Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG

Postfach 10 29 40
69019 Heidelberg
Germany

Kurfürsten-Anlage 52–60
69115 Heidelberg

Thomas Fichtl

Phone +49 6222 82-67123
Fax +49 6222 82-67129

Thomas.Fichtl@heidelberg.com
www.heidelberg.com

May 24, 2017

Heidelberg at China Print 2017: Simply Smart, paves the way for the future of Chinese Print Media Industry
		
•	Largest print show in Asia attracts over 200,000 visitors
•	Heidelberg as technology leader exhibits the digitized future of the industry  
•	Successful sales launch of new Speedmaster CX 75 in China
•	High demand for locally produced machines

China Print 2017 – from May 9th to 13th in Beijing, this year’s biggest trade show for the print media industry has come to a successful conclusion. Over 200,000 visitors mostly from China but also from other countries in Asia took this week to find out the future industry trends. During the show, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) has presented innovative Packaging and Commercial Printing solutions under the motto “Simply Smart”, showing itself the strong driving force behind the industry’s digitization.

“We were very pleased with the outcome of the trade show. Customers showed great interest in our new products and services for the digitized future. We are confident that we’ll continue to profit from the potential offered by this region in the future”, says Mr. Rainer Hundsdoerfer, CEO of Heidelberg. “China still plays an important role for Heidelberg, who is among the top 3 markets for Heidelberg together with Germany and USA. Heidelberg is fully committed to the development of Chinese printing industry, particularly with a modern and highly efficient factory in Shanghai.”

“For Heidelberg, ‘Simply Smart’ is more than just a motto. It is the principle we apply to the development of solutions designed to make handling processes and technologies as easy as possible. It is how we see the intelligent, highly automated print shop of the future. So we offer our customers comprehensive and smart solutions, to ensure that they remain at the technology forefront in line with Industry 4.0”, explained Rene Ludvigsen, Regional Head of Heidelberg Asia.

And Benny Huang, Head of Heidelberg China Ltd. added, “it is time for us to put forward the concepts including ‘Smart Print Shop’, ‘Smart Services’ and ‘Smart Collaboration’ during China Print this year. Visitors will not only learn Heidelberg’s vision of a digitized future and the Print Industry 4.0, but also see for themselves a truly digitized, integrated and networked print shop on our booth. Our customers expect us to deliver added value solutions, and we are actively helping them make the transformation to a digitized future.”

Heidelberg helps print shops make transformation in the digital era
At China Print 2017, Heidelberg showcased the industry’s digitized future, with the aim of helping Chinese print shops carry out a success transformation and achieve sustainable growth in the current digital era.

How to make it work for print shops to transform from a traditional print shop into a Smart one? First of all, Heidelberg Smart Print Shop is attributed to the workflow Prinect, which integrates all areas and lays the foundation for integrated communication inside the print shop, as well as between the print shop and their customers and suppliers. 

Besides, based on “Navigated Printing” philosophy, Intellistart 2 in the new Press Center XL 2 can identify the ideal changeover sequence, show the operator the shortest way to get from one OK sheet to the next, initiate all make ready operations and inform the operator when manual activities are necessary.

Last but not least, Heidelberg Assistant offers personalized access – whether via computer or mobile – to all of a print shop’s key service, contract, and performance data. The online portal also provides access to a variety of Heidelberg products and services, offering customers the greatest transparency and end-to-end support for their entire printing business.

All the above topics have attracted many visitors’ attention on Heidelberg’s booth during China Print 2017. For example, at the “Smart Area”, there were special introduction about Heidelberg Assistant during the presentation break-out session, which was always packed out by a number of customers who are eager to learn new things.

Packaging Solution: New product and new applications, successful sales launch of new Speedmaster CX 75 in China
During China Print 2017, a Speedmaster CX 75-4 press with innovative DryStar LED technology from Heidelberg was showcased for the first time. This press is the combination of the innovative platform of Speedmaster XL 75 and components of Speedmaster SX 74. The new Speedmaster CX 75-4 on the show is digitally integrated with Prinect Press Center 2 and the patented Intellistart system, presenting the highly automated and integrated print production as a result. The most innovative DryStar LED technology achieves the highest energy efficiency. No drying time is needed, which means the sheets can go straight into postpress, no more waiting times, and delivery times are shorter.

The 500 mm elevated Speedmaster CX 102-7+L press also at Packaging & Label Printing Area has unsurprisingly been the longest and most impressive sheetfed offset press on the trade shows in China. Equipped with high end features like Prinect Press Center XL 2, Intellistart 2, Wallscreen XL, AutoPlate Pro, Automatic Wash-up, Prinect Image Control 3 and fully integrated in the Prinect workflow it addressed the increasing demand for top end solutions for advanced print production. Following the “Push to Stop” philosophy introduced at drupa 2016 the live presentation showcased the huge saving potentials of “Navigated Printing” on this highly automated press in perfect combination with “Multicolor”. The Multicolor technology from Heidelberg delivers the world of color on a single sheet, achieves outstanding quality with its unique 7 color separation and screening but less waste, less wash ups, faster production and shorter delivery times.

In addition, it is the first time for Heidelberg and its subsidiary Gallus to make joint efforts to present the integrated Packaging and Label solution at China Print. A Gallus ECS 340 ten color label press was shown, to offer customers the possibility of even more cost-effective label production of the highest standard.

Commercial Printing Solution: Smart and tailor-made for customers, high demand for locally produced machines
The Speedmaster CS 92-4 press at Commercial Printing Area is not a new face on the show, as it was officially launched on Print China exhibition two years ago. However, its cost-effective production of commercial jobs, especially the benefit from 20 percent cheaper printing plates than the 70 x 100 cm format still impresses many customers. With DryStar LE UV technology, the CS 92-4 is able to achieve impressive quality, instant drying and fast turnover. The onsite demonstration presented two gang jobs as well as rapid curing on uncoated papers, making LE UV an ideal solution for commercial print shops who want to improve their response to constantly changed market requirements.

Another particular highlight at Commercial Area is the Hybrid Printing done by a Speedmaster SX 74-4 sheetfed press together with a Versafire CP digital printing press. With Prinect workflow system, the print orders are reasonably separated and automatically sent to different printing process. Those orders fit for digital printing, the production data goes directly to Versafire CP. Those orders fit for sheetfed printing, the data goes to CtP and the Speedmaster SX 74. With Heidelberg Prinect system and Color Management, the commercial print shops can harness the benefits of Hybrid Printing and enjoy the highest cost efficiency at any run length.

There are still quite some stories to tell. The Stahlfolder TH 82-P, which was unveiled at drupa and is well known for its high performance, productivity and stability, has made its first debut in front of Chinese customers on the show. Another Stahlfolder CH 56, by doing 3 different folding jobs changeover within just 5 minutes, could have given audience the most unforgettable experience during the show time.

Heidelberg’s Customer Centric business model
“Heidelberg has gone digital. Our mission is confirmed. The customer is at the center of everything. Digital technology and digital business models will allow us to connect our components to create customer value, to support online customers operation, to optimize the workflow and productivity, which ultimately connects our business to the print production volume. All in all, a distinct Customer Centric business model will help us redefine our growth strategy”, says Mr. Hundsdoerfer.

“What benefits we offer our customers are always our key consideration, because our own success depends on that of our customers,” Benny Huang emphasized. That is the main reason why Heidelberg China is launching eShop during the China Print show. What’s more, Heidelberg Services is aimed at maximizing customers’ profit, by means of enhancing equipment availability, productivity and print quality. New concepts and new service products have been introduced during China Print.

“Print shops in the region of Asia, especially Chinese print shops, have seen China Print the most important event of this year. They want to take this opportunity to make sure they keep pace with the new developments in the printing industry. The demands in Asia for automation and Smart Printing is considerable”, says Rene Ludvigsen, “and we have confidence that we will help our customers make a success transformation towards the industry’s digitized future.” 

China remains an important market for Heidelberg
Heidelberg generates around 10 percent of its total sales in China, thus making it one of the biggest market for the company. And market growth of the print production volume is expected to continue in the future. Heidelberg has structured its market organization in China accordingly. With a workforce of about 900 employees, it boasts the most extensive organization of any foreign press manufacturer. Its workforce includes about 500 sales and service staff and around 400 employees working in production. 

Photo 1: The presentation area on the Heidelberg stand was always full of enthusiastic visitors during the China Print show time.

Photo 2: The Heidelberg break-out session at China Print was impressive to many visitors.

Photo 3: The Speedmaster CX 75-4 press with innovative DryStar LED technology from Heidelberg was showcased at China Print for the first time.

Photo 4: The special effect created by Versafire digital printing system is a big plus for many print shops who want to provide added value service for their customers.

Photo 5: At the “Smart Area”, visitors were excited to experience the online portal offered by Heidelberg Assistant.

Photo 6: The Stahlfolder CH 56 is capable of folding jobs changeover within few minutes.

Image material and additional information about the company are available in the Press Lounge of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG at www.heidelberg.com. 

Contact for further details: 
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG

Corporate Public Relations 
Thomas Fichtl
Phone: +49 6222 82-67123
Fax: +49 6222 82-67129
E-mail: thomas.fichtl@heidelberg.com

Trade Press: 
Hilde Weisser
Phone: +49 6222 82-67971
Fax: +49 6222 82-99 67971
E-Mail: Hilde.Weisser@heidelberg.

Important note: 
This press release contains forward-looking statements based on assumptions and estimations by the Management Board of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft. Even though the Management Board is of the opinion that those assumptions and estimations are realistic, the actual future development and results may deviate substantially from these forward-looking statements due to various factors, such as changes in the macro-economic situation, in the exchange rates, in the interest rates and in the print media industry. Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft gives no warranty and does not assume liability for any damages in case the future development and the projected results do not correspond with the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.