The strategic partnership between Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) and Chinese manufacturer Masterwork Machinery Co. (MK) in the postpress sector for packaging printing has had a successful start. Heidelberg is using its global sales network to sell die cutters and folder gluers produced by Masterwork and additional machines for packaging production. It is also providing service support.  

In just six months, over ten machines have been shipped to customers, primarily in Europe, reflecting the partnership’s success. The aim is to continuously increase the volume of business by progressively expanding the product portfolio.

“By using MK products, we can meet the specific demands of our customers on the packaging market. They need the best machines for their individual requirements so as to ensure efficient and cost-effective folding carton production,” explains Harald Weimer, member of the Heidelberg Management Board responsible for global sales. “We offer customers what they need, whether from Heidelberg or a partner. In MK, we’ve found a partner that has impressed us with the quality of its production and innovative research and development. It is a partnership that more than meets our high expectations.”  

Customers look for cost-effective and efficient production

More than ten Promatrix 106 CS and Easymatrix 106 CS die cutters have already been sold. Both die cutters offer an excellent price-performance ratio and are aimed at customers with small and medium production volumes. These machines are also highly attractive to customers in the commercial sector. The Promatrix 106 CS has a speed of 8,000 sheets per hour, while the Easymatrix 106 CS runs at 7,700 sheets per hour.

The first purchaser of the Promatrix 106 CS was Polish print shop Arka-Druk. It has a workforce of 80 employees, who supply customers throughout the country with commercial jobs but also increasingly offer them packaging for foodstuffs and pharmaceuticals. “The Promatrix has proven its worth in our production operations. We’re so satisfied, we purchased a MK 1060 ST hotfoiling machine which has just been installed by a team from MK and Heidelberg. As a result, we can now offer high-finish packaging,” explains owner Artur Bach.

In the UK, the first Promatrix 106 CS was shipped at the end of July to Zenith Print & Packaging, a print shop in Treforest, north of Cardiff, where it will replace two older die cutters. “We expect the new die cutter to deliver much shorter makeready times and greater productivity,” explains Managing Director Ken Bell. The company is also looking to harness the enhanced quality to increase its competitiveness. Zenith is renowned for high-quality packaging for coin collectors and packaging for the gift, cosmetic, pharmaceutical and food industries. Its 63 employees have already received countless awards, including one for exports, and its products are sold on five continents and in over 60 countries. 

Heidelberg Poland has sold not just one but two Easymatrix 106 CS die cutters that will be installed shortly. Piotr Krzych, president of Szczecin-based print shop COMgraph expects top quality and durability from the new die cutter. Half of production by the just under 100 employees is for commercial jobs for the domestic market, while the other half is made up of packaging for export.

Economic aspects were the main factor in the investment decision by Drukarnia WL Leszek Wojtczuk. “This is our second die cutter from an Asian manufacturer. We’ve been using the first one for nine years and hope the Easymatrix will be even better,” says owner Leszek Wojtczuk. His company’s workforce of more than 65 employees mainly produce cosmetic and food packaging, with 85 percent going to customers in Poland and the remainder being exported. 

Continuous portfolio expansion

The partnership between MK and Heidelberg aims to satisfy the growing demand for innovative machines for postpress in the packaging sector. The right products and technologies, comprehensive service, and a rapid supply of spare parts are key. As well as the Promatrix and Easymatrix, the future will also see MK machines that feature special modules such as offline inspection, hot foil embossing, and blanking. Some of these new machines will be introduced to a wider audience at the upcoming Packaging Days at the Wiesloch-Walldorf site in November. The MK Diana X, MK Diana Smart 55, and MK Diana Smart 80 foldergluers  will also be on show.

MK has a workforce of over 800 employees in Tianjin (China), including XY employees in research and development, and is the leading die cutter manufacturer in Asia. The global Heidelberg sales team works closely with product management at Masterwork to develop products geared to the varying requirements of industrialized countries and emerging markets. Customers benefit from an extended portfolio and rapid service. “We’re delighted to be working with Heidelberg and, in so doing, gaining access to markets throughout the world, which we couldn’t have achieved by ourselves,” says Wells Fu, international sales manager at MK.