Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) is focusing on solutions for producing short runs across the entire value chain at the digi:media trade show, which is taking place in Dusseldorf from April 7 to 9, 2011. These extend from online ordering to the finished product. For the first time, a digital print solution from the Heidelberg company's new strategic partner in digital printing, Ricoh, will be integrated into the trade show presentation.

Using the theme HEI Flexibility, practical examples will be used to show Print service provider how they can produce print products profitably for their customers. Print buyer will see how they can use creative print products to best achieve their communication goals. This will take the form of integrated live production at the show.

"We welcome digi:media's strategy of focusing on the importance of print in the communication mix of the various media channels. The show thus offers a joint platform for print buyers and print service providers," says Bernhard Schreier, CEO of Heidelberg. "That's why we deliberately opted for digi:media to showcase our wide-ranging solutions for these target groups. The show also marks the start of our collaboration with our new digital print partner Ricoh. We will be presenting our combined portfolio of digital and offset technology to the public for the first time."

Heidelberg and digital partner Ricoh together in public for the first time

The centerpiece of the Heidelberg presentation at booth B45 in Hall 6 offers visitors their first opportunity to see the new strategic digital printing partner of Heidelberg in action. The Ricoh Pro C901 Graphic Arts Edition digital press will be an integral part of the live production at the booth and its flexible interaction with the Speedmaster SM 52 Anicolor sheetfed offset press will show the opportunities and benefits that cross-technology print production can bring. This combination of different printing processes will enable print buyers and print service providers to select the most flexible solution and blend maximum offset quality with personalized content in digital printing.

Digital communication management - Internet and print

As part of the live production, visitors to the Heidelberg booth will be shown how easily print service providers can present their offering online and thus initiate and monitor the complete production process through to the finished product. Integrating the Internet in this way addresses new target groups, accelerates existing processes, and significantly increases process reliability. In particular, ordering repeat jobs or print products with fixed layouts such as brochures, business cards, and stationery can be performed by print buyers in just a few steps. Customers also have the option of transferring print and layout files to the print shop. Editable templates are stored in the print shop portal and can be edited and accessed at all times by customers themselves or associated partners. This ensures that old templates are not used and prevents any changes from being made that break corporate design rules.

Commercial print flexibility - digital and offset

The trade show booth will feature a live demonstration of how online print orders are produced on a five-color Speedmaster SM 52 Anicolor with coating unit at maximum speed, with minimum production costs and in the offset quality customers have come to expect. Short runs will be produced with just a handful of startup sheets and minimum setup times. The result will be just as cost-effective as long runs, which the SM 52 Anicolor can handle at its high production speed of up to 15,000 sheets an hour. Visitors will also experience all the benefits of the proven flexibility of offset, like the possibility to print Pantone spot colors, add value with various types of coatings and use a nearly unlimited range of substrates.

In a world first, Heidelberg will be exhibiting the Ricoh Pro C901 Graphic Arts Edition, the digital press recently added to its portfolio of solutions and now available through Heidelberg sales channels in the U.K. and Germany. The opportunities opened up by the Ricoh Pro C901 Graphic Arts will be demonstrated at the trade show using various print jobs drawn from practice. This will be performed in conjunction with the offset press as part of the hybrid production solution and also by using various examples for very short runs. The machine will be presented at the Heidelberg booth with a large capacity tray, large capacity stacker, cover interposer and brochure finisher.

In the postpress area visitors will be shown the Stahlfolder TH 56 buckle plate folder, an entry-level solution for professional finishing. This folding machine is used to process printed sheets from both the Speedmaster Anicolor and the digital press. The gluing heads and timed perforators shown on the Stahlfolder offer opportunities to create added value. Short runs are produced quickly and cost-effectively thanks to automation of the folding machine. Production is fast and folding station settings can be saved for repeat jobs.

At the booth, visitors will also experience how high-quality adhesive-bound brochures are produced in short runs with the Eurobind 600 adhesive binder using PUR glue. The Postpress Manager software module offers the option of integrating folding and adhesive-binding into the Prinect print shop workflow.

The Polar 66 X cutter rounds out the postpress portfolio. Making its debut at the trade show is a barcode scanner that can be used to automatically start the appropriate cutting program for the job. Equipped with the Compucut software module, the Polar 66 X features innovative automation functions and can be integrated into the Prinect print shop workflow.

High-quality digital printing for packaging

The trade show program is rounded off by a press from the Linoprint unit of Heidelberg. Driveline B is an industrial inkjet press that is of interest to brand owner producing packaging in-house or personalizing it at a late stage. Driveline B is particularly easy to use thanks to its intuitive operating concept and is of interest to newcomers to digital printing or in-house print shops. Its clean substrate transportation meets the strictest requirements for ensuring the reliability of production and the print quality users have come to expect from Heidelberg products. Linoprint technology is also used in the packaging and filling industries, with applications ranging from labeling of blister packs in the pharmaceutical industry to personalizing preprinted folding cartons.

The trade show presentation also offers an overview of the extensive Heidelberg service portfolio. As well as technical services and consumables for stable production, Heidelberg offers special training and consultancy services to boost the performance and profitability of print service provider.