After more than a year of speculation about its intentions, ProPrint can confirm that Heidelberg has booked its traditional Hall 1 for next year’s drupa.
However the press giant will almost certainly be sharing the stand with some of its partners or ‘friends and family’ as the company puts it, which currently include Ricoh and Fujifilm.
One of the centerpieces of the stand will likely be the world’s first B1 sized sheetfed inkjet press, which Heidelberg is co-developing with Fujifilm.
ProPrint has no word as to whether this will be commercially available at the show, but with the co-development now more than two years old it is entirely possible.
[Related: More drupa news]
Heidelberg has been coy about its plans for drupa ever since new chief executive Dr Gerold Linzbach took over and declared that while he had great respect for the company’s heritage his brief was to bring a fresh unencumbered assessment of all areas of business in light of the new business environment, which has seen heavy metal press sales plummet.
This new vision has resulted in Heidelberg jettisoning most of its finishing business, pursuing a path of partnership with other graphic arts solutions developers, and moving its administration, sales and board out of its beautiful HQ in Heidelberg into the decidedly less salubrious factory 20kms down the road.
It also caused the company to look in detail at its humungous drupa spend, with all options on the table.
Harald Weimer, Heidelberg executive board member and drupa committee member, says: "drupa 2016 will be an interesting milestone for us to present our integrated offset and digital technologies with the corresponding services and consumables – in a new dimension.
“In line with present market requirements we will be demonstrating innovative solutions alongside our partners in Düsseldorf."
Heidelberg’s decision to share its Hall may mean it loses its title as biggest exhibitor to HP, which has booked the whole of the 6000sqm Hall 17.
However, in good news for Heidelberg customers the company is likely to retain its traditional Sternberg Lounge hospitality venue across the road from Hall 1.
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