On 11 March 1850, the Hemmer, Hamm & Co. bell foundry and machine shop opened in Frankenthal, Germany. In addition to bells, it also manufactured printing presses, laying the foundation for what is today Heidelberger Druckmaschinen (Heidelberg).
In the ensuing years, Heidelberg has combined deep insight into markets and customers with outstanding product quality. The company is continuing to actively tap into growth potential in its traditional core business – packaging printing, digital printing, software, and lifecycle products. In recent years, it has significantly expanded its portfolio in the growth market of industrial digital printing, including services and consumables.
In the lifecycle business, Heidelberg also boasts the industry’s largest service network, with a presence in around 170 countries.
Packaging printing market expands
Over the past decade, the end-user market for packaging has grown by more than 60 per cent. Heidelberg has also benefited from this expansion, with packaging now accounting for over 50 per cent of total sales – a share that is set to increase further.
In particular, VLF (very large format) sheetfed offset presses play a key role in high-volume folding carton printing for food, beverage, and consumer goods.
In response to this demand and to mark its 175th anniversary, Heidelberg has added the Cartonmaster CX 145 (format 105 × 145 cm) to its portfolio for packaging printing. This model is specifically designed for high-volume folding carton production in these growth segments and fills a gap in the company’s portfolio.
The first installation of this model, scheduled for 2026, is based on the Roland Evolution 900 from manroland sheetfed and is being integrated into the Heidelberg digital ecosystem.
It is compatible with both the Prinect workflow and third-party workflow solutions, and operating data can be accessed via the Heidelberg Customer Portal.
For the company, high press availability, low complexity, and an established global service network are key factors in investment decisions.
Heidelberg also offers local parts support and a worldwide network of qualified service staff.
“The addition of the Cartonmaster CX 145 once again underlines our credentials as a system integrator for end-to-end folding carton production solutions,” says Jürgen Otto, CEO of Heidelberg.
From the Speedmaster series (50 × 70 cm and 70 × 100 cm) to the latest generation Speedmaster XL 106, MK co-developed postpress and robotics solutions, and the ultra-productive Boardmaster flexographic web printing system, Heidelberg offers a full lineup to meet every requirement in folding carton production.
This new model bridges the gap between the Speedmaster and the Boardmaster and integrates all presses into a single digital ecosystem that combines equipment, Prinect, consumables, service, training, and consulting – expanding step by step toward fully comprehensive end-to-end production.
Hybrid print boosts competitiveness
Print shops are facing the challenge of processing an increasing number of short-run jobs efficiently and profitably. This makes minimising manual intervention essential.
What was once seen as a futuristic concept – autonomous printing – has already become a reality. In 2016, Heidelberg introduced its ‘Push to Stop’ concept for printing with minimal operator intervention.
The AI-enabled ‘Prinect Touch Free’ workflow, showcased at drupa 2024, automatically assigns print jobs to the most efficient production method and output system. This includes offset and both Heidelberg and third-party digital printing systems, as well as postpress processes through to the finished product.
By controlling hybrid production in this integrated way, print shops can greatly enhance their competitiveness.
Full automation with Prinect Touch Free
Traditional methods of job management and production control are making it increasingly difficult to organise a large number of jobs, assign them to the right output systems, and process them profitably.
“Print shops need to prioritise jobs that offer growth potential. Prinect Touch Free and our hybrid production approach are becoming game changers for efficient and economical production,” says Jürgen Grimm, head of Prinect.
Unveiled alongside the Jetfire 50 at drupa 2024, Prinect Touch Free is an AI-driven cloud software that sequences large volumes of short- and long-run jobs logically, optimises resource use, and enables efficient, cost-effective production – significantly boosting output, especially in digital printing with many short runs.
It calculates all possible layouts, plans production sequences, and independently determines the optimal production method – whether on a Speedmaster sheetfed offset press, Jetfire 50, Versafire, or a third-party digital press – and takes postpress processes into account right through to the final product.
Swiss company Gremper is using the Jetfire 50 particularly for high-quality print runs, including personalised products.
As a high-end provider trusted by clients in Switzerland’s arts and culture sector, Gremper is strengthening its market position by investing in a hybrid production environment that combines offset and digital printing.
Alongside the new Jetfire, it operates two Heidelberg Versafire systems, enabling high-quality, efficient production from large-volume four-colour runs with diverse finishes to short personalised jobs.
The company has also installed the latest-generation Speedmaster XL 106-8-P+L, further expanding its overall production capacity in a hybrid setup.
Other factors in the purchase decision included the use of environmentally-friendly water-based inks and the fact that Heidelberg also handles service for Jetfire systems.
“Tests have shown that Jetfire’s print quality matches that of offset printing. Having Heidelberg as a long-standing partner in offset and a supplier for both technologies was the ultimate deciding factor,” says Cilgia Gremper, CEO and delegate of the Board.
Prinect decisive for Meinders & Elstermann
The first Jetfire 50 in Germany is going to Meinders & Elstermann in Osnabrück, which will use it for high-quality short runs and personalised direct mail – ideal for standardised, automated production.
For CEO Jens Rauschen, the decisive factor was Prinect workflow integration, especially the upcoming Prinect Touch Free software.
“Fully automated control of production processes in offset and digital printing is the key to profitable print production. Prinect supports the hybrid production workflow we need to remain competitive in a challenging market,” he says.
Rauschen expects the cloud-based Prinect Touch Free to maximise the use of both offset and digital systems: “A software solution like Prinect Touch Free can efficiently plan and process large numbers of orders while keeping costs down and meeting deadlines.”
Home of Print embodies growth strategy
Marking its 175th anniversary, the newly redesigned PMC ‘Home of Print’ reflects Heidelberg’s growth strategy for its core business and offers targeted, future-proof solutions for all key audiences.
In cooperation with partners such as MK Masterwork, it provides expertise and demonstrations covering high-quality folding carton production with the Speedmaster series, high-volume folding carton printing with the Boardmaster flexographic web press, industrial label printing in offset, digital, and flexo, as well as commercial and hybrid (digital/offset) printing.
The entire Heidelberg portfolio is integrated into a single digital ecosystem encompassing Prinect software, equipment (including postpress and robotics), consumables, service, training, and consulting. A dedicated data lab demonstrates how data analysis can solve customer challenges, integrate processes, and improve performance.
“Our Home of Print demonstrates Heidelberg’s unique position in the industry as an end-to-end systems integrator for packaging and commercial printing,” says Dr David Schmedding.
Heidelberg ANZ sees “strong sales over past four years”
Heidelberg Australia and New Zealand has announced strong sales over the past four years, selling 22 new sheetfed offset presses to leading commercial and packaging printshops in ANZ, representing a total of 153 printing units. In addition, the company has sold six late-model highly automated used offset presses in the region, adding another 36 printing units back into the local ANZ market.
The company said the sales of 189 Heidelberg units in total in ANZ is “a remarkable achievement” in the difficult market environment, showing its customers’ confidence in its products and after-sales service partnership.
The majority of the presses delivered were Speedmaster XL 106 models for packaging printshops, however commercial machine sales remained steady in a difficult environment.
Not included in the reported figures were the “significant sales” in Gallus digital label presses, Polar high-speed cutters, MK die-cutting and folding box gluers, and Computer to Plate devices.
In 12 months, Heidelberg will have installed four Suprasetter 106 high speed CtP devices with automatic pallet loaders, which shows a strong performance and great confidence in its CtP technology.
Heidelberg’s Prinect workflow systems provide the efficiency to all of its equipment and subscription workflow models, continue to be the driving force in the industry.
Heidelberg managing director Savas Mystakidis said rising material costs, securing skilled labour, improving competitiveness, and driving digitalisation all remain challenges in the industry. There is a notable trend amongst printshops to invest in advanced equipment to improve production efficiency and strengthen their businesses.
“While we will not disclose the name of individual companies at their own requests, we have worked with numerous leading printing companies across various print sectors,” he said.
“The trend in installed equipment shows a strong focus on state-of-the-art technologies which not only enhances quality and productivity but also addresses inefficiencies and challenges across the entire production process. Heidelberg has been there over the last 175 years supporting our partners and will continue to be at the forefront of technology and innovation into the future.”
This article was first published in the November-December 2025 edition of Print21, page 10.
