Ownership changes at partners Digital Collections and ppi Media will not affect continued development of their Content-X editorial system.

Hauke Berndt, managing partner and chief executive of ppi Media - which is celebrating its thirty-fifth anniversary this year - says that after changes in the shareholding at both ppi Media and Digital Collections, the two companies will continue to develop Content-X together.

Founder of Digital Collections Ole Olsen - who had been outright owner since he bought out partner Gannett in 2015 - announced he had sold the business to Stibo-owned CCI Europe last week.

Since Hamburg-based ppi Media was founded in 1984, it has become a leading provider of software solutions for automated newspaper production in the German market, and now provides systems for media groups and publishers around the world. It has branches in Kiel, Hamburg and Chicago, and serves around 100 publishers in numerous countries including Context-X user the Bangkok Post in Thailand. Services cover the entire publishing workflow of newspapers and magazines, from planning to production.

Among the other well-known publications produced with ppi solutions are the New York Times, Bild and Indian daily Dainik Jagran, one of the most widely read publications in the world.

Berndt says the business had a modest start: "Way back in 1984, Peter Pape probably couldn't tell his company would become one of the world's leading providers of publishing software", he says.

"But his Hanseatic virtues have left a lasting impression on the company. Our clients have always valued our reliability, service-oriented approach and the fact that we listen to them. Many of our solutions have been developed and optimised with our clients".

He says last year saw Content-X adopted by more clients than ever before. "Content-X is being used more and more - even by major magazine publishers. Egmont Publishing in Norway started using the system last year and other publishers are about to follow suit."