Shiro Kondo (left), Ricoh CEO and Bernhard Schreier, Heidelberg CEO
At last German printing press manufacturer Heidelberg is re-entering the digital colour printing business through a global partnership with Japan’s Ricoh for the distribution of the company’s cutsheet toner-based digital colour printers.
“By rounding off our offset portfolio including Anicolor technology with new digital printing equipment, we are providing our clients the combination of best-in-class offset, and now also digital printing technology,” said Bernhard Schreier, CEO of Heidelberg in the announcement release.
The global deal, which includes Ricoh services and support, will begin in April 2011 with the first market integration occurring in the UK and Germany with a phased rollout expected to be complete by drupa 2012 (May 3-16, 2012). The first demonstration of the new partnership will be at the digi:media tradeshow (April 7-9, Duesseldorf, Germany).
“This partnership demonstrates [Heidelberg’s] confidence in our digital technology and the ability of Ricoh to meet the needs of the graphic arts industry,” noted Shiro Kondo, president and CEO, Ricoh Company, Ltd. in the announcement.
The new contract covers Ricoh’s production printing products including the Ricoh Pro C901 Graphic Arts Edition 90 page-per-minute digital colour printer and future products in Ricoh’s pipeline. Integration into Heidelberg’s Printect workflow is planned.
