Gallus Group, a subsidiary of Heidelberg, has commemorated its 100th anniversary by inaugurating the Gallus Experience Centre in St. Gallen, Switzerland. This industry hub serves as a touchpoint for customers, industry experts, stakeholders, and the general public, aiming to facilitate market transformation.
The grand opening of the Gallus Experience Centre coincided with the company’s centenary celebration and welcomed esteemed printers, converters, partners, and brand owners as part of the Gallus Experience Days.
During a presentation, Dario Urbinati, CEO of Gallus Group, addressed the increasing global population and the scarcity of available labor in the industrial sector, emphasizing Gallus and Heidelberg’s commitment to leading the new digital transformation. Urbinati stated, “Smart, connected printing” is key to addressing today’s labor challenges and unlocking revolutionary production automation and manufacturing efficiencies, enabling customers to reduce costs and enhance profitability and sustainability.
Packaging printing, along with label printing, represents one of the printing industry’s strongest growth areas, with an annual global print volume growth rate exceeding 2%. Frank Kropp, R&D Head at Heidelberg, highlighted the significance of Gallus within Heidelberg’s growth strategy, stating that printing volumes are projected to increase from €28 billion to €34 billion by 2027, with digitally printed volume expected to account for around 30% of the total. Kropp also noted that digital label printing is the fastest-growing segment in the industry, with a projected 6% growth in inkjet-printed labels.
At the event, Gallus unveiled its latest offering, the Gallus One with converting. This solution integrates a digital printer with an inline flexo station, a semi-rotary die-cutter capable of changing jobs within one minute and processing speeds of up to 70 m/min, and vision inspection systems. Urbinati described the Gallus One as a digital solution that bridges the gap between promised and realized improvements in the total cost of ownership.
Gallus also announced the option to upgrade existing Gallus ECS 340 flexo presses with a digital printing unit (DPU), transforming them into Gallus Labelfire 340 hybrid presses without the need for additional platform investments. Urbinati emphasized that this upgrade empowers customers to access the flexibility and versatility of digital printing while leveraging the reliability and precision of conventional printing and further processing technology.
Dr. Ludwin Monz, CEO of Heidelberg, expressed his delight in standing alongside the Gallus team and emphasized their strong unity. With labels and packaging accounting for 50% of the group’s total sales, Monz recognized the significance of Gallus’s digital and automated solutions in shaping Heidelberg’s future. He stated that Gallus is a vital pillar within the company’s growth strategy, and their commitment to Gallus’s long-term future is stronger than ever.
The Gallus Experience Centre also featured guest speakers Katie King, a digital and artificial intelligence (AI) consultant, and Jack Stratten, head of trends at Insider Trends, who shared their insights into the market.
Katie King emphasized the potential benefits of AI, big data, smart connected printing, smart education, smart marketing, smart finance, and other advancements in driving digitization and transforming various industries. Jack Stratten presented information on changing customer behavior, specifically highlighting the polarized nature of consumer preferences and the growing importance of sustainability and cost considerations.
The event provided valuable market insights and showcased Gallus’s commitment to advancing digital printing solutions, automation, and sustainability to meet evolving customer needs in the retail and packaging sectors.