Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HEIDELBERG) previews innovations at the second day of the pre-drupa conference, addressing key industry challenges with new technologies and services showcased at drupa 2024. Under the theme “Unfold Your Potential,” HEIDELBERG presented solutions to cost pressures, the skills shortage, and sustainability concerns, aiming to assist print shops in optimizing their business potential.
One of the highlights is the new-generation Speedmaster XL 106, offering up to 20 percent higher productivity. Dr. Ludwin Monz, CEO of HEIDELBERG, emphasized their commitment to optimizing customers’ value chains through digitalization and integrated print shop processes.
The Peak Performance generation of the Speedmaster XL 106 features higher print speed, AI-supported assistance systems, and enhanced Push to Stop functions, making industrial offset printing more competitive. The Boardmaster, a flexographic web printing system for packaging printing, sets new productivity standards with high machine availability and printing speed.
To address the skills shortage, HEIDELBERG offers solutions for automating products and processes, including autonomous printing for standardized applications in packaging printing and robotics solutions for postpress operations. The new-generation Speedmaster XL 106 also supports cluster production, reducing the need for multiple operators.
In terms of sustainability, HEIDELBERG focuses on reducing energy and raw material consumption. The latest generation of presses presented at drupa 2024 has a maximum speed of up to 21,000 sheets per hour, helping to lower energy consumption per sheet. Artificial intelligence and new assistance systems further contribute to paper savings by reducing paper waste.
Digitalization plays a crucial role in the printing industry, enabling end-to-end integration of the production process. HEIDELBERG will showcase end-to-end autonomous printing for commercial and packaging customers at drupa 2024, along with a new customer portal for digital press management.
At drupa 2024 in Düsseldorf and the Wiesloch-Walldorf site, HEIDELBERG will demonstrate how printing businesses can increase their capacity. In Düsseldorf, the company will exhibit highly automated end-to-end packaging workflows and connectivity solutions for commercial and publishing printers. The Experience Center will showcase AI-based analysis tools, intelligent assistance systems, online services, and sustainable production solutions. At the Wiesloch-Walldorf site, HEIDELBERG will display its entire product range, including presses and software solutions for all market segments, from small companies to fully automated production lines.