Despite the April 1 announcement of EFI's remarkable TARDIS-powered time-traveling 4D press, Heidelberg is deadly serious about 4D. The Jetmaster Dimension is one prong of the German offset giant's latest drive into digital inkjet, geared at printing onto three-dimensional objects.
Badged as a "4D" print solution, the Jetmaster Dimesion joins a label press and a B1 sheet-fed press in Heidelberg's intended inkjet offering, developed as part of its new global partnership with Fujifilm. Less than a third of the company's research and development resources are currently devoted to digital, with the remainder still presumably dedicated to its offset processes. According to Gerold Linzbach, Heidelberg CEO, the company's foray into digital "4D" is anticipated to unlock millions of Euros in new business.
"As part of our expansion in the digital sector, we are investing in technologies such as digital inkjet printing. We are also exploring printing on three-dimensional objects and thus breaking into market segments that are entirely new to Heidelberg. Overall we estimate that the digital sector offers us sales potential of more than €200 million per year in the medium term," said Linzbach.
The first of its Jetmaster Dimensions has already been picked up by leading German online print shop, FlyerAlarm, principally for embellishing standard sports balls with personalised print. Heidelberg plans to take its 4D system into industrial applications in the automotive or aerospace industries, where it could be used to print custom full-colour motifs on cars, trucks or aeroplanes.
After Heidelberg conquers the fourth dimension its inkjet label press is next out the gate, which will debut later this year. Developed in collaboration with Fujifilm and Gallus, the press will deliver 1200x1200 dpi quality and high speed, with inline finishing and embellishment. The B1 sheet-fed will follow, aimed at short-run work for commercial and packaging printers. It is currently still in development.