01/13/2026
Image includes: SunDance’s Managing Partner/President, JohnHenry Ruggieri with HEIDELBERG Versafire
Kennesaw, Ga. – SunDance, an award-winning print, packaging, and direct mail manufacturer based in Orlando, Florida, is set to install a Versafire LV and POLAR N 137 PLUS from HEIDELBERG early this year. The new five-color digital press and high-speed cutter will boost speed and reliability, reduce workflow bottlenecks, and increase capacity and substrate versatility to support rising demand across SunDance’s business units.
Increasing Demands
With origins in fine art publishing and commercial printing, SunDance has spent the last five years expanding its capabilities in folding carton, wide format, mailing and finishing, and flexible packaging to strengthen its position nationally as a premier “one-stop shop” for high-quality production. “This unique combination of capabilities allows us to support complex, multi-channel programs,” said JohnHenry Ruggieri, Managing Partner/President of SunDance. “Our controlled and strategic growth has been driven through investments in equipment, automation, and lean manufacturing to improve efficiency, accuracy, and consistency.”
Steady year-over-year growth and the addition of several national accounts have led to a recent expansion of SunDance’s Orlando facility and pushed volumes higher across both print and packaging. With greater demand on the company’s digital production and finishing operations, Ruggieri commented, “We needed higher speeds and uptime, wider material flexibility, and stronger automation to maintain our customers’ expectations for quality and turnaround times.”
To support this increased workload, SunDance turned to its long-standing partner HEIDELBERG to enhance its digital and finishing portfolio. Its new POLAR cutter and Versafire LV will join two existing POLAR 137 cutters and a Versafire CP already in operation.
“POLAR cutters have always delivered long-term reliability, durability, and accuracy,” said Ruggieri. “The Versafire platform provides consistent color, dependability, and streamlined integration within our Prinect workflow. These machines directly support our lean manufacturing objectives – reducing operator touchpoints, increasing automation, and improving quality while decreasing waste.”
Expanded Capabilities
SunDance’s new Versafire LV will expand its current digital capabilities with the ability to run a variety of substrates including coated and uncoated stocks, cover weights, light boards, synthetics, labels, and specialty materials. This broader range allows the company to more effectively bridge the gap between digital and offset production – supporting a wider variety of applications. Additionally, the five-color Versafire LV can print with digital white, clear, and neon toners, enabling extended gamut output and specialty effects for folding carton prototypes, mock-ups, short-run packaging components, security features, marketing materials, and enhanced direct mail.
Aligning with its long-term automation and workflow goals, SunDance selected the Prinect Digital Frontend for its new Versafire. Prinect connects SunDance’s Speedmaster CD 102 and its Versafire presses into one unified workflow – streamlining job routing, scheduling, color management, reporting, and automation. “The Prinect DFE creates a consistent production environment – enhancing the customer experience through improved scheduling and greater data visibility,” said Ruggieri.
A long-time HEIDELBERG Versafire user, SunDance has seen steady advancements in the platform over the years. With improved front-to-back registration, stronger calibration, greater speed stability, and broader substrate support, Ruggieri said he can now run many jobs digitally that previously required offset printing – without any compromise in quality.
Having cultivated a culture of craftsmanship over its nearly twenty-year history, SunDance relies on HEIDELBERG solutions at every stage of production – including the Suprasetter CtP, Prinect Production Manager, Saphira Consumables, Easymatrix die cutter, and Diana folder-gluer – to elevate the quality of its work above competitors. “We value HEIDELBERG’s reliability, ecosystem strength, workflow integration, and continued technological improvement,” said Ruggieri. “They continue to support our focus on quality and long-term goals to increase automation and operational consistency.”
About SunDance
SunDance is an award-winning print, packaging, and direct mail manufacturer based in Orlando, Florida. Focused on delivering high quality, cost effective, and timely solutions supported by exceptional customer service, the company’s state-of-the-art facility brings together commercial print, folding carton, flexible packaging, labels, wide format, direct mail, kitting and finishing. This combination of services allows SunDance to support complex and multi-channel programs for national brands while maintaining the agility and responsiveness of a family-owned company.
Its history in fine art publishing shaped a culture of craftsmanship and color accuracy and continues to guide every production discipline in the plant. Quality is an expectation. SunDance’s commitment to disciplined lean manufacturing produces consistency, reduces waste, and improves reliability throughout the workflow.
Since its founding in 2007, SunDance has grown steadily and now serves clients across the country, including Fortune 500 companies, emerging brands, and leaders in healthcare, hospitality, financial services, higher education, consumer goods, and food and beverage. It continues to invest in advanced equipment, automation, workflow intelligence, and sustainable practices so its clients gain the advantage of a modern and forward-thinking manufacturing partner.
About HEIDELBERG
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, HEIDELBERG as a total solution provider is driving further development in the core areas of packaging and digital printing, software solutions and the 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, automation technology and robotics as well as the growing green technologies. With a strong international presence in approximately 170 countries, the creative power and expertise of its around 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 well-positioned for future growth.
Heather Banis
Director, Marketing & Sales Excellence
Phone: +1 (770) 419-6821
Email*: Heather.Banis@heidelberg.com
01/13/2026
Kennesaw, Ga. – SunDance, an award-winning print, packaging, and direct mail manufacturer based in Orlando, Florida, is set to install a Versafire LV and POLAR N 137 PLUS from HEIDELBERG early this year. The new five-color digital press and high-speed cutter will boost speed and reliability, reduce workflow bottlenecks, and increase capacity and substrate versatility to support rising demand across SunDance’s business units.
Increasing Demands
With origins in fine art publishing and commercial printing, SunDance has spent the last five years expanding its capabilities in folding carton, wide format, mailing and finishing, and flexible packaging to strengthen its position nationally as a premier “one-stop shop” for high-quality production. “This unique combination of capabilities allows us to support complex, multi-channel programs,” said JohnHenry Ruggieri, Managing Partner/President of SunDance. “Our controlled and strategic growth has been driven through investments in equipment, automation, and lean manufacturing to improve efficiency, accuracy, and consistency.”
Steady year-over-year growth and the addition of several national accounts have led to a recent expansion of SunDance’s Orlando facility and pushed volumes higher across both print and packaging. With greater demand on the company’s digital production and finishing operations, Ruggieri commented, “We needed higher speeds and uptime, wider material flexibility, and stronger automation to maintain our customers’ expectations for quality and turnaround times.”
To support this increased workload, SunDance turned to its long-standing partner HEIDELBERG to enhance its digital and finishing portfolio. Its new POLAR cutter and Versafire LV will join two existing POLAR 137 cutters and a Versafire CP already in operation.
“POLAR cutters have always delivered long-term reliability, durability, and accuracy,” said Ruggieri. “The Versafire platform provides consistent color, dependability, and streamlined integration within our Prinect workflow. These machines directly support our lean manufacturing objectives – reducing operator touchpoints, increasing automation, and improving quality while decreasing waste.”
Expanded Capabilities
SunDance’s new Versafire LV will expand its current digital capabilities with the ability to run a variety of substrates including coated and uncoated stocks, cover weights, light boards, synthetics, labels, and specialty materials. This broader range allows the company to more effectively bridge the gap between digital and offset production – supporting a wider variety of applications. Additionally, the five-color Versafire LV can print with digital white, clear, and neon toners, enabling extended gamut output and specialty effects for folding carton prototypes, mock-ups, short-run packaging components, security features, marketing materials, and enhanced direct mail.
Aligning with its long-term automation and workflow goals, SunDance selected the Prinect Digital Frontend for its new Versafire. Prinect connects SunDance’s Speedmaster CD 102 and its Versafire presses into one unified workflow – streamlining job routing, scheduling, color management, reporting, and automation. “The Prinect DFE creates a consistent production environment – enhancing the customer experience through improved scheduling and greater data visibility,” said Ruggieri.
A long-time HEIDELBERG Versafire user, SunDance has seen steady advancements in the platform over the years. With improved front-to-back registration, stronger calibration, greater speed stability, and broader substrate support, Ruggieri said he can now run many jobs digitally that previously required offset printing – without any compromise in quality.
Having cultivated a culture of craftsmanship over its nearly twenty-year history, SunDance relies on HEIDELBERG solutions at every stage of production – including the Suprasetter CtP, Prinect Production Manager, Saphira Consumables, Easymatrix die cutter, and Diana folder-gluer – to elevate the quality of its work above competitors. “We value HEIDELBERG’s reliability, ecosystem strength, workflow integration, and continued technological improvement,” said Ruggieri. “They continue to support our focus on quality and long-term goals to increase automation and operational consistency.”
About SunDance
SunDance is an award-winning print, packaging, and direct mail manufacturer based in Orlando, Florida. Focused on delivering high quality, cost effective, and timely solutions supported by exceptional customer service, the company’s state-of-the-art facility brings together commercial print, folding carton, flexible packaging, labels, wide format, direct mail, kitting and finishing. This combination of services allows SunDance to support complex and multi-channel programs for national brands while maintaining the agility and responsiveness of a family-owned company.
Its history in fine art publishing shaped a culture of craftsmanship and color accuracy and continues to guide every production discipline in the plant. Quality is an expectation. SunDance’s commitment to disciplined lean manufacturing produces consistency, reduces waste, and improves reliability throughout the workflow.
Since its founding in 2007, SunDance has grown steadily and now serves clients across the country, including Fortune 500 companies, emerging brands, and leaders in healthcare, hospitality, financial services, higher education, consumer goods, and food and beverage. It continues to invest in advanced equipment, automation, workflow intelligence, and sustainable practices so its clients gain the advantage of a modern and forward-thinking manufacturing partner.
About HEIDELBERG
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, HEIDELBERG as a total solution provider is driving further development in the core areas of packaging and digital printing, software solutions and the 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, automation technology and robotics as well as the growing green technologies. With a strong international presence in approximately 170 countries, the creative power and expertise of its around 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 well-positioned for future growth.
Director, Marketing & Sales Excellence
Phone: +1 (770) 419-6821