Tommy Mannewitz began his HEIDELBERG journey in 2011 shortly after graduating with an engineering degree near Leipzig. “When I saw a posting for a position in China, it sounded exciting, so I applied right away,” he recalls. “It was a huge opportunity. I had no work experience, but I was eager to learn.”
That leap paid off. Within five years, Tommy was leading a team, managing local projects, and collaborating closely with colleagues in Wiesloch, Germany.
Judy Zhou, now project leader for the Speedmaster SX 102, joined HEIDELBERG in 2011.
“I spent two months at HQ in Germany for training, and went back again last year for a longer stay,” she says. As a senior engineer and key member of the local R&D team, Judy bridges design, development, and localization, ensuring smooth collaboration between teams in China and Germany.
The Speedmaster SX 102 holds a special place in the history of HEIDELBERG.
“We call it our ‘baby,’ but it’s actually a classic,” Tommy explains. “It was the first Speedmaster press developed in the 70x100 format back in the 1980s. Over time, it laid the foundation for the CD 102 and later inspired the Speedmaster XL 106 series. But the Speedmaster SX 102 remained as a corner stone of our portfolio — straightforward, robust, and reliable.”
Judy adds, “It’s ideal for customers who don’t need all the features of the Speedmaster XL series but still want consistent, high-quality results.”
The press’s journey took a major turn when production shifted to the HEIDELBERG Shanghai plant. “It wasn’t just about cost,” Tommy notes. “It was about being closer to the Asian market, adapting quickly, and working with local suppliers, while maintaining German standards.” Judy agrees: “Building the Speedmaster SX 102 in China combines the best of both worlds: German precision and Chinese agility.”
The latest chapter in the Speedmaster SX 102 story focuses on meeting the new safety standards set by Germany’s Berufsgenossenschaft (BG), the workplace safety authority.
“Every five years, BG reviews the press to ensure compliance,” Judy explains. “When the last certificate was about to expire, we pro-actively re-designed several aspects of the machine, the gallery and the printing units to stay ahead of the curve. We used that as an opportunity to make the entire machine more ergonomic and smarter.”
Instead of starting from scratch, the team leveraged the Speedmaster CX 104 platform. “We reused the printing unit solutions, spacing, and components like feeders and delivery systems. Our customers also were looking for UV-Solutions, therefore the DryStar LED from HEIDELBERG was also adapted to the Speedmaster SX102.” Tommy says. “It was smart and efficient: Judy led the mechanical development, while I coordinated with the R&D team in Wiesloch.”
One highlight: the updated gallery design with square Prinect arches and Intelliline covers, visually aligning the Speedmaster SX 102 with the Speedmaster CX 104 and Speedmaster XL 106. “It’s not just aesthetic,” Judy notes. “It's usability, and also, it shows customers the machine’s evolution.” The adaption of the Prinect Press Center XL3 with Wallscreen XL underlined the leap in performance and improved user friendliness.
The success of HEIDELBERG in China rests on close cooperation between global and local teams.
“We have almost daily discussions, not only about production but design and localization,” Tommy says. “Our ‘local for local’ strategy combines core German components with Chinese manufacturing. It keeps us agile and competitive.”
“The teamwork is amazing,” Judy adds. “Experienced technicians pass down practical know-how, while younger engineers bring in digital innovation. It’s a real exchange of ideas that drives progress and builds mutual respect.”
The Speedmaster SX 102 is renowned for its perfecting capability: printing both sides of the sheet in one pass. Its design shares many components with the flagship models from HEIDELBERG: the feeder and delivery systems mirror those in the Speedmaster XL 106 and Speedmaster CX 104, while the inking and blanket systems are nearly identical to the Speedmaster CX 104.
“The Speedmaster CX 104 is full of high-end technology,” Tommy explains.
Unlike some presses that require two runs for double-sided jobs, the Speedmaster SX 102 does it in one go, saving makeready time, plates (up to 20%), and paper (100–150 sheets per job). Judy adds, “We use special coatings on the transfer and impression cylinders to ensure smooth, mark-free ink transfer. The result is very impressive: you get high pressure, fast printing, and perfect results, all in a single pass.”
In the HEIDELBERG offset printing press lineup, the Speedmaster SX 102 has a clear identity.
“The Speedmaster XL 106 is our flagship, full-featured press. The Speedmaster CX 104 excels in packaging with tougher substrates,” Tommy explains. “The Speedmaster SX 102 is all about perfecting, ideal for high-volume commercial printing and double-sided jobs.
To strengthen the machine’s position in the commercial sector, we also introduced the highly desired format 92 to the Speedmaster SX102. Now customers can choose whether they want to run the machine in format 92 or 102. With the format 92 we can save up to 20% of the plate costs compared to 102."
The Speedmaster SX 102 enjoys great popularity worldwide and is used for package inserts, operating instructions, and various commercial products. “It is particularly popular in markets where commercial printing and package inserts are in high demand,” says Judy.
One of the most distinctive uses of the Speedmaster SX 102 is in manga printing (a major market in Japan), along with coloring books and educational materials. “In our PMC in Shanghai, we run a great project printing zoo-themed coloring books in black and blue,” Tommy shares.
“Pharma companies use it for leaflets, electronics firms for manuals, and publishers for manga,” Judy adds. “It’s optimized for thin substrates at high speed, which is crucial for these products. Customers can even choose configurations based on their needs."
To further support these needs, the CutStar from HEIDELBERG was also adapted. This allows roll stock to be fed directly and the flexibility of offset printing to be utilized — with up to 50% shorter makeready times and up to 30% higher speeds. This is a real advantage, especially with thin materials.
Ongoing development ensures the machine remains ahead, whether it’s about new substrate packages for thin papers or integrating smart assistant technologies like Intellistart 3 and advanced Wallscreens.
Sustainability also ranks high, with features like low-alcohol or alcohol-free printing, minimal energy use, standy-by functions and optimized formats, all balancing efficiency with eco-friendliness. “Our focus is constantly on making print better — both for customers and the environment and to reduce manual touchpoints,” Tommy remarks.
In the end, the Speedmaster SX 102 represents the commitment of HEIDELBERG to quality.
“It’s German engineering brought to life by our Chinese team,” Tommy reflects.
Judy smiles: “It really is the best of both worlds — German precision and local agility. And it keeps getting better and better.”
