spare parts, and maintenance exclusively for Wifag rotary offset printing presses used by newspaper publishers and commercial printing plants worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Newspaper Printing Press Services

NAICS

Sawmill, Woodworking, and Paper Machinery Manufacturing (333243)

SIC

Service Industries For The Printing Trade (2790), Misc Industrial & Commercial Machinery & Equipment (3590), Wholesale-Machinery, Equipment & Supplies (5080)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) (IMAGAGAA)

Keywords

• Rotary press services
• Printing press retrofit
• Newspaper printing equipment
• Control system modernization
• Press spare parts

Headquarters

HQ city

Albligen

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Service Contracts and Maintenance: Economically sensible packages of defined services which customers can access during contract duration, allowing optimized resource planning and favorable pricing. Includes spare parts service with original Wifag components, technical support, 24/7 helpdesk, maintenance audits, electrical inspection/remote diagnostics, training and refresher courses.
2. Spare Parts Sales: Original Wifag spare parts and components sold to customers. Includes replacement of obsolete components such as control terminals, motors, servers, and drive boards.
3. Retrofit and Modernization Projects: Customized retrofit and modification solutions to safeguard daily production and ensure high machine availability. Modular system allows gradual renewal with different retrofit steps combined based on customer requirements.
4. Machine Overhauls and Inspections: Complete machine overhauls and inspections including condition assessments and audits to evaluate machine state and predict long-term maintenance costs.
5. Engineering and Project Services: Engineering services including complete machine relocations, machine reconfigurations, and new printing unit additions to existing systems.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Wifag Services AG provides long-term service, spare parts, retrofit, and modernization solutions for Wifag rotary offset newspaper printing presses. Offerings include multi-year service contracts with technical support and a 24/7 helpdesk, original spare parts, a modular retrofit building-block system that renews obsolete controls (AS-PL12/PL14 to AMKAMAC) and mechanical components, condition assessments for planned maintenance, and complete machine relocations and reconfigurations. Projects are sold primarily to large newspaper publishers operating Wifag equipment worldwide.

Product overview

Wifag Services AG operates as a service organization for Wifag rotary offset printing presses. The company's portfolio consists of two main product categories: (1) Service Contracts offering spare parts, technical support, 24/7 hotline, maintenance audits, remote diagnostics, condition assessments, training, and machine overhauls; and (2) Retrofit and Modernization Solutions providing a modular system for gradual renewal of printing presses including hardware component replacement (AS-PL controls, terminals, drives), software solutions, additional printing functions (Flyover, Flying Page, etc.), webwidth reduction, and complete machine relocation services. The company also supplies WIFAG evolution 473/4 printing presses as part of its product offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Service Contracts Multi-year service packages for Wifag rotary printing press operators, bundling original spare parts, technical support, 24/7 helpdesk, maintenance audits, remote diagnostics, condition assessments, training, and overhauls; offered to newspaper publishers and commercial printing plants at favorable multi-year pricing.
• Retrofit Solutions Modular retrofit building-block system that renews Wifag rotary offset printing presses, replacing obsolete components such as terminals (KeTop, Pilz), Symac AS-PL12/AS-PL14 controls, motors, fan-out motor, lateral register motors, servers, and drive boards KW-R03/R04, with each step building on prior investments.
• Control Retrofit Software Solutions Software functions delivered alongside control retrofits on Wifag rotary presses, including quality and color density improvements during machine acceleration, temperature equalization in damping units, lateral register for tabloid products, plate cylinder position stop, printing unit disengagement at end of production, emergency operation for color register control, and Rotoclean integration.
• Additional Printing Functions Optional additional press functions including Flyover, Flying Page, Free Front, Spadea, and Half Cover capabilities that enhance printing operations on Wifag presses.
• Webwidth Reduction Solutions Variable or fixed webwidth reduction capabilities for Wifag press configuration flexibility, allowing operators to adapt equipment to different product formats.
• Machine Relocation and Reconfiguration Complete machine relocations, machine reconfigurations, and machine preservation services for moving Wifag rotary printing press equipment between facilities or adapting it for different production requirements.
• WIFAG evolution 473/4 32-page rotary offset printing press with 9-cylinder satellite construction in 4/2 configuration, semi-automatic plate changers, available with KF 140 2:5:5 folders and WIFAG A 50 autopasters; supplied to large newspaper publishers for high-volume daily production.
• Spare Parts Service Original Wifag spare parts and components sold to operators of Wifag rotary printing presses, including replacement of obsolete components such as control terminals, motors, servers, and drive boards; available as à la carte orders or as part of service contracts.
• Condition Assessment and Machine Overhaul Services Condition assessment services evaluating the state of folders, printing units, and other installation components to forecast repair and maintenance costs over a 4-8 year horizon, enabling planned preventative maintenance, complete machine overhauls, and inspections for owners of Wifag rotary presses.

Quantifiable outcome

• Extend printing press service life by 10-15 years through complete control retrofit
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Dyno AGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2022Wifag Services AG acquired Dyno AG in Aefligen as a strategic expansion of production capabilities, specifically to expand Heavy Industrial Robots manufacturing and assembly. Dyno AG employs 28 people and operates independently while sharing synergies in purchasing, production, engineering, and project management. Wifag Services relocated headquarters to Aefligen by June 2023 to consolidate operations.
• EAE (Elektronik Ablad EG)coreTechnology or IntegrationEAE is the control console and planning system supplier for Wifag retrofit projects. Both Lensing and Funke retrofit projects are implemented in close collaboration with EAE. The new Wifag control systems (AMKAMAC-based) communicate with EAE section gateway systems, replacing older Profibus and SERCOSII interfaces. Existing EAE hardware components are reused where possible.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Heidelberger Druckmaschinen: World's largest manufacturer of sheetfed offset and digital presses with an extensive services business. Comparable through its service contracts, spare parts, and modernization offerings that extend the life of installed printing equipment — the same customer problem Wifag Services solves for newspaper presses.
• Koenig & Bauer (KBA): Major German printing press manufacturer with a global service organization serving its installed base across newspaper, commercial, packaging, and security printing. Comparable because its aftermarket service, retrofit, and spare parts business for press customers mirrors the Wifag Services model, just at much larger scale and across more platforms.
• ABB: Global industrial automation and robotics company with an extensive service and retrofit business. Comparable as a competitor in industrial robotics, automation services, and drive/control retrofits — relevant to Dyno AG's heavy industrial robots business and Wifag Services' AMKAMAC-based control retrofits.

Direct peers

• Müller Martini: Swiss-based manufacturer of print finishing and binding equipment with a strong service business. Comparable as a Switzerland-based specialist selling high-end equipment plus aftermarket service and retrofits into the printing industry.
• manroland Goss web systems: One of the leading global manufacturers of web offset printing presses for newspapers and a direct competitor in new press sales and aftermarket service. Comparable because it monetizes both new press deliveries and recurring service on an installed newspaper press base, just as Wifag Services does on the legacy Wifag fleet.
• Tokyo Kikai Seisakusho (TKS): Japanese manufacturer of newspaper and commercial web offset printing presses with associated service operations. Comparable as a direct competitor in newspaper press manufacturing and aftermarket support, particularly across Asian newspaper publishers.
• Quad/Technologies (Quad Tech): Provider of control systems, register guidance, and automation retrofits for web and sheetfed printing presses. Comparable because it sells retrofit control upgrades and automation to extend press life — directly overlapping with Wifag Services' AS-PL to AMKAMAC control retrofit offering.
• Baldwin Technology: Global supplier of technology, consumables, and services for the printing industry, including equipment cleaning, ink management, and press automation. Comparable because it sells retrofit and ongoing service solutions to newspaper and commercial printers facing obsolescence and uptime challenges similar to those Wifag Services addresses.

Regional players

• WIFAG-Polytype: Former parent of the Wifag Services division before the 2018 spin-off, now focused on packaging and converting machinery. Comparable as the original equipment manufacturer for the Wifag press line and as a related Swiss industrial machinery specialist sharing heritage with Wifag Services.

Emerging players

• Technotrans: Provider of temperature control, ink management, and service solutions for the printing industry. Comparable as a smaller specialist selling process-critical retrofits and aftermarket services that extend press life and improve print quality — adjacent to Wifag Services' retrofit scope.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Wifag Services