From September 20 to October 1, 2010, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) held the "Postpress Commercial Days" at its Leipzig site. More than 500 customers from all over the world visited the event, half of them from Germany. Smaller groups came from other European countries, Singapore, Japan, and the U.S. All the postpress innovations from IPEX 2010 were on show, including the new Eurobind Pro adhesive binder that made its world premiere at the trade fair and was now being unveiled to a wider audience for the first time. Another new product was the Stahlfolder KH 66 with automated cross-fold unit. Also making its debut in Leipzig was the new case packer from Heidelberg, which was connected to the Stitchmaster ST 450. It automatically gathers and arranges product piles before packing them in corrugated cartons.

Practical demonstrations showed visitors how the integrated workflow with Prinect Postpress Manager boosts productivity and how production data acquisition ensures excellent transparency - be it through a direct linkup of the Stahlfolder KH 82 folding machine and the Polar L-R-137-T cutting system or through a data terminal on the Kama ProFold 74. Heidelberg has joined forces with Hunkeler to demonstrate how the Stahlfolder inline folding machine can be integrated into the production process for mailings and digital newspapers.

"Heidelberg offers the widest portfolio in the print media industry, incorporating prepress, press, and postpress," explains Stephan Plenz, member of the Management Board responsible for Heidelberg Equipment. The company is expecting market volumes to recover to around 80 percent of 2008 levels in the sheetfed offset and postpress commercial segments. Heidelberg services round off the company's portfolio. Saphira consumables and experts from the Print Media Academy and Business Consulting will therefore also be represented in Leipzig. "By offering the ideal solution for every post-press requirement, we succeed in boosting our customers' competitiveness. Clear trends include automation, industrialization, and lean production with shorter makeready times and less waste," continues Plenz. The production of digitally printed products in very short runs is becoming increasingly popular. Photobook production is just one example. Heidelberg offers state-of-the-art adhesive binders that deliver real added value thanks to a variety of soft-cover designs.

Turning environmental trends into solutions that boost competitiveness
Right from the development stage, Heidelberg systematically focuses on environmentally friendly and cost-effective production. For example, the Stahlfolder KH 82 has reduced with the automated crossfold the amount of paper waste from around 30 to 20 sheets for each job. This corresponds to an annual saving of approximately 2.5 metric tons of paper or 3.7 metric tons of CO2. The Stitchmaster ST 450 impresses with the lower power consumption of its new feeders, which need 30 percent less compressed air. The Eurobind Pro helps the environment with its chip milling cutter option. Instead of 40 metric tons of paper dust each year, it produces an equivalent amount of recyclable paper residue.

Customers can join the trend toward greater differentiation by benefiting from personalized mailings with the Stahlfolder Flexomailer or high-quality adhesive binding with the Eurobind series. The Stitchmaster ST 450 ensures flexible production of all kinds of brochures.

In future, Heidelberg will also cater to users of digital printing. It already offers solutions in this sector. The Stahlfolder TH 56 and the Eurobind 600 and 1300 are suitable for short runs, too.

The Leipzig site - a center for saddlestitchers and adhesive binders
Heidelberg manufactures postpress products at two sites in Germany - Ludwigsburg and Leipzig. In Ludwigsburg, some 300 employees produce folding machines for a wide variety of applications. Leipzig, meanwhile, has a workforce of just under 300 and is the company's center for saddlestitchers and adhesive binders. Great value is placed on professional training here, and there are currently 24 young trainees. "Our professional training comprises customer-focused and process-oriented modules and is a key part of our strategy to safeguard the company's future," explains Leipzig site manager Christian Breyer.