Heidelberg is taking another step forward in its expansion into the packaging sector. The German manufacturer is partnering with logistics provider Pfenning to work on integrating the processes that follow the printing of pharmaceutical packaging.
This project is intended to integrate Heidelberg?s printing and workflow management technologies with Pfenning?s packaging and logistics operations. Founded in 1899 and still family-owned by the Pfenning family, the German service provider employs 7,000 people across 110 locations in Europe, with one million square meters of logistics space.
From printing to medication tracking
The project focuses in particular on serialization, aggregation, and track-and-trace, as well as on logistics processes that comply with Good Distribution Practice (GDP) and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards.
This integration should make it possible to retain the data necessary for traceability and documentation throughout the supply chain. This is a particularly pressing issue in the pharmaceutical industry, which is subject to regulatory requirements regarding the tracking of medications.
"By closely integrating packaging, data management, and logistics, we create greater transparency, compliance, and operational efficiency throughout the value chain." , explains Rana Matthias Nag, spokesperson for Pfenning's executive board.
Heidelberg: A Strategy Centered on the Press
Above all, the agreement sheds light on Heidelberg?s shift toward the packaging sector. At Interpack 2026, held last May, the German manufacturer had expressed its intention to no longer limit itself to printing and finishing operations, but to cover a broader range of stages, from material selection to logistics and data flow.
Heidelberg relies on partnerships to complement the technologies it develops in-house. Collaborations are already underway with Pack-Smart, which specializes in inkjet serialization and traceability systems, and the Finnish paperboard manufacturer Metsä Board. Pfenning now brings expertise in pharmaceutical packaging, serialization, and logistics.
