Heidelberg opens print, packaging innovation complex in Georgia

USA – Heidelberger Druckmaschinen has opened its Print Media Center Americas – Home of Print facility in Marietta, Georgia, hosting machinery demonstrations, technical instruction and industry gatherings focused on print and packaging systems for the North American market.

The complex was constructed around efficiency and innovation, according to the firm. 

At the opening, the showroom featured operational trials of hardware including the Jetfire 50 and the Speedmaster XL 106, alongside presentations covering the wider product range.

Running live demonstrations allows customers to assess equipment performance under production-like conditions rather than relying on specification sheets, an approach that supports informed capital investment decisions.

Instructional Wing Hosts Training and Apprentice Scheme

An instructional wing houses press modules, post-press finishing apparatus and a working Speedmaster XL 106. 

The space hosts customer education, application testing and the company’s apprentice scheme. 

The manufacturer will launch instructor-led operator and maintenance training starting this fall. 

Training capacity matters for packaging converters, where skilled operators determine whether new equipment reaches rated throughput, and where labour shortages have made workforce development a competitive issue across the sector.

Jetfire Orders Signal Digital Printing Demand

Heidelberger unveiled various contracts during the event, including its first North American Jetfire 50 order from Canada’s CJ Graphics. 

In the United States, the initial purchase of that model was carried out by Lake County Press, based in Waukegan, Illinois. 

These orders indicate growing adoption of digital presses alongside conventional offset equipment, as converters seek to handle short runs, versioning and variable data without sacrificing offset quality on longer jobs.

Leadership Cites Hybrid Production Ecosystem

Clarence Penge, president of Heidelberger USA, said the Home of Print gave customers and the industry access to hands-on equipment training, workflow and automation education, and application development expertise, providing opportunities to collaborate directly with Heidelberg specialists and industry partners. 

He added that the new Jetfire orders demonstrated growing demand for digital printing solutions across North America, noting that together with Heidelberg’s offset technology and Prinect workflow, the Jetfire 50 created a connected hybrid production ecosystem helping customers maximise productivity and position their businesses for future growth. 

For packaging and label converters, combining digital and offset capability within one workflow supports mixed order profiles that single-technology operations cannot serve efficiently.

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