Under the global deal, Heidelberg will distribute Ricoh's production printing portfolio, including its latest machine, the 90ppm Pro C901.

The partnership will kick off in April, with European printers getting their first look at the tie-up when Heidelberg and Ricoh show a linked offset-digital workflow at the Digi:Media show in Düsseldorf.

The "seamless live production" configuration will start with job offering and ordering using the internet and then show Prinect workflow integration combining a Heidelberg Anicolor and Ricoh Pro C901 and finished via Stahlfolder and Eurobind machines.

Heidelberg said in a statement: "The first markets will be UK and Germany with a phased rollout to follow in other geographies with completion targeted for Drupa 2012."

It seems likely that the partnership will eventually extend beyond a sales relationship. In an interview that took place before the Ricoh announcement that is due to appear in the March issue of ProPrint, Heidelberg board member for equipment Stephan Plez said the offset giant had "searched for a partner who was willing to open their R&D and test lab to us".

"And, on the other side, we will reveal to them what we have already done in inkjet with [Heidelberg's niche packaging technology] Linoprint and what we know about colour management and integrating workflows," said Plenz.

Heidelberg ANZ managing director Andy Vels Jensen said there would be no change to the Heidelberg-Konica Minolta relationship in Australia.

"We have been selling two digital presses a month since we kicked off our venture with KM. It's business as usual here," he told ProPrint.

Heidelberg first announced plans to re-enter digital back in May 2010.  

ProPrint will publish a feature looking at Heidelberg's digital ambitions in the March issue, due out 7 March.

Pictured: Ricoh president and chief executive Shiro Kondo and Heidelberg chief executive Bernhard Schreier

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