Heidelberg delivers SHIFT in tempo
Heidelberg Home of Print in Wiesloch-Walldorf, Germany, has recently played host to SHIFT 2026: a two-day ‘digitalisation and AI summit’ focusing on AI-based automation, hybrid print production, and the integration of robotics into the printing industry.
Dr. David Schmedding, CSO at HEIDELBERG, says: “The high level of interest in SHIFT this year shows just how strongly the topics of digitalisation and AI are shaping the industry. The need for information and exchange regarding current trends and solutions among market participants in this field is growing continuously. And HEIDELBERG supports its customers as a reliable partner on their journey into the digital future.”
The event brought together over 300 specialists and executives, customers, technology partners, and industry experts from some 30 different countries. Pre-selected real-world examples demonstrated the potential of comprehensive digitisation and data-driven system integration for ensuring the future viability of print shops and the event showcased AI-supported production planning, autonomous workflows, data ecosystems, the Jetfire 50 industrial digital printing system, robotics, and the increasing integration of AI agents into business and production processes.
Naturally, the real world examples being shown typically featured HEIDELBERG technology, but the over-arching context was to help to demonstrate just how far the industry has already come…and just how much opportunity in this space still lies ahead.
Jürgen Grimm, Head of the Prinect Business Unit and AI Coordinator at HEIDELBERG, explained which tools HEIDELBERG uses to support its customers on this journey. The new Prinect Touch Free workflow plays a key role, largely automating production planning and manufacturing through clearly defined data and target values. Building on many years of experience with intelligent control mechanisms in the printing press, HEIDELBERG is now applying these principles to complete production workflows. AI-supported applications range from the AI chatbot on the HEIDELBERG Portal, which provides quick assistance with workflow questions, to automated job bundling and the selection of the most cost-effective production path in hybrid printing environments.
Especially in light of rising order volumes coupled with declining print runs, this form of automation opens up new potential for productivity, efficiency, and growth for print shops. Grimm says: “For HEIDELBERG, the primary focus when using artificial intelligence is on tangible customer benefits. The goal is to reduce the workload on employees, make processes more predictable, and significantly increase the level of automation in print shops.”
SHIFT 2026 also demonstrated that robotics is increasingly finding its way into industrial print production. Andreas Reichert from the startup Lunes Robotics offered a glimpse into the future, emphasising both the potential and importance of new robotics technologies in light of the growing shortage of skilled workers: “The development of so-called humanoid robots is still in its infancy. However, the fact that there will be a shortage of 6.1 million workers in the U.S. and as many as 7 million in Europe over the next few years is driving progress forward.”
