SHERIDAN, WYOMING – Dec. 9, 2024 – Heidelberg and Canon have reinforced their commitment to a global partnership in inkjet sheetfed printing, marked by a recent meeting of top management at Heidelberg's new Home of Print facility in Wiesloch-Walldorf, Germany. This collaboration aims to provide customers with a complete ecosystem for hybrid and AI-driven print production, strengthening both companies' positions in the commercial printing market.
Jetfire 50 Launch on Track
Heidelberg confirmed that the launch of its new B3 inkjet printing system, the Jetfire 50, is proceeding as planned. The system, featuring integration with Heidelberg's Prinect workflow, has been well-received by customers who appreciate its ability to seamlessly integrate into a hybrid production environment alongside offset printing.
"The collaboration with Canon in the digital printing sector marks a milestone in our growth strategy for our core business," said Jürgen Otto, CEO of Heidelberg. "In addition to the sale of the Jetfire 50, we benefit from recurring revenues from services and consumables that arise over the lifetime of the machine. This enables us to participate in the growing digital printing volume in the commercial printing sector and to significantly strengthen our market position."
Customer Installations to Begin in Spring 2025
Heidelberg announced that the first customer installations of the Jetfire 50 will commence in spring 2025, starting with the DACH region (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland). The company emphasized its commitment to providing comprehensive support to customers, leveraging its application expertise, deep market understanding, and extensive service network.
"In spring 2025, we will start delivering the first Jetfire 50 machines to our customers, initially in the DACH region," stated Dr. David Schmedding, Chief Sales Officer at Heidelberg. "Users benefit from our application know-how, our deep understanding of the needs of the market, and the industry's densest global service network."
Expanding Portfolio with Industrial Digital Printing
The partnership with Canon and the introduction of the Jetfire 50 allows Heidelberg to close a gap in its portfolio by offering a robust industrial digital printing solution. This strengthens Heidelberg's position as a comprehensive solutions provider, capable of delivering a wide range of printing technologies, from toner to inkjet and offset to flexo, all integrated through the Prinect workflow.
"By the agreement with Canon and the associated offer for industrial digital printing, Heidelberg closes a gap in its portfolio," explained Dr. Schmedding. "Heidelberg presents itself to its customers as a partner and total solution provider that can supply all modern printing technologies from toner to inkjet, from offset printing to flexo printing, in a technology-neutral and needs-oriented manner and integrate them into a hybrid workflow via Prinect. This is unique in the industry."
A Complete Ecosystem for Hybrid Production
Heidelberg's strategy focuses on providing a complete ecosystem for hybrid print production, combining the strengths of offset and digital printing technologies. The Jetfire 50, with its Prinect integration, enables customers to seamlessly manage both offset and digital printing within a unified workflow, optimizing efficiency and productivity.
Looking Ahead
The collaboration between Heidelberg and Canon signifies a significant step forward in the evolution of the printing industry. By combining their respective strengths and expertise, the companies are well-positioned to drive innovation and provide customers with the tools and technologies necessary to succeed in a dynamic and competitive market.