05/05/2026
(from the left:) Dr. Frank Schaum, Head of Digital Print Ecosystem at HEIDELBERG, Dr David Schmedding, Chief Technology and Sales Officer at HEIDELBERG, Koji Miyao, President, Ricoh Graphic Communications and Eef de Ridder, Deputy General Manager, Global Sales Division, Ricoh Graphic Communications, reaffirm the 15-year partnership between the two companies in the field of digital printing at a meeting at the Home of Print site in Wiesloch-Walldorf.
For 15 years, the successful partnership between Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HEIDELBERG) and Ricoh has stood for innovative strength and sustainable market success in industrial digital print. With the introduction of the first Versafire digital printing systems in 2011, HEIDELBERG took a strategically decisive step into the fast-growing digital print market and has since consistently established itself as a leading system integrator for hybrid print production.
Since then, the third generation of the Versafire portfolio is now successfully established worldwide in the commercial market. More than 3,500 systems sold and over two billion pages annually underline the high market acceptance and industrial performance of the technology.
Success and strategic milestones
The start of the partnership between HEIDELBERG and Ricoh in digital print marked a significant milestone for both companies: from the very beginning, the goal was not to view offset and digital printing in isolation, but to fully integrate both technologies into a shared production environment. To this end, HEIDELBERG has integrated the Versafire systems into the Prinect workflow via the digital frontend (DFE) developed in-house, thus positioning them specifically as a complement to offset printing – enabling maximum flexibility, economical short runs, and individualized print products. Print shops use it to produce a wide range of print products such as flyers, brochures or personalized applications.
Jürgen Otto, Chief Executive Officer at HEIDELBERG, says: "Our long-standing partnership with Ricoh is a success story for HEIDELBERG in digital print and a good example of successful technological cooperation to open up new market segments. Today, the Versafire systems, which are perfectly tailored to the needs of the printing industry, exemplify our claim as a full-service provider and end-to-end system integrator of hybrid print production.”
Dr David Schmedding, Chief Technology and Sales Officer adds: “Over the past 15 years, we have worked with Ricoh to consistently industrialize digital printing and fully integrate it into our digital ecosystem. For our customers, the integration means maximum flexibility, highest process reliability and a clear future perspective in hybrid production printing."
Koji Miyao, President, Ricoh Graphic Communications, says: “We are delighted that this enduring partnership has helped support the adoption of agile digital production for so many print service providers. We look forward to many more years of cooperation together.”
Eef de Ridder, Deputy General Manager, Global Sales Division, Ricoh Graphic Communications, adds: “As one of the few partnerships between offset and digital suppliers that have flourished we remain committed to helping clients make the right technology choices and flourish for many years ahead.”
Clear customer benefits: flexibility, quality and integration
The partnership focuses on added value for print shops:
The Versafire systems from HEIDELBERG print shops thus provide optimal support for hybrid print production, in which offset and digital printing are efficiently combined – a decisive competitive advantage.
HEIDELBERG as a system integrator in the digital ecosystem
With the Prinect Digital Frontend (DFE) from HEIDELBERG, all production steps from job creation to the finished product are standardized and automated. The result: a workflow solution for hybrid print production with digital and offset printing. This consistent integration makes HEIDELBERG unique in the market and enables customers to achieve efficient, repeatable, and economical production across all technologies.
Looking ahead: Partnership with a future
The cooperation between HEIDELBERG and Ricoh is long-term and will be strategically expanded. The continuous development of software, automation, and services will further strengthen HEIDELBERG's position as a leading provider of integrated, hybrid printing solutions as well as Ricoh’s as an innovative force in digital production technology.
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HEIDELBERG) is a leading technology company that has stood for innovation, quality, and reliability in mechanical engineering worldwide for more than 175 years. With a clear focus on growth, HEIDELBERG, as a full-service provider and system integrator, drives further development in its core areas of packaging and digital printing, software solutions, and the lifecycle business with service and consumables, enabling customers to achieve maximum productivity and efficiency. Building on decades of industry and systems expertise, the company is also strategically tapping into new markets in the fields of security, energy, charging infrastructure, and industrial system solutions - with clear scaling capabilities and attractive medium- to long-term growth prospects. Thanks to a strong international presence in approximately 170 countries, the creativity and expertise of its roughly 9,500 employees, its own production facilities in Europe, China, and the U.S., and one of the largest global sales and service networks, the company is optimally positioned for future growth. www.heidelberg.com
Image 1: (from the left:) Dr. Frank Schaum, Head of Digital Print Ecosystem at HEIDELBERG, Dr David Schmedding, Chief Technology and Sales Officer at HEIDELBERG, Koji Miyao, President, Ricoh Graphic Communications and Eef de Ridder, Deputy General Manager, Global Sales Division, Ricoh Graphic Communications, reaffirm the 15-year partnership between the two companies in the field of digital printing at a meeting at the Home of Print site in Wiesloch-Walldorf.
Image 2: HEIDELBERG and RICOH mark 15 years of strategic partnership with Versafire digital printing systems.
Figure 3: The third generation of Versafire digital printing systems from HEIDELBERG is now in operation, offering users a high degree of flexibility, productivity, and reliable quality, as well as enabling hybrid print production.
Figure 4: The Versafire digital printing systems allow users to flexibly produce a wide range of commercial products.
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
05/05/2026
For 15 years, the successful partnership between Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HEIDELBERG) and Ricoh has stood for innovative strength and sustainable market success in industrial digital print. With the introduction of the first Versafire digital printing systems in 2011, HEIDELBERG took a strategically decisive step into the fast-growing digital print market and has since consistently established itself as a leading system integrator for hybrid print production.
Since then, the third generation of the Versafire portfolio is now successfully established worldwide in the commercial market. More than 3,500 systems sold and over two billion pages annually underline the high market acceptance and industrial performance of the technology.
Success and strategic milestones
The start of the partnership between HEIDELBERG and Ricoh in digital print marked a significant milestone for both companies: from the very beginning, the goal was not to view offset and digital printing in isolation, but to fully integrate both technologies into a shared production environment. To this end, HEIDELBERG has integrated the Versafire systems into the Prinect workflow via the digital frontend (DFE) developed in-house, thus positioning them specifically as a complement to offset printing – enabling maximum flexibility, economical short runs, and individualized print products. Print shops use it to produce a wide range of print products such as flyers, brochures or personalized applications.
Jürgen Otto, Chief Executive Officer at HEIDELBERG, says: "Our long-standing partnership with Ricoh is a success story for HEIDELBERG in digital print and a good example of successful technological cooperation to open up new market segments. Today, the Versafire systems, which are perfectly tailored to the needs of the printing industry, exemplify our claim as a full-service provider and end-to-end system integrator of hybrid print production.”
Dr David Schmedding, Chief Technology and Sales Officer adds: “Over the past 15 years, we have worked with Ricoh to consistently industrialize digital printing and fully integrate it into our digital ecosystem. For our customers, the integration means maximum flexibility, highest process reliability and a clear future perspective in hybrid production printing."
Koji Miyao, President, Ricoh Graphic Communications, says: “We are delighted that this enduring partnership has helped support the adoption of agile digital production for so many print service providers. We look forward to many more years of cooperation together.”
Eef de Ridder, Deputy General Manager, Global Sales Division, Ricoh Graphic Communications, adds: “As one of the few partnerships between offset and digital suppliers that have flourished we remain committed to helping clients make the right technology choices and flourish for many years ahead.”
Clear customer benefits: flexibility, quality and integration
The partnership focuses on added value for print shops:
The Versafire systems from HEIDELBERG print shops thus provide optimal support for hybrid print production, in which offset and digital printing are efficiently combined – a decisive competitive advantage.
HEIDELBERG as a system integrator in the digital ecosystem
With the Prinect Digital Frontend (DFE) from HEIDELBERG, all production steps from job creation to the finished product are standardized and automated. The result: a workflow solution for hybrid print production with digital and offset printing. This consistent integration makes HEIDELBERG unique in the market and enables customers to achieve efficient, repeatable, and economical production across all technologies.
Looking ahead: Partnership with a future
The cooperation between HEIDELBERG and Ricoh is long-term and will be strategically expanded. The continuous development of software, automation, and services will further strengthen HEIDELBERG's position as a leading provider of integrated, hybrid printing solutions as well as Ricoh’s as an innovative force in digital production technology.
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HEIDELBERG) is a leading technology company that has stood for innovation, quality, and reliability in mechanical engineering worldwide for more than 175 years. With a clear focus on growth, HEIDELBERG, as a full-service provider and system integrator, drives further development in its core areas of packaging and digital printing, software solutions, and the lifecycle business with service and consumables, enabling customers to achieve maximum productivity and efficiency. Building on decades of industry and systems expertise, the company is also strategically tapping into new markets in the fields of security, energy, charging infrastructure, and industrial system solutions - with clear scaling capabilities and attractive medium- to long-term growth prospects. Thanks to a strong international presence in approximately 170 countries, the creativity and expertise of its roughly 9,500 employees, its own production facilities in Europe, China, and the U.S., and one of the largest global sales and service networks, the company is optimally positioned for future growth. www.heidelberg.com
Image 1: (from the left:) Dr. Frank Schaum, Head of Digital Print Ecosystem at HEIDELBERG, Dr David Schmedding, Chief Technology and Sales Officer at HEIDELBERG, Koji Miyao, President, Ricoh Graphic Communications and Eef de Ridder, Deputy General Manager, Global Sales Division, Ricoh Graphic Communications, reaffirm the 15-year partnership between the two companies in the field of digital printing at a meeting at the Home of Print site in Wiesloch-Walldorf.
Image 2: HEIDELBERG and RICOH mark 15 years of strategic partnership with Versafire digital printing systems.
Figure 3: The third generation of Versafire digital printing systems from HEIDELBERG is now in operation, offering users a high degree of flexibility, productivity, and reliable quality, as well as enabling hybrid print production.
Figure 4: The Versafire digital printing systems allow users to flexibly produce a wide range of commercial products.
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
