Heidelberg Integrates Digital, Offset Printing with New Versafire

Digital printing remains a lucrative growth market in the printing industry worldwide. It now accounts for some 20 percent of the global print production volume (PPV) and is growing at an annual rate of around 3 percent.

The latest Versafire generation from Heidelberg offers systematically enhanced digital presses for the commercial sector. The company is thus taking the integration of offset and digital printing to the next level and further strengthening its market position in the digital segment.

“Our integrated solutions are a must for anyone who is looking to combine offset and digital printing and use them efficiently in tandem. That’s because Heidelberg has comprehensive process and application knowledge relating to both these printing methods, which makes us unique in the industry,” said Heidelberg CEO Dr. Ludwin Monz.

Virtually all offset print shops focusing on the commercial sector are already using a digital press. Heidelberg has therefore equipped the new Versafire LV and Versafire LP digital printing systems with an enhanced Prinect Digital Frontend (DFE). In conjunction with a new user interface, this software ensures a flexible, standardized, highly productive, and intuitive combination of offset and digital printing technology.

The new generation incorporates integration know-how and experience based on the in-stallation of several thousand Versafire digital printing systems for customers located worldwide.

“With the latest Versafire generation, customers are investing in a further improved over-all performance and enhanced competitiveness,” says Frank Schaum, head of the print solutions segment at Heidelberg.

Here is a brief summary of further benefits of the digital printing solutions from Heidelberg:
• Versafire LP: This is the ideal solution for the cost-effective production of larger volumes and/or lots of short runs. With up to a million clicks each month, it is one of the market’s most productive toner-based digital presses in the A3 format and gives digital print pro-duction a far more industrial thrust.

• Versafire LV: The possibility of a fifth inking unit and thus a choice of seven spot colors makes this the flexible solution for wide-ranging applications in short-run printing. Thanks to its impressive level of automation and upgrade options, the Versafire LV offers excellent flexibility and investment security.

• Prinect Digital Frontend: This software solution was developed in-house by Heidelberg. The second generation that has now been unveiled is the centerpiece of the new Versafire systems and supports the standardization of print shop production.

• Ecosystem: Heidelberg digital printing customers have access to an extensive ecosys-tem that includes consumables, digital services, software, cloud-based solutions, training, consulting, inventory management, and logistics and thus benefit from significant added value with just a single contact partner.

• Expansion of digital printing portfolio: In recent years, Heidelberg has established it-self on the market as a high-performance supplier of digital printing solutions by steadily expanding its digital printing portfolio with the Versafire systems for the commercial sec-tor and the Labelfire and Gallus One digital inkjet systems from the company’s Swiss sub-sidiary Gallus for the labels market.