The Hunkeler innovationdays show the flexibility and scope of the vendors working in the digital print finishing market. In this the majority of these companies specialize in digital and they only work in limited areas of the offset markets. There are some vendors that do offer some products mainly for the small size end of the offset markets.

This brings me to a question and it is mainly directed at Heidelberg. Heidelberg is perhaps the largest supplier of finishing systems to the offset printing market but does not have any products aimed at the digital sector. When one thinks that Heidelberg endeavored to be a key player in digital printing with its Nexpress, one has to wonder why they never developed any finishing products for the requirements of the digital printing market. One of the reasons for the lack of success of Nexpress at that time was because it failed to provide inline-finishing connectivity when companies like Xerox provided major functionality in this area.

Why did this not show Heidelberg the potential of this market for finishing systems? Today far more digital presses are sold worldwide each year than offset presses, and there is a major market for inline, near-line and off-line finishing systems. Why does Heidleberg not see the potential of this market?

They did have a tiny stand at the event but this was to sell standard offset finishing systems. It may not be too late for Heidelberg to get into an area that definitely shows growth for the future.