Zeitungsverlag Waiblingen successfully implements print automation

With support from alfamedia, Zeitungsverlag Waiblingen (ZVW) became the first German publisher to successfully implement Aptoma’s Dr. Edition print automation solution and switch to our editorial management platform, EditorialOrganiser. This solution has made the editorial workflow even more efficient and modern.

From vision to reality

‘The focus of our project was on reorganising the editorial department,’ says ZVW editor-in-chief Frank Nipkau. “We wanted to consistently align our workflows with digital growth. In everyday life, this can only be achieved by separating the production of digital content from the production of the print newspaper. That’s why we chose alfamedia’s solutions. The combination of EditorialOrganiser and Dr. Edition makes it possible to quickly and easily create a printed newspaper from purely online articles without any print specifications.”

EditorialOrganiser: The central platform for modern journalism

alfamedia’s EditorialOrganiser is at the heart of the transformation at Zeitungsverlag Waiblingen. This innovative platform consistently promotes a ‘digital first’ approach, in which content is created and planned by editors exclusively for digital channels. Both the creation and management of online content is carried out from within EditorialOrganiser, which also enables control of the online portal. By focusing on digital content, EditorialOrganiser ensures that the workflow is efficient and tailored to the requirements of the digital media world.

A central component of the project was the complete conversion of the working method to a digital workflow. EditorialOrganiser offers editors the opportunity to work from any location via a browser, giving them flexible and up-to-date access to editorial resources. This flexibility is crucial to ensuring that the integration of online and print automation processes can take place seamlessly. Print production itself is no longer handled by the editors; instead, the content is passed directly from EditorialOrganiser to the media workshop, the department for media design and media creation. There, specialised media designers take over the automated further processing with the help of Aptoma’s print automation.

The editorial team works entirely in EditorialOrganiser. Editors simply create an online article and no longer have access to print. EditorialOrganiser is also used for planning, managing photo appointments, controlling the homepage and scheduling services.

The introduction of EditorialOrganiser has thus made the need for a separate print editorial system obsolete. In combination with Aptoma, EditorialOrganiser provides a fully integrated solution for the entire content production process, from the initial idea to the final publication, completely replacing the previously used NewsSuite system.

Optimised workflow thanks to Aptoma

As the market leader for print automation in Scandinavia, Aptoma is setting new standards in digital print production. The automated page layout significantly reduces the processing time per page, which is a major advantage in everyday editorial work. Frank Nipkau is pleased: ‘Thanks to Aptoma’s print automation, we have already reduced our production time to around 10 minutes per page and are striving for even greater efficiency – the editorial transformation has only just begun.’

This allows editors to focus more on their creative work. Frank Nipkau praises the success of this project: ‘The transition was so smooth that our readers didn’t notice any difference. That’s the best proof of the success of the changeover.’

A forward-looking partnership

The first test phase in November 2024 involved shadow production, during which the production processes were optimised. In February, the rollout began in all editorial offices, with a new editorial office being added each week. The introduction went smoothly and was accompanied by positive feedback.

With the introduction of Aptoma and EditorialOrganiser, the Waiblingen newspaper publisher is setting new standards in the media industry. This collaboration with alfamedia underpins the vision of efficiently and seamlessly combining digital and print formats. ‘This changeover not only introduced a new way of working, but also laid the foundation for a sustainable, digital editorial process,’ summarises Oliver Andrich, CTO of alfamedia.