CH Media invests in Switzerland's most modern newspaper printing plant
At its main location in Aarau, CH Media is investing a low double-digit million amount in its printing infrastructure. This will result in the creation of Switzerland’s most modern and high-performance newspaper printing plant by 2027. Starting next year, CH Media will also begin printing the «Bieler Tagblatt.».
CH Media is making a substantial investment in its printing infrastructure and developing the most modern and efficient newspaper printing plant in Switzerland at its main site in Aarau. Together with the printing plant at the St. Gallen site, a network will be created by 2027 that will set new standards in Swiss newspaper printing in terms of technology, automation and service quality.
Additional folder and replacement of the shipping line
The core of the investment is an additional high-performance folder from Koenig & Bauer and the replacement of the dispatch line with a modern, flexible solution from Ferag. These investments are complemented by further modernizations along the entire production chain. These include the optimization of printing lines, innovative robotics solutions in logistics and new, fully networked processes from prepress to distribution.
"This major investment is a performance promise to our customers: We offer maximum capacity, quality assurance and delivery reliability. In this way, we are securing production for our own titles and for third-party customers for years to come," explains Stefan Wabel, COO of CH Media and responsible for the Newspaper Printing division.
"Bieler Tagblatt" now printed by CH Media
The investment is being made against the backdrop of ongoing consolidation in the print market. Following the closure of various Swiss printing centers, CH Media is assuming additional responsibility for security of supply and predictability in national newspaper printing. Secondly, the investment supports a consistent growth strategy: CH Media has been printing the "Luzerner Zeitung" with its regional editions and the "Boten der Urschweiz" in addition to the existing publications in Aarau since the beginning of 2025. The "Bieler Tagblatt" from Gassmann Media AG will be added in 2026. This means that CH Media prints a total of 25 daily newspapers, the weekend publication "Schweiz am Wochenende", 27 free newspapers and a large number of other publications, including the "Migros-Magazin", the "Coopzeitung" and the TCS "Touring" magazine, at its printing plants in Aarau and St. Gallen.
"The newspaper printing market in Switzerland is currently undergoing fundamental change, and we want to seize this opportunity. Our vision is clear: we are the leading competence center for printed newspapers in Switzerland. With modern, efficient systems, a high level of automation and clear quality standards, we are a reliable partner for our customers. For this reason, the latest investment is of central importance to us," says Michael Wanner, CEO of CH Media.
