10/15/2025
HEIDELBERG and MK Masterwork agree to extend and expand their strategic partner-ship as part of the anniversary celebrations. From left: Maxen Liu, General Manager Sales and Marketing, Zhang Zishen, Vice President, and Li Li, President and Managing Director, all from MK Masterwork, as well as Jürgen Otto, CEO, Dr. David Schmedding, CSO, and Xue Yang, Global Head of Postpress Packaging, all from HEIDELBERG.
It's a success story: Ten years ago, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HEIDELBERG) and MK Masterwork, China's leading manufacturer of finishing systems for the packaging sector, agreed on a strategic sales partnership. As part of this, HEIDELBERG distributes high-performance die-cutters as well as folding carton gluers and hot-foil stamping machines from MK Masterwork outside of China. Since then HEIDELBERG has installed around 1,500 systems produced by MK Masterwork at customer sites around the world. Now, at a joint anniversary event at MK Masterwork's headquarters in Tianjin with around 100 international customers, both companies looked back on the milestones of their long-standing successful partnership. At the same time, both are looking ahead to their shared future: During the celebrations HEIDELBERG an MK Masterwork signed an agreement to extend and expand their cooperation in the field of integrated and highly automated complete solutions, which can also be developed in collaboration with customers. This also includes the integration of MK Masterwork's robotics systems, which are becoming increasingly important for packaging manufacturers, particularly for intralogistics. In many companies they make an important contribution for a higher productivity and a further reduction of personnel costs.
"Packaging printing is a central component of our growth strategy for our core business," says Dr. David Schmedding, Chief Technology and Sales Officer at HEIDELBERG. "And our cooperation with MK Masterwork is a long-standing success story. We are now renewing and expanding this strategic partnership, thereby underlining our approach as a system integrator for end-to-end packaging production. We offer our customers efficient complete solutions and at the same time tap into further potential in the attractive segment of packaging finishing."
"Thanks to our innovative and economical technologies, MK Masterwork has continued to grow dynamically in recent years and has already become the market-leading provider of packaging finishing solutions in China," said Li Li, President and Managing Director of MK Masterwork. "Together with a strong partner like HEIDELBERG, we have succeeded in advancing to become one of the leading providers in this segment worldwide. Together, we will continue to expand our strong market position."
MK Masterwork has been growing dynamically for years and now employs more than 1,800 people. The production site in Tianjin, China, covers an area of around 600,000 m2. At the Print China trade fair in May this year, the company also celebrated its 30th anniversary.
Milestones from ten years of partnership between HEIDELBERG and MK Masterwork
2015: HEIDELBERG and MK Masterwork agree on a strategic sales partnership with HEIDELBERG becoming the sales channel for MK Masterwork products outside China.
2016: At drupa 2016, both companies appear together for the first time with a joint booth and present a comprehensive range of flatbed die cutters, folding carton gluing machines, and hot foil stamping machines for the packaging sector.
2019: MK Masterwork becomes largest anchor investor of HEIDELBERG with the acquisition of approximately 8.5 percent of voting rights.
2020: HEIDELBERG and MK Masterwork establish a joint venture for the development and production of precision machine parts for the HEIDELBERG plant in Shanghai.
2025:
1. Presentation of the updated MK Mastermatrix 106 CSB high-performance die cutter with Prinect integration in HEIDELBERG design marks a major step toward automated end-to-end production in packaging printing.
2. To date, HEIDELBERG has successfully installed around 1,500 MK Masterworks systems worldwide.
3. MK Masterwork celebrates the company's 30th anniversary.
4. For HEIDELBERG, 2025 is all about celebrating the company's 175th anniversary.
5. Both companies are renewing and expanding their strategic partnership to offer integrated and highly automated complete solutions for packaging production.
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HEIDELBERG) is a leading technology company that has been standing for innovation, quality, and reliability in mechanical engineering worldwide for 175 years. With a clear focus on growth and as a total solution provider, HEIDELBERG is driving further development in the core areas of packaging and digital printing, software solutions, and lifecycle business with service and consumables so that customers can achieve maximum productivity and efficiency.
The company is also focusing on expanding into new business areas such as high-precision plant engineering with integrated control systems, automation technology, robotics, and the growing green technologies sector. With its strong international presence in approximately 170 countries, the creative power and expertise of its roughly 9,500 employees, its own production facilities in Europe, China, and the USA, and one of the largest global sales and service networks, the company is ideally positioned for future growth.
Figure 1: Jürgen Otto, CEO of HEIDELBERG, Dr. David Schmedding, Chief Technology and Sales Officer at HEIDELBERG, and Li Li, President and Managing Director of MK Masterwork, sign an agreement on an expanded strategic partnership during the anniversary celebrations in Tianjin.
Figure 2: The new generation of the MK Mastermatrix 106 CSB high-performance die cutter is integrated into the Prinect workflow and features the HEIDELBERG design.
Image material, and further information about the company are available in the Investor Relations and Press Lounge of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG at www.heidelberg.com.
This release contains forward-looking statements based on assumptions and estimates by the management of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft. Even though the management is of the opinion that these assumptions and estimates are accurate, the actual future development and results may deviate substantially from these forward-looking statements due to various factors, such as changes in the overall economic situation, in exchange and interest rates, and within the print media industry. Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft provides no guarantee and assumes no liability for future developments and results deviating from the assumptions and estimates made in this press release.
Matthias Hartung
Press Officer – Corporate, Print Systems, and Technology
Tel.: +49 (0)6222 82 67174
Email: matthias.hartung@heidelberg.com
10/15/2025
It's a success story: Ten years ago, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HEIDELBERG) and MK Masterwork, China's leading manufacturer of finishing systems for the packaging sector, agreed on a strategic sales partnership. As part of this, HEIDELBERG distributes high-performance die-cutters as well as folding carton gluers and hot-foil stamping machines from MK Masterwork outside of China. Since then HEIDELBERG has installed around 1,500 systems produced by MK Masterwork at customer sites around the world. Now, at a joint anniversary event at MK Masterwork's headquarters in Tianjin with around 100 international customers, both companies looked back on the milestones of their long-standing successful partnership. At the same time, both are looking ahead to their shared future: During the celebrations HEIDELBERG an MK Masterwork signed an agreement to extend and expand their cooperation in the field of integrated and highly automated complete solutions, which can also be developed in collaboration with customers. This also includes the integration of MK Masterwork's robotics systems, which are becoming increasingly important for packaging manufacturers, particularly for intralogistics. In many companies they make an important contribution for a higher productivity and a further reduction of personnel costs.
"Packaging printing is a central component of our growth strategy for our core business," says Dr. David Schmedding, Chief Technology and Sales Officer at HEIDELBERG. "And our cooperation with MK Masterwork is a long-standing success story. We are now renewing and expanding this strategic partnership, thereby underlining our approach as a system integrator for end-to-end packaging production. We offer our customers efficient complete solutions and at the same time tap into further potential in the attractive segment of packaging finishing."
"Thanks to our innovative and economical technologies, MK Masterwork has continued to grow dynamically in recent years and has already become the market-leading provider of packaging finishing solutions in China," said Li Li, President and Managing Director of MK Masterwork. "Together with a strong partner like HEIDELBERG, we have succeeded in advancing to become one of the leading providers in this segment worldwide. Together, we will continue to expand our strong market position."
MK Masterwork has been growing dynamically for years and now employs more than 1,800 people. The production site in Tianjin, China, covers an area of around 600,000 m2. At the Print China trade fair in May this year, the company also celebrated its 30th anniversary.
Milestones from ten years of partnership between HEIDELBERG and MK Masterwork
2015: HEIDELBERG and MK Masterwork agree on a strategic sales partnership with HEIDELBERG becoming the sales channel for MK Masterwork products outside China.
2016: At drupa 2016, both companies appear together for the first time with a joint booth and present a comprehensive range of flatbed die cutters, folding carton gluing machines, and hot foil stamping machines for the packaging sector.
2019: MK Masterwork becomes largest anchor investor of HEIDELBERG with the acquisition of approximately 8.5 percent of voting rights.
2020: HEIDELBERG and MK Masterwork establish a joint venture for the development and production of precision machine parts for the HEIDELBERG plant in Shanghai.
2025:
1. Presentation of the updated MK Mastermatrix 106 CSB high-performance die cutter with Prinect integration in HEIDELBERG design marks a major step toward automated end-to-end production in packaging printing.
2. To date, HEIDELBERG has successfully installed around 1,500 MK Masterworks systems worldwide.
3. MK Masterwork celebrates the company's 30th anniversary.
4. For HEIDELBERG, 2025 is all about celebrating the company's 175th anniversary.
5. Both companies are renewing and expanding their strategic partnership to offer integrated and highly automated complete solutions for packaging production.
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HEIDELBERG) is a leading technology company that has been standing for innovation, quality, and reliability in mechanical engineering worldwide for 175 years. With a clear focus on growth and as a total solution provider, HEIDELBERG is driving further development in the core areas of packaging and digital printing, software solutions, and lifecycle business with service and consumables so that customers can achieve maximum productivity and efficiency.
The company is also focusing on expanding into new business areas such as high-precision plant engineering with integrated control systems, automation technology, robotics, and the growing green technologies sector. With its strong international presence in approximately 170 countries, the creative power and expertise of its roughly 9,500 employees, its own production facilities in Europe, China, and the USA, and one of the largest global sales and service networks, the company is ideally positioned for future growth.
Figure 1: Jürgen Otto, CEO of HEIDELBERG, Dr. David Schmedding, Chief Technology and Sales Officer at HEIDELBERG, and Li Li, President and Managing Director of MK Masterwork, sign an agreement on an expanded strategic partnership during the anniversary celebrations in Tianjin.
Figure 2: The new generation of the MK Mastermatrix 106 CSB high-performance die cutter is integrated into the Prinect workflow and features the HEIDELBERG design.
Image material, and further information about the company are available in the Investor Relations and Press Lounge of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG at www.heidelberg.com.
This release contains forward-looking statements based on assumptions and estimates by the management of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft. Even though the management is of the opinion that these assumptions and estimates are accurate, the actual future development and results may deviate substantially from these forward-looking statements due to various factors, such as changes in the overall economic situation, in exchange and interest rates, and within the print media industry. Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft provides no guarantee and assumes no liability for future developments and results deviating from the assumptions and estimates made in this press release.
Press Officer – Corporate, Print Systems, and Technology
Tel.: +49 (0)6222 82 67174
