Andrew Fetherman · President & CEO ...
At Printing United 2025 in Orlando, Morten B. Reitoft from INKISH meets Andy Fetherman at the Hunkeler and MĂŒller Martini booth â now united under a single brand and logo for the first time. The conversation reflects both the strategic and personal dimensions of this major transition.
Andy notes that while change is constant, the company has spent the past fifteen months preparing for this moment. âWeâve invested millions in people, equipment, spare parts, and even built a full training center with Hunkeler systems,â he says. âWeâre as ready as we can be â maybe weâll stub a toe or two, but weâre proud of how far weâve come.â
He explains that the Gen8 EVO represents a true co-development between the two engineering teams. âWeâve integrated the MĂŒller Martini control platform into the Gen8 EVO, taking the best of Hunkelerâs mechanical innovation and merging it with our intuitive control interface,â he says. âItâs the evolution of both companiesâ strengths.â
Andy, who has been with MĂŒller Martini for more than 31 years, describes the acquisition as part of a broader pattern of strategic growth. âThis isnât our first integration,â he explains. âIn 2015, we acquired Heidelbergâs finishing portfolio, then Kolbus in 2018. Hunkeler is different because itâs complementary technology that opens entirely new market segments â transactional print, direct mail â while staying close to our core competencies in folding and cutting paper.â
He emphasizes that the North American operation has been built with service quality in mind. âBy early 2026, we expect 80â85% of Hunkeler spare parts to be stocked in Allentown,â he says. âWe could have started selling parts earlier, but we didnât want to risk our reputation by not delivering at the standard our customers expect. January 1st is when that light switch really flips.â
Discussing market reaction, Andy admits that some customers were initially surprised by the merger. âItâs like finding out your next-door neighbors just moved in together,â he laughs. âBut the response has been overwhelmingly positive. The trust in both brands is strong â MĂŒller Martiniâs reputation for service, and Hunkelerâs for innovation.â
He adds that the companyâs deep digital experience gives them confidence moving forward. âDigital has been in our DNA for 25 years. Two-thirds of our North American revenue already comes from digital. So, this isnât new territory â itâs the next level.â
As always, the conversation ends on a friendly note, with Morten joking about bloopers and Andy smiling: âWeâll make sure to have some fun too.â