In an update, Heidelberg said the launch of the B3 Jetfire 50 sheetfed inkjet printing system – first announced at Drupa earlier this year and based on Canon’s iX3200 model – was going “completely to plan”.
Heidelberg bosses hosted a high level delegation from Canon at its new ‘Home of Print’ facility at Wiesloch-Walldorf for the official contract signing.
Canon Production Printing president and CEO Dave Yoshida; Peter Wolff senior vice president and CMO; Marcel Frielinck, CFO and CIO; and Robert Crooker, senior director for strategic portfolio management of the Canon business were in attendance.
Heidelberg CEO Jürgen Otto described the collaboration with Canon as "a milestone" in Heidelberg’s growth strategy for its core business.
“Besides selling the Jetfire 50 itself, we will also benefit from recurring sales from services and consumables throughout the press’s lifetime. In commercial printing, too, that means we can share in the growing digital printing volume and significantly strengthen our market position,” he said.
Heidelberg CSO Dr David Schmedding said the first Jetfire 50 presses would be delivered to customers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland in spring 2025 “as planned”, ahead of a wider roll-out to other territories.
“Users will benefit from our application know-how, our in-depth understanding of the market’s needs, and the most comprehensive service network in the entire sector,” he stated.
A Jetfire 50 is installed at the Home of Print, with another at Heidelberg’s Japanese showroom in Tokyo.
The 8,700sph B2 format Jetfire 75 model will be on sale from the middle of next year, with first shipments expected in early 2026.
