06.09.23
More than 150 guests arrived at the Heidelberg Print Media Performance & Training Center in Kennesaw, GA, USA, to see the latest in printing innovation. From June 7-8, 2023, attendees at the Heidelberg Innovation Showcase were treated to the world premiere of the Gallus One digital inkjet label press.
Heidelberg North America provided live demonstrations, education, and networking opportunities for printers in the label, packaging and commercial industries. The Innovation Showcase also included the North American debut of the Mastermatrix 106 CSB diecutter.
“For the first time publicly, we are bringing an affordable, highly productive, digital label machine to the industry,” stated Felix Mueller, president, Heidelberg North America. “And for the first time we have it here at this event. This machine has been designed to optimize the user experience, and it’s perfect for ease of use and reliability. In the digital arena, we have an uptime of 95%.
“We have big hopes for this machine,” he added. “The machine will fit perfectly for the American market, and it’s the starting point of further development. Our team has worked late hours to bring this press to the industry, and they did it in a great way.”
Built on the Labelmaster platform, the Gallus One prints in CMYK+W at 70 m/m. Gallus designed the press – learning many lessons from the Labelfire – to provide an operator-friendly setup in a compact footprint. The technology includes 1200 x 1200 dpi print quality courtesy of a Fujifilm Samba printhead. The 13” press has been engineered with a modular frame that can grow in the future as the converter’s business expands. The Gallus One uses no primer and requires no protective coating, either.
According to Dan Maurer, VP of digital print, Americas, Heidelberg North America, the crossover from printing digitally with the Gallus One to flexographically with a Labelmaster 340 is 100,000 labels. In calculating the TCO for the Gallus One, Heidelberg has factored in capital equipment expenses, consumables, substrate costs, operator costs and training, energy costs, among others.
Utilizing the Prinect DFE, converters can calculate the ink used to print labels on the Gallus One. The numbers are based on the mL of ink required to print 1,000 labels. White ink, if used, is also factored into the equation.
“We’re in the tenacious pursuit of cost efficiency, minimizing make-readies down to the absolute minimum,” said Maurer. “You can run any substrate you’re running on your flexo press.”
During the Innovation Showcase, attendees also witnessed Heidelberg’s investment into training. The company has emphasized operator-level training in order to train apprentices to grow into internal technicians in the future.
Heidelberg offers numerous training courses for a wide range of skillsets. Since August 2022, operator training courses have included 122 participants in 15 classes. Participants included new hires, operators, management, owners, and vendors.
Classes include Quality Printing and the Chemistry Behind the Print, Advanced Digital Printing, Understanding UV, Advanced Print Fundamentals, and Sheetfed Feeder Training.
“Heidelberg today is more than machines,” remarked Mueller. “We are offering training and we have apprentices. Plus, we can do maintenance trainings for our customers. There’s a link between all the machines and our services in order to analyze your productivity. Heidelberg has developed into a company that offers complete solutions to make you successful.
“In the end, we are offering a promise of productivity,” continued Mueller. “We want you to be successful and get the most out of the machines.”
“Heidelberg has made an investment in training,” added Clarence Penge, executive vice president of product management, Heidelberg North America. “Training is what the industry desperately needs, and we can do that here for you. We offer training for free on weekends, and we offer a variety of classes. We can do it all here.”
Heidelberg North America provided live demonstrations, education, and networking opportunities for printers in the label, packaging and commercial industries. The Innovation Showcase also included the North American debut of the Mastermatrix 106 CSB diecutter.
“For the first time publicly, we are bringing an affordable, highly productive, digital label machine to the industry,” stated Felix Mueller, president, Heidelberg North America. “And for the first time we have it here at this event. This machine has been designed to optimize the user experience, and it’s perfect for ease of use and reliability. In the digital arena, we have an uptime of 95%.
“We have big hopes for this machine,” he added. “The machine will fit perfectly for the American market, and it’s the starting point of further development. Our team has worked late hours to bring this press to the industry, and they did it in a great way.”
Built on the Labelmaster platform, the Gallus One prints in CMYK+W at 70 m/m. Gallus designed the press – learning many lessons from the Labelfire – to provide an operator-friendly setup in a compact footprint. The technology includes 1200 x 1200 dpi print quality courtesy of a Fujifilm Samba printhead. The 13” press has been engineered with a modular frame that can grow in the future as the converter’s business expands. The Gallus One uses no primer and requires no protective coating, either.
According to Dan Maurer, VP of digital print, Americas, Heidelberg North America, the crossover from printing digitally with the Gallus One to flexographically with a Labelmaster 340 is 100,000 labels. In calculating the TCO for the Gallus One, Heidelberg has factored in capital equipment expenses, consumables, substrate costs, operator costs and training, energy costs, among others.
Utilizing the Prinect DFE, converters can calculate the ink used to print labels on the Gallus One. The numbers are based on the mL of ink required to print 1,000 labels. White ink, if used, is also factored into the equation.
“We’re in the tenacious pursuit of cost efficiency, minimizing make-readies down to the absolute minimum,” said Maurer. “You can run any substrate you’re running on your flexo press.”
During the Innovation Showcase, attendees also witnessed Heidelberg’s investment into training. The company has emphasized operator-level training in order to train apprentices to grow into internal technicians in the future.
Heidelberg offers numerous training courses for a wide range of skillsets. Since August 2022, operator training courses have included 122 participants in 15 classes. Participants included new hires, operators, management, owners, and vendors.
Classes include Quality Printing and the Chemistry Behind the Print, Advanced Digital Printing, Understanding UV, Advanced Print Fundamentals, and Sheetfed Feeder Training.
“Heidelberg today is more than machines,” remarked Mueller. “We are offering training and we have apprentices. Plus, we can do maintenance trainings for our customers. There’s a link between all the machines and our services in order to analyze your productivity. Heidelberg has developed into a company that offers complete solutions to make you successful.
“In the end, we are offering a promise of productivity,” continued Mueller. “We want you to be successful and get the most out of the machines.”
“Heidelberg has made an investment in training,” added Clarence Penge, executive vice president of product management, Heidelberg North America. “Training is what the industry desperately needs, and we can do that here for you. We offer training for free on weekends, and we offer a variety of classes. We can do it all here.”