Heidelberg reaches a significant digital milestone. The German manufacturer announces that it has installed over 3,500 Versafire presses worldwide, fifteen years after the start of its cooperation with Japanese Ricoh.
This equipment totals an annual output of over two billion pages, a level that reflects a well-established use in workshops, particularly for short runs of brochures, flyers and personalized work.
15 years of deployment and three generations of presses
Launched in 2011, the Versafire range is based on Ricoh toner printing technology integrated into the Heidelberg environment. Three generations of presses have followed since then, with a gradual spread across the market.
Today, this installed base forms the foundation for the manufacturer's digital offering. Jürgen Otto, Managing Director of Heidelberg, comments "an excellent example of successful technological cooperation opening up new market segments" .
Ricoh engine and Heidelberg DFE for digital production control
Versafire presses are connected to the Prinect workflow via a digital front end (DFE) developed by Heidelberg. This configuration enables jobs to be managed seamlessly, from preparation to production.
For David Schmedding, the German manufacturer's Director of Technology and Sales, this integration means that for customers "maximum flexibility, optimum process reliability and a and a clear vision of the future of hybrid printing."
Eef de Ridder, Deputy Managing Director of Ricoh Graphic Communications' Global Sales Division, adds: " As one of the few successful partnerships between offset and digital suppliers, we remain committed to helping our customers make the right technology choices and prosper for many years to come."
The cooperation between Heidelberg and Ricoh will be "strategically reinforced", assures Heidelberg.
