Heidelberg Digital claims to have captured 12% of the high-speed monochrome digital print market with its Digimaster 9110 in the past year.


It is also claiming to be on track to double that in the next year to gain just under a quarter of the market.


Its eventual hope is to have a 30% share of the market in both black and white and in colour with the NexPress.


"We've seen 25% better growth in digital print than we expected," said Heidelberg Digital president and chief executive Wolfgang Pfizenmaier. "Customers tell us our machines are reliable, cheaper and easier to operate."


The firm shipped the 1,000th Digimaster in May and is set to ship the 2,000th later this year. To meet future demand it is looking at adding further manufacturing capacity next year. It is also looking at adding to the Digimaster family.


"The 9110 is the first of a range of products," said manager external marketing Cheryl Nelan. It is also considering a web-fed version.


It has also launched ImageSmart, a new digital front-end for the Digimaster 9110, with which it aims to challenge the dominance of Xerox's DigiPath system (PrintWeek, 15 September).


Story by Barney Cox