Printing finishing system and method for operating a print finishing system

A print finishing system (1, 2, 3) for collating and further processing flat pre-products (V), said print finishing system comprising:

• a collating apparatus (5, 6, 7, 8) with a conveying track (41);
• a plurality of receiving units (50) arranged on the collating apparatus (5, 6, 7, 8) in a closed circuit, the plurality of receiving units (50), arranged one behind the other in the direction of circulation, circulate for receiving pre-products (V) to be collated, and on which in at least one collating region (10, 11, 12, 13) several supplying devices (101-112) are arranged one behind the other in the direction of circulation, from which pre-products (V) are output into the receiving units (50) moving past them on the conveying track;
• and
• a transfer device (30, 34, 35, 80, 81), which transfers collated first part collections (T1, T5) from the receiving units (50) for further processing, is arranged at least at one position (42) on the conveying track, and a merging feed (31, 35, 82, 83), which merges collated further part collections (T2, T4, T6, T7) from the receiving units (50) with the first part collections (T1, T5) or printed products that include the first part collection to form collections (K, K1), is arranged at least at one further position (42″, 43) on the conveying track or at a spacing therefrom.