The printing sector is facing a combination of three challenges – ever-increasing cost pressures, a shortage of skilled workers, and growing sustainability requirements. In response to these megatrends, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HEIDELBERG) will be presenting numerous innovations under the motto “Unfold Your Potential” at this year’s drupa trade show. The focus will be on customers and the need for their print shops to optimize the development and leveraging of business potential using state-of the-art technologies and services.
In der Druckbranche ballen sich drei Herausforderungen: immer größerer Kostendruck, Fachkräftemangel und steigende Nachhaltigkeitsanforderungen. Die Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HEIDELBERG) wird auf der diesjährigen Fachmesse drupa unter dem Motto „Unfold Your Potential“ zahlreiche Innovationen als Antwort auf diese Megatrends präsentieren. Im Mittelpunkt steht der Kunde mit seinen Anforderungen an seine Druckerei, durch modernste Technologien und Dienstleistungen sein Geschäftspotenzial optimal zu entwickeln und zu nutzen.
drupa Press Releases / Pressemeldungen:
Further drupa Innovations at a glance
Weitere drupa Innovationen (auf Deutsch)
Photo gallery: Management & Key Speaker / drupa impressions (separate page)
Download all media files / Download aller Mediendateien (zip-file)
drupa 2024 Media-Week (Presskit / Pressemappe)
Press release / Pressemeldung:
Canon and HEIDELBERG Announce Global Co-operation in Sheetfed Inkjet Printing
Canon und HEIDELBERG kündigen globale Kooperation im Inkjet-Bogendruck an
Press release / Pressemeldung:
HEIDELBERG enters growing industrial digital printing market with Jetfire family and offers customers hybrid production solution
HEIDELBERG steigt mit Jetfire-Familie in wachsenden industriellen Digitaldruck ein und bietet Kunden hybride Produktionslösung
Press release / Pressemeldung:
98 percent fewer manual interventions – HEIDELBERG showcases autonomous pressroom at drupa
98 Prozent weniger manuelle Eingriffe! HEIDELBERG präsentiert auf der drupa den autonomen Drucksaal
Press release / Pressemeldung:
HEIDELBERG planning to extend Boardmaster applications to growth segment of flexible paper
HEIDELBERG plant Erweiterung von Boardmaster Anwendungen auf Wachstumssegment „Flexible Paper“
Press release / Pressemeldung:
drupa 2024 – Gallus One unlocking new levels of modularity, versatility and flexibility for converters
drupa 2024 – Gallus One eröffnet neue Dimensionen in Sachen Modularität, Vielseitigkeit und Flexibilität für Verarbeiter
Press release / Pressemeldung:
Changes in the Management Board of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG: Jürgen Otto will succeed Dr. Ludwin Monz as Chairman of the Management Board as of July 1, 2024 – Dr. David Schmedding will be appointed as a new member of the Management Board
Veränderungen im Vorstand der Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG: Jürgen Otto folgt ab dem 1. Juli 2024 auf Dr. Ludwin Monz als Vorstandsvorsitzender – Dr. David Schmedding wird neu in den Vorstand berufen
The HEIDELBERG Customer Portal makes it possible to monitor and manage business data and key performance indicators. The portal helps users simplify and gain a better grasp of their operating processes. They can access production and workflow apps, analyses, service and maintenance offerings, the company’s eShop, and administrative tools. The HEIDELBERG Customer Portal is a cloud-based solution, meaning real-time data can be accessed anytime and from any device.
In the new Peak Performance generation of the Speedmaster XL 106, both the new inking unit and the coating unit feature a high level of automation. Job changes take place on a fully automated basis using the relevant job’s coating and inking parameters, without any operator intervention. The data required for this purpose – for the coating and inking unit presettings – is provided by Prinect Production Manager. Coating and screen roller characteristics are managed centrally in the cloud in the HEIDELBERG Customer Portal and are accessed automatically. The Hycolor assistant makes life easier for operators by using artificial intelligence to calculate proposed inking unit settings, while the Prinect Workflow ensures the full potential of the new press generation can be leveraged.
The new cloud-based Prinect Touch Free option from HEIDELBERG makes it possible for commercial printers to fully automate their production workflow and takes Prinect Production Manager a significant step closer to completely autonomous production. Prinect Touch Free uses the relevant machine park as a basis for calculating all technically feasible production paths, including all layouts, process steps, timings, and production costs. AI helps to select the fastest and most cost-effective production path – whether using digital or offset printing – including postpress operations. Production planning is optimized on an ongoing basis across all orders in an interactive process. The system automatically resolves disruption caused by a lack of available machines or staff, as it has details of all alternative production paths, and rescheduling takes place without any operator intervention. This support can be provided for both HEIDELBERG and third-party machines. By launching the Prinect Touch Free, HEIDELBERG is showcasing its leading role in automated hybrid production and enabling cost-effective production, including for large numbers of short-run jobs.
Versafire customers have access to an extensive ecosystem that includes printing machine, consumables, digital services, software, training, consulting, inventory management and logistics. The new Versafire Series, comprising the four-color Versafire LP and the five-color Versafire LV, is a toner-based digital printing system designed for productivity and versatility, respectively. The enhanced Prinect Digital Frontend (DFE) ensures a flexible, standardized, highly productive, and intuitive combination of offset and digital printing technology. Benefiting from excellent Prinect Color Management capabilities, it can handle a broad range of substrates from 40 to 470 gsm. This is made possible through new pad fusing technology and an improved paper path, achieving an offset-like appearance with the adjustable gloss level option. The series offers maximum uptime, thanks to an improved engine and a new user interface with self-maintenance guidance. Moreover, customers are able to differentiate themselves from competition by expanding the product range with print products that include a variety of spot colors, going beyond standard offerings.
StackStar C is a collaborative, mobile, and flexible robot for automatically depositing product stacks in the postpress section. The robot can be moved easily between different machines. Rotating through an angle of 180°, it can deposit signatures alternately on two pallets located to the left and right of the robot arm. Among other things, this makes non-stop operation possible. Thanks to an innovative safety concept with GS (“tested safety”) certification, the collaborative StackStar C ensures staff and the robot system can work together safely. This means no safety fencing is required. What’s more, quality control processes can be carried out during production without stopping the robot. Using two StackStar C units working in tandem makes it possible to double production capacity. The different stacking patterns and pallet sizes can be selected intuitively at the control terminal. The new StackStar C from HEIDELBERG thus also offers a robotics solution for medium outputs/runs. It relieves staff of heavy physical work and effectively addresses the problem of print shop labor shortages.
The second generation of the highly automated Stahlfolder TH 82-P buckle plate folding machine is being unveiled at drupa 2024. Among other things, this Peak Performance folding system boasts a new design and a simplified operating concept. An optimized folding geometry in the first buckle plate folding unit and improved sheet transport have resulted in another big increase in productivity, with the new machine outperforming the current technology by some ten percent. The ejection of any defective sheets after the first folding unit further improves net output. A technical revamp of the second and third folding units reduces the need for manual intervention during format and paper changes, resulting in even faster makeready processes. The user interface of the Stahlfolder TH 82-P control terminal is based on the design of the new Speedmaster XL 106 generation. A “Smartlight” integrated into the folding machine casing on the operator side turns different colors to indicate the current status (production, setup, or fault) and guides personnel to the next points where an intervention is required.
Perfect Grip combines the benefits of soft and hard polyurethane (PU) in a single folding roller. Print shops and postpress businesses previously had to decide whether to fit their folding machine’s folding rollers with soft or hard PU rings. Both materials have their very specific characteristics and advantages. This decision will no longer be necessary in the future – thanks to Perfect Grip, HEIDELBERG is combining the benefits of soft and hard PU in a single folding roller, while also extending this roller’s service life. Since April 2024, all Stahlfolder folding machines have been equipped with the new Perfect Grip folding roller as standard. The new solution can also be retrofitted to existing machines.
The new Diana Pharma is a small gluing machine for the pharmaceuticals sector and is ideal for short to medium runs. Combining quick makeready times with excellent folding and gluing quality, it also includes an easy-to-use Braille module. The Braille embossing tool can be positioned across the entire working width in this one module. The system is particularly suited to the production of straightline and lockbottom cartons. It can also be used for other types of cartons.
MK Masterwork and HEIDELBERG are showcasing the latest automation solutions upstream and downstream of the Diana Smart gluing line.
The MK loading robot automatically transfers the folding cartons from the die-cutting pallet to the gluing line, while the process of turning the stacks and feeding in the folding cartons is automated using a stack turner and a prefeeder.
The Diana Smart processes the carton blanks at maximum speed and passes them on to the Diana Smartpacker. Thanks to the innovative automation process, the filling of multiple rows and layers in the shipping carton takes place completely autonomously. After that, a palletizing robot stacks the finished cartons on a pallet ready for shipping. The result is a highly autonomous and fully integrated gluing line.
The Mastermatrix 106 CSB boasts a maximum speed of 9,000 sheets per hour and is designed specifically for high-output folding carton production, making it the Peak Performance system among die cutters.
To coincide with drupa, this machine now offers another option – the QuickSet Device.
Intelligent and automatic format settings further reduce the time it takes to change die-cutting tools. Various machine elements are positioned simultaneously, thus saving operators a large number of manual steps. Besides cutting the time required for tool changes, this also eliminates operator errors.
The QuickSet Device quickly pays for itself if frequent tool changes are required, as it saves up to five minutes of makeready time per change.
When it comes to hot-foil embossers and die cutters, the Duopress series is unique. It combines two different postpress options – hot-foil embossing and die cutting – in one machine.
With its foil-embossing speed of up to 7,000 sheets per hour and 1,060 mm format, the machine offers users enhanced production efficiency and lower costs.
Integrating several steps in a single pass (hot-foil embossing, die cutting, stripping, and blanking) in conjunction with the MasterSet puts an end to the kind of register inaccuracies that can occur following a machine change between postpress steps.
HEIDELBERG is primarily addressing the growing competition and changing consumer requirements in the label printing segment by boosting productivity. Special kits and specific products – such as the Generation 4 CutStar sheeter with 21,000 sheets per hour option, kits for use with foil and thin printing materials, and the IML Performance Package 4.0 – improve the productivity of in-mold and wet-glue label production.
Growing digitalization facilitates navigated printing with the help of Intellistart software and Prinect software solutions, while Remote Service and Predictive Monitoring support optimum machine availability.
Presets on the Speedmaster XL 106, Speedmaster CX 104, and Speedmaster XL 106-D assist operators with the setup process and during production. In addition to this, application know-how provided by in-mold specialists helps ensure from the outset that the right consumables are used in production.
Monomaterial polypropylene in-mold packaging is fully recyclable. It also uses less raw material overall, as the label is fully integrated into the wall of the packaging.
The innovative platform of the fourth-generation CutStar sheeter ensures enhanced automation, straightforward handling, and easy maintenance. It also offers a solution for producing wet-glue and in-mold labels with short makeready times and a high production speed of up to 21,000 sheets per hour. This makes CutStar 4 much more productive, especially when using foils and thin materials. The feeder can be equipped with the DIS automatic sheet alignment system. Besides less paper waste, optimum formats, and lower prices for reel stock, the CutStar 4 also makes production operations both economical and competitive.
The Speedmaster XL 106-D/DD rotary die cutter is the perfect solution for cost-effective in-mold label production and high-precision die cutting of large, complex labels made from extremely thin material. Users benefit from maximum stability and optimum die-cutting quality. The combination of new, optimized side panels, more rigid die-cutting cylinders, reinforced bearings, and improved antistatic devices on the feeder and delivery results in optimized sheet travel and thus high production speeds of up to 10,000 sheets per hour.
The Gallus One revolutionizes digital roll-to-roll label production, leveraging the highest levels of automation and cloud-based technologies to significantly reduce total cost of ownership. With a native print resolution of 1200 x 1200 dpi and the ability to produce CMYK plus White with an impressive opacity of 85 % - all at a speed of 70 m/min - the Gallus One not only represents outstanding label quality, but also maximum efficiency. Previously available with a print width of 340 mm, the Gallus One is now also available in 430 mm. In addition, with the new orange and violet color options, as well as the integration of upstream and downstream flexo and screen printing units, embellishment options and a die-cutter, it offers unrivalled modularity, flexibility and reliability, opening up new opportunities for converters and unprecedented profitability in today's challenging and demanding label market.
