Digitization in the print media industry is also making an impact on the machine design of a variety of systems. With industrial-scale and therefore especially high performance production systems in particular, it is important that the operator can constantly monitor every function and can keep an eye on all the relevant processes. Another key factor is easy access to all the operating controls. They must be designed to ensure that they require as little physical effort as possible, while guaranteeing maximum safety. Furthermore, modern machine workstations should enable the user to exploit the potential of a machine to the full and reduce operating errors – while at the same time, the systems also need to be eye-catching. The aim of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) and its design department is therefore to allow customers to easily use the digitization trends, thus becoming more successful in the long term.

Heidelberg Primefire 106: The structured design of the digital unit and the press platform ensures easy operation of all functions

The Heidelberg Primefire 106, the first industrial digital printing system for B1 format, is the best of both worlds with respect to its design as well: it combines the flexibility of digital printing with the reliability and precision of offset printing. 

The new digital printing unit integrates harmoniously into the design of the Speedmaster XL106 press platform. Due to its clean structure, operators can familiarize themselves with the machine very quickly. Ergonomics is the main focal point aimed at facilitating easy operation of all functions. Moreover, the machine control station and the print output form a single unit, ensuring that the printed sheet is automatically presented directly to the operator for assessment on the table, without the inconvenience of sheets having to be pulled.

Prinect Press Center XL 2: Ergonomic design, down to the smallest detail, for uniform operation of all digital and offset printing systems

The Prinect Press Center XL 2 is the new generation of the machine control station from Heidelberg. Its detailed ergonomic design ensures simple, uniform operator guidance for Heidelberg digital and offset printing systems. Clean, geometric shapes define the work areas. Additional functions and dialogs can be called up quickly via the high-resolution Wallscreen XL. The patented assistance system Intellistart 2 automatically generates all the steps required for intelligent job changes and provides maximum transparency across all active and queued processes. Operation and selection are performed via the integrated touchpad. The intuitive user software at the multi-touchscreen with its user-friendly menus reliably guides the operator through all the various processes. The newly-developed standard daylight lamp facilitates non-glare illumination for optimum sheet assessment.

All these factors convinced the Industrie Forum Design jury to present the Heidelberg Primefire 106 and the Prinect Press Center XL 2 with an iF Design Award 2017. Heidelberg had introduced both innovations at drupa 2016.

“Operation of our products must be intuitive and efficient. Customer benefit is therefore our main objective in design development”, explains Stephan Plenz, Member of the Management Board responsible for Equipment at Heidelberg. “Digitization and design innovations from Heidelberg thus constitute a perfect, uniform solution. This is impressively highlighted by winning the iF Design Award 2017 for the Primefire 106 and Prinect Press Center XL 2.”