Heidelberg chairman and CEO Bernhard Schreier predicted that the showdown of [Print 01] will be digital on the eve of the worlds largest print trade show this year.

Print 01 (6-13 September, Chicago) marks the much anticipated launch proper of Heidelbergs digital colour press, the NexPress 2100. The fruits of a joint venture with Kodak (first announced at Print 97), NexPress marks the start of Heidelbergs mission to become the number one player in high-speed digital printing.

We want to show the world that we will be the major supplier for high-volume digital colour, Schreier said.

Heidelberg is demonstrating all three configurations of NexPress in Chicago so people can compare notes and take the Pepsi test, said NexPress president Venkat Purushotham.

The standard 2100 (for short-run printing and simple variable data), the Pro (for quick turnaround printing and mid-range variable data) and the Plus (for all jobs and full variable data) are priced at $350, $390 and $420 respectively. The machines are ready for sale to the US and Central European markets and will be pitched at Heidelbergs home territory of graphic arts.

The rest of the world can buy the machine next year.

Puru stressed that NexPress will be sold as a solution and not just as a toy for early adopters and geeks.

Features such as the new NexPert suite of operator tools and tips to maximize productivity and profitability underline this approach, he added.
Heidelberg as a solutions provider (for all areas of the market) was an initiative launched at Drupa last May and one which will be continued at Print 01, said Schreier, while taking the opportunity for a swipe at rivals MAN Roland. We dont abandon our PrintCity concept. Once again in Chicago PrintCity doesnt turn up, he said, referring to the project spearheaded by MAN Roland and Agfa at Drupa.

Dozens of suppliers united in one hall to demonstrate a complete print workflow but the project has not been repeated for Print 01, though it will appear at Ipex next April.

Heidelberg, on the other hand, is able to demonstrate a complete print workflow all by itself. A number of new products will be shown throughout the show including the new generation Quickmaster DI Pro (PrintWeek, 7 September), the Prosetter violet light CTP device (PrintWeek, 18 May), the four-colour version of the Printmaster 74 and the new ST100 stitcher.

Story by Lauretta Roberts, at Print 01 in Chicago.