"Our customers don't look for standard products, they want to be different from their global competitors," said Heidelberg chairman Bernhard Schreier.

The firm has dedicated around 50 staff to deal with areas such as R&D, production, product management and service of the "made-to-measure" products.

"Customers can gain real benefits from our tailor-made solutions," said management board member for engineering and manufacturing Jrgen Rautert. "Increasingly their requirements cannot be met off-the-shelf."

Rautert explained that the customisable aspects of the presses could be as simple as different wiring cabinets all the way through to completely bespoke presses with innovative functions or configurations. "We believe this customisation will help us to  grow our business," he said.

As part of the new initiative the firm has shipped its longest press, to an unnamed printer. The eight-colour 16-unit Speedmaster CD has flexo units before and after the offset units and an additional offset unit for coating.

The firm has also begun shipping the Speedmaster CD 74 Duo. The B2 flexo before offset press follows on from the CD 102 Duo, which was launched in 2002.

"The CD 74 Duo is a good example of our customising process enabling tailor-made press construction," said Rautert. "The flexibility of the CD 74 with its modular platform makes it ideal for creating configurations custom designed to meet individual customers' needs."

The firm shipped its 100th CutStar sheeter last week.

Story by Darryl Danielli