The product launches, which include the Promatrix 106 CS die-cutter and Diana Smart series of folder-gluers, are the first since Heidelberg announced its outsourcing deal with Chinese manufacturer Masterwork Machinery in August.
This post-press shake-up saw Heidelberg slash 650 jobs worldwide and close its Leipzig manufacturing facility on the basis that "in-house production [was] no longer competitive under the new market conditions".
Heidelberg, which has exclusive sales rights to the new machines, said it would continue to work with Masterwork on new products to "meet our customers' technical and economic requirements".
The Promatrix 106 CS is an 8,000sph die-cutter and embosser aimed at short to medium-run folding carton production. It can handle substrates from 90-2,000gsm and corrugated board up to 4mm thick.
It has a maximum sheet size of 760x1,060mm.
Meanwhile Heidelberg also unveiled the Diana Smart series, including the Diana Smart 55 and Diana Smart 80, which join the existing Diana X 80 and X 115 folder gluers and replace the Diana 45.
The Diana Smart series can run at 450m per minute or approx 140,000 cartons per hour (compared with the Diana X's 200,000 cartons per hour) and has a modular design.
The Diana Smart 55 has a maximum carton width of 550mm and the Diana Smart 80 has a maximum carton width of 800mm. Options include the Diana Braille and Diana Inspection Control modules.
Stephan Plenz, Heidelberg board member responsible for equipment, said: "While the packaging sector is growing in emerging markets, we are seeing consolidation and productivity increases in industrialised countries."
Commenting on the partnership with Masterwork, Harald Weimer, Heidelberg board member responsible for sales and services, said: "The product portfolio will continue to evolve in the medium term, so that we can offer the right machines and solutions to meet all our customers’ needs for effective folding carton production, including the appropriate service activities. Our customers will have the same Heidelberg contacts as before and will still have access to our global sales and service network."
