We outline a selection of key exhibitors demonstrating printing solutions at Hunkeler Innovationdays 2025, including a range of world and European firsts
The 15th bi-annual Hunkeler Innovationdays is launching next month, with a range of manufacturers teasing new releases and global firsts at the event.
The digital print trade show, taking place from February 24th to 27th at Lucerne Exhibition Centre in Switzerland, is set to include over 100 exhibitors from across the industry.
For 2025, the event has been given the slogan ‘Connect’. Focuses for the event will include the experience of comprehensive networking, the exchange of ideas, and the establishing of global business relationships.
Here are just a few of the exhibitors to look out for at the four-day event.
In line with the ‘Connect’ slogan of the event, Fujifilm will partner with several other vendors to demonstrate the full capabilities of its inkjet solutions.
Fujifilm’s Jet Press 1160CFG will take centre stage on its stand. The continuous feed inkjet printer, launched at drupa 2024, delivers a reported printing speed of 80m/min, including on thick and thin coated paper.
The press is also equipped with a newly developed ‘Paper Stabiliser’ pre-drying unit, designed to enhance stable print quality by drying paper before printing commences and controlling the moisture content of the paper.
At the event, Fujifilm will showcase the 1160CFG in collaboration with finishing equipment from Hunkeler, producing promotional postcards live at the show.
Additionally, a joint demonstration with bookbinding equipment manufacturer, Meccano Tecnica, will highlight the possibilities of the press for flexible, short-run book production.
Finally, Fujifilm will collaborate with Horizon, using its StitchLiner booklet binder to highlight the 1160CFG’s pagination capabilities and ability to switch between books of varying sizes.
Other inkjet print engines on display at Hunkeler will include its 42K and Mini 4300 Printbar System. Printbar System solutions can be placed in various parts of the process including in places where finishing alone typically resides. Fujifilm has integration products for a wide range of printing including monochrome, four colour, extended gamut, jettable functional fluids, and spot varnish embellishment.
In addition, Fujifilm will showcase its range of integrated inkjet solutions, an approach that custom-integrates an inkjet print engine into an existing press or other print equipment. For example, inkjet can be integrated in place of existing analogue print engines or in addition to analogue print engines.
Taro Aoki, head of digital press solutions at Fujifilm EMEA, says: “It’s a pleasure to be exhibiting at Hunkeler Innovationdays. Our participation underscores Fujifilm’s commitment to innovation and collaboration, in keeping with the ‘Connect’ theme of this year’s show.
“The Jet Press 1160CFG is a milestone product for Fujifilm. There is nothing else like it on the market, particularly with its advanced paper stabiliser.
“We have been market leaders for continuous feed inkjet in the Asia-Pacific region for some time and we’re now delighted to be bringing this technology to the European market.”
HEIDELBERG, which is sharing a stand this year with Müller Martini, will be presenting its full workflow of modern print jobs from pre-press through to finishing, including world premieres of new machines.
Chief among HEIDELBERG’s solutions at the trade show will be its full digital ecosystem for end-to-end production based on its new Jetfire 50 B3 inkjet printing system, the first time such a system has been presented.
In a world premiere, HEIDELBERG will also be unveiling its Fireline nearline post-press solution with the Stahlfolder TH 56 and 66 models, designed for automated end-to-end production in digital printing. The solution allows for cutting, creasing, and folding to all take place in just one pass.
While the TH 56 has been developed as a post-press solution for the Jetfire 50, the TH 66 is designed to work in tandem with the upcoming combination with HEIDELBERG’s Jetfire 75 B2 format press, which it is planning to unveil the Jetfire 75 in the course of 2025.
The Fireline TH 56 and 66 are both fully integrated into HEIDELBERG’s Prinect automation workflow. As a result, the system can be preset automatically based on the job parameters from Prinect and with virtually no operator intervention, according to the company.
Speaking of the new Fireline solutions, Dr David Schmedding, chief technology and sales officer at HEIDELBERG, says: “In the industrial printing context, efficient and highly automated post-press operations are vital if production departments are to process a large number of highly diverse orders efficiently and ensure the profitability of digital print production.
“That makes our new Fireline post-press solution a key addition to the HEIDELBERG digital ecosystem, taking us a big step closer to end-to-end print production.”
Ricoh will be presenting an expansive portfolio of inkjet and sheetfed solutions at the show. Ricoh’s Pro VC80000, Pro VC40000, and Pro C9500 technologies will all be demonstrated at the Japanese manufacturer’s stand.
Ricoh will also host an interactive presentation of its Pro Z75 B2 inkjet press. At the time of release, the machine is the first B2 perfecting sheetfed inkjet platform using aqueous ink. It offers print speeds of up to 4,500sph in straight printing or 2,250sph in duplex/perfecting printing.
Software solutions on display will include Ricoh’s TotalFlow BatchBuilder, which simplifies and automates many steps in short run digital production. The company’s ProcessDirector will also be on show, a software that uses tracking technology to capture and manage production information and print processes.
The company’s Predictive Insight solution, first introduced on the Pro VC80000 inkjet press, will also be presented on the company’s stand. Predictive Insight provides data-driven insights into device utilisation and operator productivity. Using AI and machine learning, operations are monitored to help optimise hardware uptime and throughput while minimising maintenance interruptions.
Rounding up the tech is Ricoh’s new High Caliper Media Customisation service, a digital print production technology upgrade for its Pro C9500 digital colour sheetfed press.
Designed to enhance the versatility of the press, the latest technology update enables printing on a range of Ricoh-approved paper thicknesses of up to 800 microns.
The High Caliper Media Customisation service has already being utilised by Green Gift Cards, a British developer of environmentally friendly cards. Visitors will be able to see how the collaboration has resulted in the development of cards that have an over 90% reduction in carbon emissions when printed on a paper-based substrate, compared to when printed on non-recyclable PVC.
Speaking of Ricoh’s tech offerings, Eef de Ridder, vice president of Ricoh Europe, says: “Automation has the power to positively enhance every stage of the print production process.
“The increased role of AI and machine learning provide levels of understanding, operational improvements, and touchless workflows that help reduce pressures and increase productivity.
“Building on the ‘Connect’ theme of Hunkeler Innovationdays 2025, Ricoh will demonstrate how automation also continues to elevate hardware and software capabilities and allows commercial, transactional, and enterprise printers greater freedom to competently and confidently expand their service offering.”
Hunkeler Innovationdays will represent the first appearance of Kodak’s PROSPER 7000 Turbo in Europe.
Kodak will be running live demonstrations of the PROSPER 7000, which is reportedly the world's fastest web-fed full-colour inkjet press with printing speeds of up to 410m/min.
Kodak will showcase the PROSPER 7000 with its water-based EKTACOLOR inks in a roll-to-roll configuration with an unwinder and a rewinder designed and manufactured by the company.
The press comes with three print modes — turbo, performance, and quality — enabling printers to fine-tune optimal speed and quality balance for each job. The capabilities are designed to make 7000 Turbo a solution for migrating larger direct mail, commercial, transactional, and book printing jobs from offset to digital.
Along with regular demonstrations of the PROSPER 7000, visitors to the Kodak booth will also have the opportunity to view a collection of print samples produced with Kodak’s PROSPER ULTRA 520 press, which is powered by its ULTRASTREAM technology.
Kodak will also collaborate with partners Horizon and Hunkeler to demonstrate the processing of paper rolls printed on its PROSPER presses into finished printed products. A saddle-stitched catalogue will be produced on a Horizon iCE StitchLiner Mark V, and a Hunkeler paper processing line will handle a demanding direct mail application.
Commenting on Kodak’s offerings, Jim Continenza, executive chairman and chief executive officer at Kodak, says: “We are excited to bring the PROSPER 7000 Turbo Press to Europe for the first time and to raise the bar in terms of speed and production efficiency at Hunkeler Innovationdays.
“This cutting-edge inkjet press helps printers transition from offset to digital production and profitably serve their customers.
“Our PROSPER Presses, using high-speed continuous inkjet technologies and proprietary KODACHROME and EKTACOLOR Inks and KODAK OPTIMAX Primers, help printers succeed in the ‘and’ era of print by providing ultra-productive, cost-effective printing of a wide range of applications.”
Rounding up our selection of exhibitors at Hunkeler Innovationdays is German LED UV solutions provider, Hönle.
The UV LED manufacturer will make its drying modules a key focus at this year’s trade show.
On Hönle’s stand, visitors will be able to see its combined IR/hot air modules for water-based inkjet inks. The module is designed to not only enhance the drying process but also cool its own infrared lamp, thus significantly extending its lifespan. Both drying components can be controlled independently.
The dryer uses what Hönle has labelled its “cassette technology”, which can be quickly removed from the machine in the case of lamp replacement or to make room for an optional UV module, depending on the application’s requirements.
Hönle will also present a selection of its LED-UV curing devices for digital printing, including a world first for the company.
The company’s new UV Scan MACS dosage measurement device will be presented at the show. The solution features a newly-patented measurement technology, featuring Hönle’s ‘macsReader’ measurement device and its calibratable ‘macsStrips’ UV measuring strips.
