Since it was founded by Marc Kern in 1947, the company has remained within the family, and is today managed in its second generation by proprietor Uli Kern. With its roots in Konolfingen in Bern, Switzerland, of the Swiss company’s fame quickly spread beyond national borders.
Since then, Kern has put a great deal of energy into developing and implementing new ideas. Whether for optical reading and on-line processing in the 1960s, modular mailing systems in the 1980s, the Kern 3000 – the fastest inserting system in the world – in the 1990s, or the development of sophisticated robots in the new century. Kern again and again opened up new horizons in document processing and packaging. This development has resulted in steady growth and sustained success.
2019
Kern 3800 at the Hunkeler nnovationdays
On the occasion of the Hunkeler Innovationdays 2019 in Lucerne / CH, Kern is showing a new dimension in inserting technology - the Kern 3800. The high-performance inserting system, presented for the first time, opens up new perspectives in terms of intelligence, flexibility and job security. The preventive behavior of the machine guarantees constant processing and offers maximum production and process reliability.
2018
Positioning of the next generation
Since Marc Kern founded the company, Kern has remained in the hands of the family. Today, the company is managed by the second generation, Mr. Uli Kern. 71 years later the third generation has also started to work in the business, allowing Uli Kern to focus on strategic issues. Stefanie, his daughter, and her partner Thomas Weibel are primarily responsible for developing new business fields (logistics and packaging solutions). Presently, Stefanie and Thomas are undertaking further studies in marketing and business administration. Uli Kern is convinced that both members of the family together with all employees of the Kern companies will be able to manage the challenges of the future.
From left: Thomas Weibel, Stefanie Kern and Uli Kern
2017
Launch of a new product in the packaging solutions business field: Multi Format Packaging System MI750 for the real-time production of custom shipping packages from corrugated cardboard. The concept PackOnTime® can help you optimise your production or shipping processes and increase productivity; all while ensuring environmentally friendly usage of resources. This is our aim: Smart Pack – Made On Time.
2017
Kern AG celebrates its 70th anniversary:
1947 - 2017!
2017 April
The Kern User-Forum 2017 took place at Kern GmbH in Bensheim, Germany, from 25 - 27 April.
The compact multi-format Kern 1600 system and the new Kern Lockers package terminals were in the key focus.
In addition to informative speeches, the Kern machine portfolio including interesting partner solutions were presented, as well as the versatile KAS inserting systems for the graphics industry.
2016
World premiere of the new compact multi format system Kern 1600 [1] at drupa 2016 in Düsseldorf. The Kern 1600 is the ideal inserting solution for customers processing different size envelopes and document formats, who require the flexibility to change applications frequently and need to react quickly to varying situations in the mailroom.
Launch of the new Kern-Lockers [2]. Kern-Lockers offers the market a full range of automated parcel lockers, with a modular design to suit different requirements.
2015
Product of the year 2014 is the multi-format inserting system Kern 5000 [1]. The readers of the Postmaster magazine voted the Kern 5000 inserting system as the winning product in the category machines and product ideas.
2014
2013
Restructuring of the Italy subsidiary with a focus on development and worldwide sales of card processing systems and processing & service activities. Kern S.p.A. and Kern Sistemi S.r.l. is now Kern Italia (www.kern.it)
Building a strategic alliance with Winkler + Dünnebier.
2012
Presentation of the new cutting system Kern 996 [1], which sets new standards in the so called "White Paper Solution". Positive sales success for this product can be reported.
2011
2010
During IPEX (Great Britain), Kern presents its Cutting System Kern 996 [1] with success.
2009
The new multifunctional high-level inserting system Kern 2600 [1] – including the Kern ADF software - is presented at the Kern Anwenderforum kompakt in Germany. Founding of a new subsidiary company in the Netherlands on 01.01.2009 (www.kernbv.nl)
2008
2007
Foundation of Kern S.p.A. and Kern Sistemi S.r.l. in Italy in March. (www.kern.it)
2006
2005
Kern receives the iF design award for the 2nd time for its products. This time for the 2-channel inserting- and mailing system Kern 3500 [1]. In addition, Kern is awarded with the innovation price of the German print industry for the Smart-Binder.) The 2-channel inserting- and mailing system Kern 3500 is presented as world premiere at the Print 05 in Chicago [2] [3]. Foundation of Kern France SAS in July 2005 (www.kernsas.fr) Foundation of the Kern N.V. in Belgium (www.kernnv.be)
2004
More than 300 companies participate in this year's "innovation award of the German economy". Kern achieves a nomination with the new product logistics system Kern 60. www.innovationspreis.com
2003
Two years after founding of Kern Sistemas in Spain, the fifth subsidiary follows, which is located in Russia. The new logistics system Kern 60 [1] is exhibited during the Océ OpenHouse in Poing, Germany.
2002
Presentation of the new Kern 3500 Inserting System [1] during the CeBIT in Hanover, Germany. The worldwide 2000th Kern 2500 Multimailer [2] was delivered to the Allianz Gruppe in Unterföhring / Munich. The fourth subsidiary – Kern Sistemas – is founded in Spain. (www.kern.es). By purchasing the former company Dessindus, Kern now has a complete program in computer forms pre- and post-processing. [3]
2001
2000
The Kern 3000 Megamailer [1] was officially included in the Guinness Book of Records as the fastest document inserting machine in the world! In the first Guinness Book of Records of the new century, there are again astonishing and great record achievements collected from all around the world. Kern GmbH Germany with headquarters in Bensheim achieves a new world record: in the new edition of the bestseller, the German subsidiary of the Swiss family company Kern AG (Konolfingen) has established that their Kern 3000 Megamailer document inserter system is the fastest in the world. With 26,000 document inserts per hour, this is still unbeaten today. A certificate from the Guinness Book of Records confirms this success. However, not only the jury of the Guinness Book of Records confirms that the Kern 3000 Megamailer is the fastest on the market – 26,000 document inserts per hour: cut, folded, grouped, complemented, inserted and checked.
1997
Kern AG celebrates its 50th anniversary. Kern International Inc. is founded in the USA (www.kerninc.com) Launch of the Kern 4000 Mailing System [1] into the inserter market.
1995
1994
Serial production of the up to now fastest inserting system Kern 3000 Megamailer [1] is started. A new dimension in form mailing opens up to large users from all areas of the economy. The Kern 3000 Megamailer is born. Up to 26,000 mailings ready for the post – the fastest mailing system in the world.
1993
Pilot installation of 2 Kern 3000 Megamailers [1] at Telecom Germany. The first system with direct connection of printers is developed.
1992
The company founder Mr. Marc Kern [1] lost his life in a tragic helicopter accident. His two sons Uli and Peter, both of whom were already fully integrated in the company, take over the operative management.
1991
Presentation of the Kern 3000 [1] – the fastest document inserting system in the world. The German Telecom ordered more than 70 systems. The series production of this model is launched.
1988
1984
Production of the Kern 2000 [1] [2] starts successfully. The system is offered as a modular system with several inputs for pilot documents and a larger number of stations for enclosures. Delivery of the first modular mailing system in the world, the Kern 2000 Multimailer. Up to 1995, over 1,500 systems of this type were successfully delivered in 50 countries.
1983
Founding of Kern Limited in England. Thanks to first-class references, Kern Ltd has grown continuously. (www.kern.co.uk)
1982
Founding of the first subsidiary company, Kern GmbH in Germany, with 25 employees. The motto is: “Closer to our customers”. (www.kerngmbh.de)
1978
1975
The new factory hall in Stalden (near Konolfingen) is taken into operation. [1]
1974
1971
The first system with a directly connected cutting machine for processing continuous form computer printouts – equipped with optical mark reading (OMR) - is produced. A new manufacturing hall with over 6,000 m2 is built in Stalden. More than 100 employees are working for Kern AG.
Kern presents its interesting machine range at the IFABO fair in Vienna 1971. [1]
1968
The first on-line systems were manufactured. Cutting, folding and inserting is performed in one operation. Kern AG expands its leading position in the area of document inserting for mailing.
1964
An electronics development laboratory is installed in Konolfingen. The worldwide first folding document inserter machines with reading of optical marks leave the factory under the name KAE (Kern Automatic Electronic). The manufacturer Mr. Marc Kern - on the left - [1] is clearly proud of his latest product. The factory is extended to accommodate the increasing demand for Kern machines. [2] [3]
1960
1955
Participation at the “Foire de Paris” [1].
1954
The Kern Company is converted into a limited company. Mr. Marc Kern is the sole shareholder. The aim of the new inserter [1] is to insert an envelope per second safely.
1953
First Presentation of a folding and inserting system with two folding and three feeding stations.
1951
1947
Mr. Marc Kern [1] [2], the founder of the Kern company, made the following statement:
"In 1947, together with my wife, I equipped a small workshop in Hünigenstrasse in Konolfingen, with the objective of becoming self employed. Two years previously, I was employed as technical manager by an Italian printing press manufacturer in Brussels, and I came into early contact with the subject ‘paper’. Especially in printing shops, I saw letter post being manually inserted and this led me to the idea of manufacturing a document folding and inserting machine. The design on paper led to the later construction of the prototype."
A strong team developed the first folding and document inserting machine. The young founder is also standing there on the wooden Frame [3]. The modern, transmission driven machine tools of 1947 [4].
