Welcoming converters from around the World to their November Open House, Heidelberg Board Member Stephan Plenz said that the company can now clearly demonstrate it is at the forefront of digitisation in the package printing process. While print volumes overall are holding steady, there is a clear shift from commercial to packaging in most of the global markets. The latest statistics indicate a packaging growth of some 8.5% between 2017 and 2020 and a further 6.7% by 2023 – so, a healthy picture from the machine manufacturers’ and converters’ point of view.
“Embellishments and added value as well as versioning and personalisation are all driving this growth,” he said, “as well as the current scares concerning the adverse effect of plastic waste on the environment.”
With Heidelberg alone looking at a 14.2% growth in packaging business by 2023, it was little surprise the mood in Wiesloch-Walldorf was buoyant.
Visitors spent time watching demonstrations of Speedmaster presses and the recently introduced Primefire 106 digital press. As regards post-press technology, Stephan Plenz reinforced the development work and growth being enjoyed as a result of Heidelberg’s partnership with MK Masterwork in Tianjin, China. The new Promatrix 106 CSB (die cutting, stripping, blanking) machine is set to cause a stir in the market with its high level of specification at a very competitive price. Also available in 145cm size, the Promatrix 106 will cut 760 x 1060mm sheets of board up to 4mm thick and 2000gsm at 7,500sph.
Elsewhere in the Masterwork portfolio, the Diana Smart folder gluer with inspection, and the Powermatrix 106 CSB (which is field testing at present and will begin serial shipment in March 2019) enhance the converting options for carton houses.
Visitors were given working demos of a range of Speedmaster offset litho presses.
