IPIA sets date for key networking event
More than 130 print professionals are expected to attend the IPIA Annual Networking Lunch on June 18th in Birmingham
HEIDELBERG UK hosted an open day event, showcasing solutions including its Prinect intelligent workflow system and its Jetfire 50 digital inkjet press
HEIDELBERG UK’s headquarters played host to an expansive open day this week, demonstrating a range of the print press manufacturer’s latest machinery and software solutions.
The HEIDELBERG Jetfire 50 digital inkjet press took centre stage at HEIDELBERG's ‘BEYOND THE MACHINE’ event, held at the Stockley Park Showroom on March 25th.
Customers from across the UK, Ireland, and the Nordics experienced the Jetfire 50 in operation within a fully integrated, real-world production environment.
The event was designed to demonstrate how the Jetfire 50, along with other digital presses including HEIDELBERG’s Versafire LP and LV, operate seamlessly with the company’s Prinect intelligent workflow system, orchestrating each stage of print production from job submission to finished output.
The Jetfire 50 was presented as part of a live production setup already delivering measurable results, allowing visitors to see the Prinect workflow automation in direct action with the press.
During the event, attendees saw how HEIDELBERG’s workflow tools can automatically coordinate job preparation, scheduling, and production processes with minimal manual intervention.
The machine was also opened up to allow attendees to see its inner workings, with a number of experts on hand to provide further details and context.
Alongside these core demonstrations, guest speakers at the event included Rob Cross from Micropress Printers, one of the UK’s largest independent commercial printing companies, who spoke about how the company is integrating HEIDELBERG’s automation software to transform its production.
Micropress, who already utilise an array of HEIDELBERG Speedmaster litho presses, recently became the first in the UK to install the Jetfire 50 in order to boost its short-run digital capacity.
Micropress was also the first in the UK to install HEIDELBERG’s latest Speedmaster XL 106-8P, as part of a recent £5m investment programme.
The event also played host to a talk updating customers on HEIDELBERG’s Prinect Touch Free solution, which is designed to fully automate decision-making processes within print workflows.
While early-adopter sites began integrations in late 2024 and 2025, Prinect Touch Free will become more widely available to the broader UK market by 2026.
Recent updates to Touch Free which were discussed included the full integration of an AI ‘chatbot’, a wider rollout to support the recently released Jetfire 75, and a number of new modular workflow components that use real-time data and AI to eliminate manual pre-press and scheduling tasks.
Speaking about the aim of the BEYOND THE MACHINE event, Ryan Miles, managing director of HEIDELBERG UK, says: “Our goal is to move the conversation beyond the hardware.
“While print quality remains critical, true competitive advantage today comes from a fully connected ecosystem that drives productivity, flexibility, and profitability.”
