A special anniversary was celebrated by Heidelberg on June 2nd and 3rd, when the company opened the doors of its Wiesloch-Walldorf headquarters for an international event designed for customers, journalists, and partners from around the world. It was a double occasion: celebrating the 175th anniversary of the company’s founding and officially inaugurating the renewed demonstration center, now named the “Home of Print.” This becomes the largest and most comprehensive experiential hub in the world for the graphic industry and converting industries
The new demo center spans 9,000 m² and represents the embodiment of HEIDELBERG’s industrial strategy: integrating cutting-edge solutions into a single digital ecosystem to fully serve the commercial printing, label, and, ever more centrally, packaging markets. Over 600 guests from 37 countries attended the opening day, which we at Converter had the honour and pleasure of attending alongside selected colleagues from around the world. The celebrations continued for an entire week, with about 1,500 customers visiting from all over the world, including numerous Italian companies welcomed by the Heidelberg Italy team.
“Welcome to HEIDELBERG, but above all to our Home of Print, the largest Experience Centre in the world dedicated to printing and converting. For 175 years, we have been the home of print!” declared Jürgen Otto, CEO of the Group, during the inauguration ceremony. His speech perfectly captured the company’s mission: to combine technological heritage and strategic vision to shape the future of the graphic industry. Bertram Kawlath, President of VDMA, also emphasized the importance of the event for the entire European mechanical sector: “HEIDELBERG’s story is a testament to how German engineering continues to set international standards”.
With the Cartonmaster CX 145, a complete range for folding carton printing
The packaging sector has been experiencing strong growth for over a decade, and this trend continues. Above-average annual growth is particularly evident in the high-volume printing of folding cartons for food, beverages, and consumer goods. In this context, very large format (VLF, Class 6 – 105 × 145 cm) sheetfed offset presses play a key role.
The highlight of the celebrations was the launch of the new Cartonmaster CX 145 sheetfed offset press, developed by HEIDELBERG in strategic partnership with manroland sheetfed. This new VLF press (Very Large Format, 105 × 145 cm), based on the Roland Evolution 900 platform, is fully integrated into the HEIDELBERG digital ecosystem, from the Prinect software to proprietary services and consumables. Designed for high-volume folding carton producers in the food, beverage, and FMCG segments, the press bridges the gap between the Speedmaster range and the Boardmaster flexo web press, positioning HEIDELBERG as a full-range packaging supplier.
As Dr. David Schmedding, Chief Technology & Sales Officer, emphasized: “with the Cartonmaster CX 145, we are becoming an end-to-end provider for folding carton printing and finishing. This press is a key element in our packaging growth strategy”.
The new machine is already available for order, with the first customer installation planned for 2026, followed by a global rollout. HEIDELBERG expects particularly strong demand from North America, Europe, and China.
“The addition of the Cartonmaster CX 145 to our portfolio confirms our role as a system integrator for comprehensive folding carton production”, said Jürgen Otto, CEO of HEIDELBERG. “Thanks to our strong presence in this segment, we expect this new press to be very well received by customers and to drive sales growth”. he added.
The packaging area also features the Mastermatrix CSB 106, a high-end die-cutter introduced at drupa 2024, capable of running at 9,000 sheets per hour, and the folder-gluer from partner MK Masterwork. Both are integrated into the Prinect workflow software and communicate with other system components, ensuring a complete and efficient production flow.
Boardmaster: ultra-high productivity web flexo printing
Strong attention was also drawn to the Boardmaster, already unveiled at drupa 2024, which showcased its capabilities live in a spectacular demo: printing at 600 m/min with non-stop job changes and minimal waste. It is HEIDELBERG’s first web flexo press for folding carton, corrugated, and beverage packaging, a true game-changer that marks the German company’s entry into the world of industrial flexographic printing, with potential applications also in flexible packaging.
A digital ecosystem connecting machines, data, and value
The entire HEIDELBERG portfolio, from offset and flexo presses to digital solutions like Jetfire and Stahlfolder Fireline, is now integrated into a single intelligent ecosystem, capable of creating value through data collection and analysis. Demonstrations at the Home of Print highlighted the ability to manage an entire production line, from prepress to finishing, with integrated automation, remote assistance, predictive maintenance, and real-time performance monitoring via the Customer Portal.
In partnership with companies such as MK Masterwork, Polar, Tecnau, and C.P. Bourg, HEIDELBERG is also expanding its offerings in finishing, cutting, and folding, turning its modular approach into a competitive advantage for printing companies.
With the inauguration of the Home of Print and the launch of the Cartonmaster CX 145, HEIDELBERG is celebrating 175 years of technological leadership while boldly stepping into a new era for the graphic industry. The event successfully combined the legacy of an iconic brand with current market needs and challenges, laying a strong foundation for the future of print and packaging.
In a rapidly evolving industry, HEIDELBERG is positioning itself not just as a machine manufacturer, but as a solutions integrator and global strategic partner, capable of guiding customers toward sustainable, flexible, and data-driven production models.
Face to face with Mauro Antonini, Sales & Marketing Director and Vice President of the Board di Heidelberg Italia
Today, HEIDELBERG is much more than a machine manufacturer, it’s a true system integrator for the printing and packaging world. What kind of feedback did you receive from the many Italian companies that attended the event?
“We received very positive feedback. In an increasingly competitive market, the integration of production systems is key. HEIDELBERG, with its broad portfolio of equipment covering the entire production chain, manages this integration efficiently through the Prinect software”.
With the introduction of the CX 145, HEIDELBERG’s offering for folding carton is now complete. What is your commercial strategy for successfully launching it in Italy, and what kind of customers is it mainly aimed at?
“Large-format presses are very important for our market. Since the launch in 2008 of the first HEIDELBERG VLF installed in Italy, we’ve had an excellent journey with our customers, with a high level of satisfaction on both sides.
The Cartonmaster CX 145 is the result of the combined experience of two historic manufacturers. This technological synergy will allow us to add value to large-format packaging production in terms of productivity, reliability, print quality, and integration, with the added benefit of the strongest service organization in the Italian graphic market”.
In addition to the CX 145, solutions like the Boardmaster and Mastermatrix also drew significant attention. Do you think Italy is ready for this new generation of highly automated, high-productivity systems?
“HEIDELBERG firmly believes that the Italian graphic industry is playing a leading role in global production. Italian companies have an excellent production standard and are definitely ready to adopt this kind of solution. The experiences we’re having confirm that our parent company’s strategic direction is the right one”.
With the Boardmaster, there is also a glimpse of expansion into the flexible packaging sector, where Italy has a very competitive market. Are you ready to embrace this new challenge and opportunity?
“The flexible packaging market is extremely interesting, and HEIDELBERG is paying close attention to it. The Boardmaster is a highly flexible system that, thanks to its technological features, will allow us to serve different markets and we are working seriously in this direction”.
A unique customer experience at the Home of Print
Now rebranded as the Home of Print, the Print Media Center in Wiesloch-Walldorf spans 9,000 m² and hosts around 1,000 personalized demos each year. Customers bring their own print jobs to test them directly on the machines, supported by a team of 120 HEIDELBERG experts who provide consultancy from preparation to post-demo.
Throughout the year, the center also holds open house events for national and international clients, focusing on trends in packaging, label, and commercial printing. In addition, around 100 guided tours are conducted annually for brand owners, schools, universities, and related sectors, along with regular training sessions for the HEIDELBERG service team.
Beyond the Wiesloch-Walldorf site, HEIDELBERG operates a global network of demo centers in the United States, China, Japan, Indonesia, and Switzerland.
