Multi Packaging Solutions is the first pilot user of a Primefire 106, the first industrial digital printing system in B1 format: (from left) Thomas Heissler, Global Account Manager at Heidelberg, Götz Schümann, Managing Director of the MPS Obersulm manufacturing facility and Montserrat Peidro-Insa, Head of Digital Sales and Sheetfed Digital General Manager, Heidelberg in front of the Heidelberg Primefire 106.
The international packaging manufacturer Multi Packaging Solutions (MPS) based in New York (USA) is the first pilot user of a Primefire 106 (70 x 100 format), the first industrial digital printing system in B1 format, from Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, powered by Fujifilm Inkjet Technology. The first pilot phase started back in January in cooperation with the company’s German manufacturing facility in Obersulm. MPS specializes in packaging solutions for beauty and personal care, consumer and pharmaceutical brands and employs over 9,000 people in 14 countries. The company is planning a major expansion of its digital packaging printing arm in order to offer customers significant added value at the point of sale.
The image quality, reliability and rapid development of the technology following the world premiere at drupa 2016 and the company’s long years of positive experience of working with Heidelberg in the area of offset printing were key factors in MPS’s investment decision. “Our business model is based on zero tolerance of error, quality, availability, and on-time delivery. We have many years of experience with Heidelberg as a reliable partner in the area of offset technology. Their quality and service pledge are outstanding. As such we’re confident that Heidelberg digital technologies are also the right choice for us, and we look forward to being involved in the market launch of the Primefire 106 as an early adopter”, says Götz Schümann, Managing Director of MPS in Obersulm.
Based on the leading Fujifilm Inkjet Technology from the co-development partner Fujifilm and the proven Heidelberg Peak Performance platform, the newly designed press is providing dependable offset-like quality production with the benefits of digital printing.
“The start of the pilot phase according to schedule is a further milestone in the implementation of our digital strategy in cooperation with our partner Fujifilm. In MPS we’ve found the perfect company for the first Primefire 106 pilot. Our long-standing partnership, its digital business model in packaging printing, its worldwide presence, and its industrial manufacturing approach build the right environment for Primefire 106 to be tested under real life conditions. It brings us a big step closer in qualifying Primefire 106 for true production and starting to establish industrial digital printing in the market, says Montserrat Peidro-Insa, Head of Digital Sales and Digital Sheet-fed General Manager at Heidelberg.
Primefire 106 enables packaging printers to take a step in developing new areas of business, for example with the production of variable and personalized packaging or by adding traceability and security elements on each carton. Printing on demand with Primefire 106 can streamline supply chain processes and reduce inventory costs. In addition, the 7-colour inkjet system enabled by Fujifilm Inkjet Technology and Heidelberg Multicolor technology covers up to 95 per cent of the Pantone colour space, resulting in time and cost reduction when producing jobs including special colours. Water-based inkjet printing meets strict environmental and recycling requirements and therefore also permits food-safe production.
Heidelberg has announced that the market introduction phase of the pilot will begin early 2017. The market launch of the new system is therefore on schedule as announced at drupa 2016.
