Heidelberg hosted its inaugural Shift 2025 event this month, focusing on automation and digital transformation in the printing industry. The two-day event brought together more than 200 participants from across Europe and overseas.
The event was organised in response to growing challenges in the industry, including rising costs, a shortage of skilled labour, and a shift from high-volume print runs to a higher number of smaller, complex jobs. Heidelberg positioned the event as a platform for sharing practical solutions and strategies for adapting to these pressures.
“The industry is facing a fundamental shift,” said Dr. David Schmedding, chief technology and sales officer at Heidelberg. “Shift was designed to provide a platform for open dialogue and practical solutions.”
Presentations from companies such as Micropress Printers in the UK and Bauer Packaging in Germany showcased real-world applications of automation, robotics, and AI. Rob Cross, co-managing director of Micropress, described how the company has streamlined production using robotics and autonomous material handling. “We’ve reduced manual touchpoints significantly,” he said.
Heidelberg paid special attention to hybrid print production with Speedmaster technology on the one hand and digital printing with Jetfire 50 and Versafire systems on the other. The focus was on fully automated workflow control via the new Prinect Touch Free workflow. The software, which is expected to launch by the end of 2025, is designed to optimise production routes based on capacity, deadlines, and cost-efficiency.
Due to positive feedback from attendees, Heidelberg confirmed it will continue the Shift event series, with the next edition planned for 2026.
