The ‘Heidelberg Days’ took place earlier this week, with hundreds of customers from the manufacturer’s home market as well as international markets in attendance at the 9,000sqm facility at its Wiesloch-Walldorf campus.
Customers were able to take an in-depth look at some of the new products and innovations showcased at Drupa, including the Boardmaster web-feb flexo press for cartonboard and – in the pipeline – paper-based flexible packaging.
The clever servo-driven design allows for non-stop production, and at a top speed of 600m/min the Boardmaster can produce the equivalent of 50,000 B1 sheets per hour.
The new Jetfire 50 B3 inkjet press, first shown at Drupa as part of Heidelberg’s new partnership with Canon, also forms part of the showcase, with an array of samples including the same job output on the Jetfire, on a Versafire toner press, and via sheetfed litho.
There was also more information on the roll-out of the new Prinect Touch Free workflow system.
Axel Zöller, head of product management for Prinect, described the system as “a revolution”.
“Prinect Touch free has been installed at the first customers two weeks ago and we are totally excited – it is giving customers a clear vision of where we are headed,” he said.
“This is the future. You set up your print shop and the software knows what you can do. The software calculates all possible production paths and then the next step is decision making using your cost structure, for each available machine, at the lowest cost.”
Zöller noted that it was not Heidelberg’s strategy to replace printers’ MIS systems.
“Prinect Touch Free is not replacing an MIS in generating selling prices,” he stated.
“Our job is to beat the cost of the MIS system – that is the extra margin we give to the print shop.”
Prinect Touch Free is initially available for digital printing setups, with litho to follow as the system is further developed and rolled out.
Head of equipment and software Frank Schaum said that as run lengths decreased, the complexity for print businesses was increasing.
Heidelberg’s performance data has shown that 60% of B1 sheetfed jobs across its customer base are now runs of under 2,000. And while digital printing is increasing in terms of value, most of the volume in terms of square metres printed was litho, hence Heidelberg’s focus on enabling hybrid printing environments with maximum efficiency.
“Some of our customers are printing 2,000-4,000 jobs a day, and that’s a big challenge,” Schaum said.
“If you don’t have the data competency, you can’t survive. The success factor involves having the software and machinery to do both… driven by Prinect.”
Heidelberg currently has 4,000 installations of Prinect Production Manager worldwide, and some 1,500 third-party devices are already connected to the system.
Chief technology and sales officer Dr David Schmedding described the Heidelberg business today as “a total solutions provider and partner”, able to supply and integrate the latest technologies “on a technology-neutral basis and in line with customer requirements”.
“We offer the entire spectrum – from toner to inkjet and from offset to flexo printing – all controlled from a common Prinect workflow.”
He said Drupa order intake was “by far above expectations – not only soft orders, but hard orders”.
“We need to listen to our customers and develop the right products. In the end, it’s all about the customers.
“Data is a valuable asset for customers and for us to come up with the right products and solutions.”
Heidelberg aims to complete the total revamp of the PMC by spring 2025, as part of the celebrations for its 175th anniversary next year.
