The four-day specialist Swiss trade show closed its doors yesterday (27 February), two years after the previous outing of what has traditionally focused on continuous-feed inkjet but this year added a raft of additional technologies to the mix – including more sheetfed printers than ever before.

This was partly facilitated by the increased space available to exhibitors, as catering was moved from its traditional spot at the back of Hall 1 to the previously unused Hall 3.

With many of the major printer manufacturers taking larger, premium stands now that the option was available, and being able to decorate them with branding, graphics, and print samples, the event had a less egalitarian feel than in years past but it was easier to get onto the stands of some of the big players who previously had high footfall but a smaller space at the show.

The event attracted 120 exhibitors – 20 more than the previous event in 2023 – and 6,800 visitors had been expected across the four days.

Notable launches, product enhancements, and first showings – many already covered by Printweek – came from the likes of HP, CoCoCo, Insoft Automation, Riso, and IBIS.

Hunkeler itself – running its first show since it was acquired by Muller Martini in 2023 – highlighted new innovations including the Gen8 Evo roll to stack, and the Starbook Sheetfolder with pallet feeder, which had its world premiere at Drupa 2024.

While the presses on show – print quality, speeds, drying systems, the capability to handle a wider range of materials, and automation – have clearly continued to improve since the 2023 show, there was also a lot of buzz around the perimeter of the halls, where software and workflow companies could be found.

Many analysts felt that it was in these areas where a lot of the time-saving efficiencies in inkjet are currently coming from.

AI – the dominant trend of the last couple of years – also had a far bigger presence than ever before, not just in the way press manufacturers are harnessing its capabilities for things like predictive maintenance, but also new AI apps that have been developed to help users.

On the show floor, Heidelberg – which was sharing a booth with Muller Martini – handed a world premiere to a new nearline post-press system, the Stahlfolder TH 56/66 Fireline, while it also showcased the Jetfire 50 in its new livery.

Heidelberg chief technology and sales officer Dr David Schmedding told Printweek in Lucerne: “It’s been a great, great experience; a big opportunity to meet so many customers, partners and colleagues. It’s unbelievable – if you want to be part of the digital printing industry, you have to join Hunkeler Innovationdays.”

On the new Stahlfolder, Schmedding  added: “We received a lot of interest and opportunities for the Fireline because I think it is something that meets the [needs] of many commercial printers that don’t have the volume in the term which is required to run an inline finishing solution.

“Our solution focuses on a specific spot of the market, and I think fits market needs very well.”

Scodix was showing off its new partnership with Winter & Company, which supplies high-quality cover materials for the publishing industry.

Adee Mor, VP Global Marketing, told Printweek: “Hunkeler is very much focused on the publishing segment, and it's very unique and a very focused market for us because there’s a lot of things that Scodix can really do with our [digital embellishment] techniques, with all these new trends of limited editions and variable additions that you have for books and for notebooks.”

Paul Franklin, who has recently joined software manufacturer OneVision, as its new regional sales director for the UK/Ireland region and Scandinavia, spoke to Printweek about the growing interest in automation and workflow efficiency.

“If we can optimise your workflow and optimise your machine efficiencies and production with the stuff that we do, why would you not look at that?

“I don’t think Hunkeler will ever radically change, but what I do know is that the main stakeholders and the people that really do make decisions come to this event because they want to see what the market’s going to produce.

“It’s a practical trade show around complete workflow and automation and also production. There is no smoke and mirrors here and there’s nowhere to hide either!”

The next Hunkeler Innovationdays will take place from 22 to 25 February 2027.

A deeper dive analysis of the key trends and product news from the show, as well as more exhibitor interviews, will feature in the April/May issue of Printweek.