Breaking drupa news does not come much bigger that this. Heidelberg will start selling Canon-sourced inkjet sheetfed presses to thrust itself into the mainstream digital market in all formats from B3 to B2. The B2 format inkjet press is scheduled for commercial release in Q4 2025.
Canon's Senior Vice President Production Printing Products, Peter Wolff, addresses the world's trade media at the Heidelberg press conference
Canon and Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg), technology leaders in inkjet and sheetfed offset printing respectively, today announce their global sales and service co-operation in inkjet printing, with a joint focus on supporting commercial print
businesses striving to establish hybrid offset/digital production to meet changing print buyer needs and increase their capability to handle shorter runs of more diverse jobs.
Heidelberg will expand its technology portfolio by introducing an own inkjet product family based on the newly announced Canon B2 sheetfed inkjet press and the well established B3 sheetfed inkjet press. Both presses will be integrated into the Heidelberg
Prinect workflow; Service and Saphira Ink will be delivered through Heidelberg. Akira Yoshida, President & CEO and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of Canon Production Printing Holding B.V, comments: “Canon has channeled significant energy and investment to develop its leading inkjet technology and give customers in the commercial printing industry a clear vision of their future. Heidelberg boasts a unique heritage, an extensive customer base and in-depth knowledge of the needs of commercial print businesses. We are confident that our collaboration with Heidelberg will accelerate the move to blended offset/digital production and enable transformative innovation for many more offset print businesses worldwide.”
The new inkjet sheetfed range will be branded Jetfire 50 (B3) and 75 (B2)
Dr. David Schmedding, Head of Sales of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, comments: “We are confident that Canon is the ideal partner for Heidelberg to support our customers with best-in-class inkjet press technology, backed by deep expertise in digital ap-
plications and business development. Our aim is to offer print shops that operate sheetfed offset and digital presses simultaneously an attractive and integrated service and product portfolio. That’s why we’re excited to be able to offer our customers innovative
industrial inkjet presses integrated in our Prinect workflow to gain flexible and cost-effective autonomous production.”
Currently more than 650 Canon B3 sheetfed inkjet presses have been successfully adopted by customers worldwide, giving them increased flexibility and agility to producea broad spectrum of shorter-run work efficiently and profitably. Building on this track
record, the new Canon B2 sheetfed press promises ideal levels of digital productivity, quality and media versatility for industrial customers when it becomes available.
The new Heidelberg inkjet portfolio is being shown on the Heidelberg stand in Hall 1 at drupa 2024 (Düsseldorf, Germany, 28th May – 7th June). Visitors can see a technology animation of the new B2 sheetfed inkjet press on the Canon stand in Hall 8a, and the
press is slated for availability in Q4 2025.
The new range of Heidelberg sheetfed inkjet presses will be marketed under Heidelberg's own brand names 'Jetfire' and will be integrated into the Heidelberg ecosystem such as Prinect workflow and Saphira consumables.
