HEIDELBERG Supports Rautenberg Druck’s Shift Toward More Automated Hybrid Printing

Rautenberg Druck GmbH is expanding its digital printing capabilities with the Jetfire 50 industrial inkjet system from HEIDELBERG. (From left:) The two managing directors of Rautenberg Druck GmbH, Stefan Schulz and Tobias Hoffmann.

(IN BRIEF) Rautenberg Druck GmbH in Leer, Germany, has expanded its digital printing capacity with a Jetfire 50 from HEIDELBERG, supporting its hybrid production model that combines digital and offset printing to handle shorter runs, personalised print products and a broader range of customer applications more efficiently. The company, which has more than 200 years of history and around 80 employees, already uses HEIDELBERG technology including a Speedmaster XL 106 offset press and a Versafire CV digital system, and selected the Jetfire 50 after evaluating its technical performance, economic fit and integration with the Prinect workflow. Installed in the first quarter of 2026, the Jetfire 50 has been integrated into Rautenberg Druck’s production environment alongside offset printing, while the company also plans to adopt Prinect Touch Free, an AI-supported workflow designed to determine the most cost-effective production method for each job. HEIDELBERG said the investment highlights the value of its digital ecosystem for hybrid print production and the competitiveness of print shops facing increasingly fragmented job structures.

(PRESS RELEASE) HEIDELBERG, 20-Aug-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Rautenberg Druck GmbH in Leer, Germany, has expanded its digital printing capacity with the installation of a Jetfire 50 from Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, known as HEIDELBERG.

The investment supports Rautenberg Druck’s hybrid production strategy, combining digital and offset printing to meet changing market requirements and improve efficiency in the pressroom.

HEIDELBERG said the trend toward increasingly short print runs, together with growing demand for customised and personalised print products, is creating the need for industrial digital printing solutions.

HEIDELBERG offers its customers a complete digital ecosystem for end-toend production in commercial, packaging, and label printing, a unique selling point in the industry.

The company also said its digital ecosystem, including workflow integration and service offerings, played an important role in Rautenberg Druck’s investment decision.

Hybrid production for a changing print market

For more than 200 years, Rautenberg Druck has adapted to changing market conditions and viewed new developments as opportunities for growth.

The company entered digital printing as early as the 2000s and today offers a broad range of services, from traditional advertising and business print products to complex mailings, folding cartons and advertising technology applications.

Around 80 employees support customers across consultation, design, production and tailored logistics solutions.

Since 2007, Rautenberg Druck has also operated its own online store, printoo, serving customers in both the B2C and B2B sectors.

Stefan Schulz, a member of the management board at Rautenberg Druck GmbH, said it became clear at an early stage that the company’s broad product portfolio could only be produced profitably through a combination of digital and offset printing.

Industrial digital printing for shorter runs

Rautenberg Druck decided to expand its capacity with an industrial digital printing system in response to smaller average print runs and higher demand for customised and personalised products.

The drupa 2024 trade fair provided the company with an opportunity to review the latest developments in digital printing, including the Jetfire 50 from HEIDELBERG.

Schulz said Rautenberg Druck evaluated the Jetfire 50 thoroughly from a technical perspective and then analysed and costed the project with HEIDELBERG experts based on the company’s order structure.

He said the figures supported the investment from both an economic and application-specific perspective, especially in combination with Rautenberg Druck’s Speedmaster XL 106 offset press.

Schulz added that the Jetfire 50’s ability to integrate into the Prinect workflow, along with HEIDELBERG’s service offering, further supported the decision.

At the same time, Rautenberg Druck will continue to use its existing Versafire CV from HEIDELBERG, which offers a banner format and brochure finisher.

The toner-based printing system provides a wide range of media options and the use of spot colours, creating additional design possibilities for specific print products.

Integrating Jetfire 50 into hybrid production

The Jetfire 50 was installed at Rautenberg Druck’s Leer site in the first quarter of 2026.

Schulz said the company prepared carefully for the installation through training and infrastructure adjustments to ensure the inkjet technology could be optimally integrated into its production environment alongside offset printing.

Rautenberg Druck also reviewed established processes in advance, particularly in prepress, to make full use of the Jetfire 50’s potential from the start.

The company has also expanded the use of process automation through the Prinect workflow.

Automation is becoming increasingly important as print production becomes more fragmented and job structures become more complex.

Rautenberg Druck also has high expectations for the new Prinect Touch Free workflow, which uses artificial intelligence to manage hybrid production combining digital and offset printing.

The workflow determines, based on data, which production method is most cost-effective for each job.

Rautenberg Druck plans to move to the new workflow in the coming months.

Dr. David Schmedding, Chief Sales and Service Officer at HEIDELBERG, said Rautenberg Druck’s investment in a Jetfire 50 shows that HEIDELBERG’s digital ecosystem is helping demonstrate the benefits of hybrid print production to the market.

He said the combination of industrial digital printing solutions with modern offset presses can significantly increase the competitiveness of print shops.

HEIDELBERG said it offers customers a complete digital ecosystem for end-to-end production in commercial, packaging and label printing, which the company describes as a unique selling point in the industry.

Video: Jetfire 50 at Rautenberg

About HEIDELBERG

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HEIDELBERG) is a leading technology company that has stood for innovation, quality, and reliability in mechanical engineering worldwide for more than 175 years. With a clear focus on growth, HEIDELBERG—as a full-service provider and systems integrator—is driving further development in its core areas of packaging and digital printing, software solutions, and the lifecycle business with service and consumables, enabling customers to achieve maximum productivity and efficiency. Building on decades of industry and systems expertise, the company is also strategically tapping into new markets in the fields of security, energy, charging infrastructure, and industrial system solutions—with clear scaling capabilities and attractive growth prospects. Thanks to a strong international presence in approximately 170 countries, the creativity and expertise of its roughly 9,500 employees, its own production facilities in Europe, China, and the U.S., and one of the largest global sales and service networks, the company is well positioned globally.

Important note

This press release contains forward-looking statements based on assumptions and estimates made by the management of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft. Although management believes these assumptions and estimates to be accurate, actual future developments and results may differ significantly from these assumptions and estimates due to a variety of factors. These factors may include, for example, changes in the overall economic situation, exchange rates, and interest rates, as well as changes within the graphic arts industry. Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft makes no warranty and assumes no liability that future developments and actual results will correspond to the assumptions and estimates expressed in this press release.

Media Contact:

Matthias Hartung
Press Officer – Corporate, Print Systems and Technology
Tel.: +49 (0)6222 82 67174
Email: matthias.hartung@heidelberg.com

SOURCE: Heidelberger