For Johannes Gutenberg, printing meant the transmission and duplication of information. Today, that’s only one part of a much more interconnected system that includes data management, software applications, and network technology.

Hybrid printing, where digital and offset processes are combined, is gaining importance. Each technology complements the other perfectly, and HEIDELBERG offers the right software solutions to make this synergy a reality.

High-volume jobs are produced cost-efficiently on offset presses, while short runs are handled flexibly with digital printing. The Prinect Workflow automatically routes jobs to the appropriate output device.

Optimizing offset printing

The sheetfed offset presses from HEIDELBERG now reach top speeds of 21,000 sheets per hour . Through automation, mechanical enhancements, and AI integration, we've minimized job changeover times, downtime, and waste. Ultimately, speed still depends on the operator, since conventional production still requires manual input for certain steps. While ten jobs a day used to be the norm, we now see ten jobs per shift—and today, some commercial print shops handle up to ten jobs per hour on a single press, pushing the limits of what human operators can sustain.

Toward full automation

Online printers are already close to lights-out production. Operating under a web-to-print model, jobs submitted through the customer portal are sent directly to production.

However, high-end packaging with special colors and finishing still requires human expertise. Even so, we expect that in the next ten years, even these complex jobs will be fully automated—only interrupted in case of major system issues.

Predictive Maintenance

A printing press still consists largely of metal—but now includes around 3,000 sensors, continuously capturing data and sending thousands of status messages daily to our HEIDELBERG servers. This data is analyzed and used to carry out predictive maintenance. It also enables us to anticipate customer needs and develop future-ready solutions.

The future starts now

Our goal is to push the boundaries of operator-independent performance, automation, and full digital integration across the end-to-end production process. Intelligent monitoring and maintenance concepts help us prevent unplanned downtime, while AI-powered planning continuously optimizes production—on the path to fully autonomous workflows.

We’re also exploring innovative business models that go beyond automating machinery and processes. One such model is subscription-based printing , which bundles equipment, software, consumables, service, training, and consulting into a single offering.