A Look Inside Heidelberg’s New Home of Print
By Emily Leonczyk, PPC Executive Director and Vice President
Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to represent PPC at Heidelberg’s 175th anniversary celebration in Germany. More than just a milestone, this occasion offered an intimate look into the company’s bold trajectory toward the future of print and packaging.
With over 1,500 guests and industry leaders from over 35 countries in attendance, the event was both a celebration of legacy and a showcase of transformation. Heidelberg’s legacy is well known—175 years of craftsmanship, reliability, and partnership—but it’s their relentless drive toward innovation that left the deepest impression.
A highlight of the event was the grand opening of Heidelberg’s Home of Print—the largest customer experience center in the printing industry. Designed to inspire and engage, this space represents a new era of collaboration between Heidelberg and its global partners.
Packaging Front and Center
Heidelberg’s focus on folding carton solutions—especially its reentry into the large-format space—was a major highlight. The unveiling of the Cartonmaster CX 145, a large-format press based on the Roland Evolution 900 platform, signals a meaningful return to a vital segment of the market.
One of the standout innovations reinforcing their strategic direction was the Boardmaster (picture above), Heidelberg’s flagship flexographic press for high-volume board packaging. This press is designed for speed, precision, and high-volume output, making it ideal for applications in food, beverage and consumer goods sectors. Its impressive flying job change capability allows uninterrupted production during job transitions, significantly reducing downtime and boosting overall efficiency.
A Rare Look Inside R&D
In an unprecedented move, Heidelberg opened the doors to its Research & Development headquarters, a space rarely accessible to outside visitors. With 850 engineers and specialists leading innovation across disciplines, we experienced firsthand how Heidelberg is reimagining the future of print—from advanced inks and robotics to automation and AI.
More than just a manufacturer, Heidelberg is positioning itself as a technology incubator and system integrator—delivering a seamless workflow, a unified digital interface, and a global service network designed to support printers and converters every step of the way.
Familiar Faces and Service as Strategy
Clarence Penge, the newly appointed President of Heidelberg USA and a familiar, steadfast presence within the PPC community, provided a warm welcome to all. His leadership signals Heidelberg’s continued investment in the North American market and its commitment to supporting folding carton converters with solutions that are as dependable as they are forward-thinking. Also pictured is Heather Banis, Director of Marketing & Sales Excellence—her title says it all. Heather delivered excellence at every turn, offering thoughtful logistics and warm hospitality that elevated every aspect of the visit, from campus tours to experiencing the charm of Heidelberg itself.
Heidelberg’s tagline—“We’ve got your back”—was more than just a message. It came to life in every demo, conversation, and strategic discussion. From predictive maintenance to real-time diagnostics, the company is clearly committed to long-term value creation and customer success. Their robust service infrastructure reflects a simple but powerful promise: they’re in it with you.
PPC Member, Spectrum Packaging Corporation
Among the attendees was Mark Mills, President of Spectrum Packaging Corporation in Orlando and a longtime PPC member. Every day at Spectrum, his team lives their brand philosophy: “thINK Different.” That same curious and creative spirit brought Mark to Heidelberg to explore how global collaboration and cutting-edge technology can shape what’s next.
“What surprised me most was the sheer breadth of their offering. It’s not just presses—it’s die cutters, gluers, automation—everything under one roof. And it’s not just the technology. It’s the people. Everyone here is working with you, focused on finding real solutions,” Mark shared.
“It’s powerful to see packaging professionals coming together to share ideas. We’re all looking to integrate our systems, use AI more effectively, increase speed, and reduce costs.”
Looking Ahead
In a private interview with Dr. David Schmedding, Heidelberg’s Chief Technology and Sales Officer, we discussed what these advancements mean for the North American folding carton market. He emphasized the importance of an integrated, end-to-end workflow and the value of cross-industry dialogue.
“What sets us apart today is our ability to deliver true end-to-end solutions. For the North American market in particular, today’s announcement of our reentry into the large-format segment means we’re closing critical gaps in the portfolio. We now offer all printing technologies from a single source, across all formats, along with a seamless workflow that integrates every component—regardless of the original equipment manufacturer.”
And that’s what Heidelberg’s 175th anniversary celebration truly embodied—collaboration that moves the industry forward. While honoring a remarkable past, Heidelberg is clearly focused on building what’s next—through partnership, innovation, and a deep understanding of what converters need today and in the future.