10/08/2026
The UK’s largest online trade printer, Route 1 Print, has invested in two Speedmaster XL 106-8P from Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HEIDELBERG) with Plate to Unit, LED UV and fully automated Push to Stop technology. The installation forms part of a wider £12 million investment programme. Operating from its 28.000 sq m manufacturing facility in Rotherham, the investment is intended to support growing demand and strengthen Route 1 Print’s production capabilities.
“Plate to Unit enables our operators to spend more time focusing on delivering excellent quality rather than manual handling tasks,” said Adam Carnell, Co-CEO of Route 1 Print. “As demand grows, the two new presses will give us the additional capacity we need to support our reseller partners effectively.”
Route 1 Print builds on long-standing HEIDELBERG partnership
Route 1 Print selected HEIDELBERG based on a long-standing relationship developed through previous machine investments. “We know that their technology is class-leading, and we know what it can deliver,” said Carnell. “The Speedmaster XL106-8P with Plate to Unit offered all the features we needed, and was a natural fit for our future production requirements.”
The investment has also been well received by the production team. Staff have completed training and are enjoying working with the highly automated new equipment, which makes operation easier, safer and more intuitive.
New presses up to 40 percent faster than the previous fleet
The new Speedmaster XL 106-8P presses are already running up to 40% faster than the previous fleet, driven by super-efficient makeready times, advanced automation and integration with the Prinect workflow from HEIDELBERG.
“This investment is ultimately about helping our reseller partners serve their own customers even better,” said Jack Parks, Head of Route 1 Print. “The new presses from HEIDELBERG strengthen our ability to deliver the high quality, dependable service and fast turnaround their customers expect. Greater capacity and efficiency will also help us keep pricing competitive, enabling our partners to protect healthy margins while giving them confidence that Route 1 Print will remain a reliable, scalable partner for the future.”
“We are delighted to continue our partnership with Route 1 Print and are proud to support the business as it continues its impressive growth journey,” said Jochen Bender, Region Head EMEA of HEIDELBERG.
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 systems integrator—is driving 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 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 well positioned globally.
Route 1 Print was founded in 2012 as part of the Bluetree Group and is the UK’s largest online trade print provider. The company dispatches more than 4,000 jobs every day from its 300,000 sq ft production hub in Rotherham, South Yorkshire. Route 1 Print was a national winner at the European Business Awards in 2018 and 2019, won Manufacturer of the Year at the 2022 IPIA Recognising Excellence Awards, and was named Environmental Company of the Year – Large Enterprise at the 2026 PrintWeek Awards.
Image 1: From left to right: Jack Parks, Head of Route 1 Print, Paul Bennigton, Print Specialist, Adam Carnell, Co-CEO of Route 1 Print.
Image 2: The new Speedmaster XL 106-8P from HEIDELBERG at the Route 1 Print facility in Rotherham, UK.
Image 3: The new presses are already running up to 40% faster than the previous fleet, driven by super-efficient makeready times, advanced automation and integration with Plate to Unit and the HEIDELBERG Prinect workflow.
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 press release contains forward-looking statements based on assumptions and estimates made by the management of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft. Although management believes these assumptions and estimates to be accurate, actual future developments and results may differ significantly from these assumptions and estimates due to a variety of factors. These factors may include, for example, changes in the overall economic situation, exchange rates, and interest rates, as well as changes within the graphic arts industry. Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft makes no warranty and assumes no liability that future developments and actual results will correspond to the assumptions and estimates expressed in this press release.
Aaron Goelz
Specialist Group Communication
Tel.: +49 (0)6222 82-2821
Email: aaron.goelz@heidelberg.com
10/08/2026
The UK’s largest online trade printer, Route 1 Print, has invested in two Speedmaster XL 106-8P from Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HEIDELBERG) with Plate to Unit, LED UV and fully automated Push to Stop technology. The installation forms part of a wider £12 million investment programme. Operating from its 28.000 sq m manufacturing facility in Rotherham, the investment is intended to support growing demand and strengthen Route 1 Print’s production capabilities.
“Plate to Unit enables our operators to spend more time focusing on delivering excellent quality rather than manual handling tasks,” said Adam Carnell, Co-CEO of Route 1 Print. “As demand grows, the two new presses will give us the additional capacity we need to support our reseller partners effectively.”
Route 1 Print builds on long-standing HEIDELBERG partnership
Route 1 Print selected HEIDELBERG based on a long-standing relationship developed through previous machine investments. “We know that their technology is class-leading, and we know what it can deliver,” said Carnell. “The Speedmaster XL106-8P with Plate to Unit offered all the features we needed, and was a natural fit for our future production requirements.”
The investment has also been well received by the production team. Staff have completed training and are enjoying working with the highly automated new equipment, which makes operation easier, safer and more intuitive.
New presses up to 40 percent faster than the previous fleet
The new Speedmaster XL 106-8P presses are already running up to 40% faster than the previous fleet, driven by super-efficient makeready times, advanced automation and integration with the Prinect workflow from HEIDELBERG.
“This investment is ultimately about helping our reseller partners serve their own customers even better,” said Jack Parks, Head of Route 1 Print. “The new presses from HEIDELBERG strengthen our ability to deliver the high quality, dependable service and fast turnaround their customers expect. Greater capacity and efficiency will also help us keep pricing competitive, enabling our partners to protect healthy margins while giving them confidence that Route 1 Print will remain a reliable, scalable partner for the future.”
“We are delighted to continue our partnership with Route 1 Print and are proud to support the business as it continues its impressive growth journey,” said Jochen Bender, Region Head EMEA of HEIDELBERG.
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 systems integrator—is driving 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 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 well positioned globally.
Route 1 Print was founded in 2012 as part of the Bluetree Group and is the UK’s largest online trade print provider. The company dispatches more than 4,000 jobs every day from its 300,000 sq ft production hub in Rotherham, South Yorkshire. Route 1 Print was a national winner at the European Business Awards in 2018 and 2019, won Manufacturer of the Year at the 2022 IPIA Recognising Excellence Awards, and was named Environmental Company of the Year – Large Enterprise at the 2026 PrintWeek Awards.
Image 1: From left to right: Jack Parks, Head of Route 1 Print, Paul Bennigton, Print Specialist, Adam Carnell, Co-CEO of Route 1 Print.
Image 2: The new Speedmaster XL 106-8P from HEIDELBERG at the Route 1 Print facility in Rotherham, UK.
Image 3: The new presses are already running up to 40% faster than the previous fleet, driven by super-efficient makeready times, advanced automation and integration with Plate to Unit and the HEIDELBERG Prinect workflow.
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 press release contains forward-looking statements based on assumptions and estimates made by the management of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft. Although management believes these assumptions and estimates to be accurate, actual future developments and results may differ significantly from these assumptions and estimates due to a variety of factors. These factors may include, for example, changes in the overall economic situation, exchange rates, and interest rates, as well as changes within the graphic arts industry. Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft makes no warranty and assumes no liability that future developments and actual results will correspond to the assumptions and estimates expressed in this press release.
Specialist Group Communication
Tel.: +49 (0)6222 82-2821
