HEIDELBERG Unveils State-of-the-Art "Home of Print" in Marietta, Marking a New Era for North American Printing and Packaging

MARIETTA, Ga. — In a move that signals a profound transformation in its North American operational strategy, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HEIDELBERG) officially opened the doors this week to its brand-new Print Media Center Americas—affectionately dubbed the "Home of Print." Located in Marietta, Georgia, the purpose-built facility represents a major capital investment designed to streamline customer support, accelerate technological innovation, and serve as the ultimate nexus for print and packaging professionals across the continent.

The grand opening was commemorated through a high-profile, two-day industry event that drew more than 200 attendees, including prominent printing executives, strategic industry partners, trade journalists, and internal HEIDELBERG leadership. Beyond merely showcasing machinery, the gathering served as a forward-looking symposium on the evolution of the print industry, highlighted by landmark equipment sales—most notably the debut North American orders for the cutting-edge Jetfire 50 digital press.

Main Facts

The newly inaugurated Print Media Center Americas is a comprehensive, multi-functional facility engineered from the ground up to address the modern demands of the commercial print and packaging sectors.

• Strategic Location: Marietta, Georgia—a geographic and logistical hub for HEIDELBERG’s operations in the Western Hemisphere.
• Core Purpose: Designed to act as a premier destination for live equipment demonstrations, technical training, workflow education, and collaborative industry engagement.
• Key Technologies Featured: The facility houses industry-leading hardware, including the high-powered Speedmaster XL 106 offset press and the newly introduced Jetfire 50 digital inkjet press, alongside advanced finishing equipment and the Prinect workflow automation software.
• Landmark Commercial Milestones: During the opening event, HEIDELBERG secured the first-ever North American order of the Jetfire 50 with Canada’s CJ Graphics, closely followed by the first U.S. sale of the same press to Lake County Press of Waukegan, Illinois.
• Workforce Development: The site features a spacious, state-of-the-art training center dedicated to upskilling print operators, supporting apprenticeship initiatives, and running structured, instructor-led courses starting this fall.

Chronology of the Grand Opening Event

The unveiling of the Home of Print unfolded over an immersive, two-day schedule that blended corporate vision with hands-on technical interaction.

Day One: Vision, Transformation, and Industry Leadership

The event kicked off with opening remarks from Clarence Penge, President of HEIDELBERG USA, who framed the new facility not merely as real estate, but as a cultural and operational shift for the company. Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, guests were treated to comprehensive facility tours that showcased the building’s integrated layout, purposefully built to merge technical service teams, application experts, and administrative staff under one roof.

A major highlight of the first day was an executive panel discussion featuring four heavyweights in the North American print and packaging landscape:

• Jim Singer, President & CEO, Brodnax Printing Company
• Mark Glendenning, Owner/CEO, Inland Label & Marketing Services
• Mark Mills, President, Spectrum Packaging Corporation
• Adam LeFebvre, President, Specialty Print Group

The panelists engaged in a candid dialogue about how strategic partnerships with HEIDELBERG have enabled them to overhaul their internal personnel, refine operational processes, and implement high-performance technology to maintain competitive advantages in rapidly shifting markets.

Day Two: Hands-On Demonstrations and Commercial Breakthroughs

The second day shifted focus to technical execution, operational transparency, and commercial announcements. Attendees flooded the expansive showroom floor to witness live, high-speed demonstrations of HEIDELBERG’s flagship machinery.

Engineers and application specialists walked visitors through the nuances of the Speedmaster XL 106 and the Jetfire 50, demonstrating how automated workflows can eliminate bottlenecks. Afternoon sessions focused heavily on educational tracks, outlining the curriculum for upcoming operator training and maintenance classes scheduled to commence in the fall. The event culminated with the official announcements of the Jetfire 50 acquisitions by CJ Graphics and Lake County Press, cementing the facility’s opening as both a cultural and commercial success.

Supporting Data and Technological Infrastructure

The scale and scope of the new Marietta facility reflect HEIDELBERG’s deep commitment to providing an end-to-end ecosystem for its clientele. The building’s architecture and internal layout provide clear insights into how modern manufacturing support is evolving.

The Showroom Floor and Hybrid Ecosystem

At the heart of the Home of Print is a dynamic, high-clearance showroom designed to simulate real-world production environments. Here, offset and digital printing technologies do not compete; rather, they complement one another.

• Speedmaster XL 106: A cornerstone of high-volume offset production, known for its raw power, energy efficiency, and unmatched print quality. Packaging converters, such as Spectrum Packaging Corporation, have credited machines of this class with revolutionizing their operational capacities.
• Jetfire 50: Representing HEIDELBERG’s aggressive push into high-end digital production, the Jetfire 50 addresses the modern market’s demand for shorter print runs, variable data capabilities, and rapid turnaround times.
• Prinect Workflow: Acting as the digital glue of the facility, Prinect seamlessly connects prepress, press, and postpress operations, automating data flow and minimizing human error across the entire production floor.

Workforce Development and Training Infrastructure

Recognizing that the printing industry faces an ongoing talent and skills gap, HEIDELBERG has dedicated a significant portion of the new Marietta campus to education. The newly minted training center boasts:

• Modular press components for granular mechanical instruction.
• A fully operational Speedmaster XL 106 press dedicated strictly to training and application testing.
• Advanced finishing equipment to ensure operators understand the entire lifecycle of a printed product.

Beginning this fall, the center will roll out a robust schedule of instructor-led operator training and maintenance classes. These programs are meticulously designed to help print shop owners maximize their return on investment, minimize downtime, and elevate the technical proficiency of their workforce.

Official Responses and Leadership Perspectives

The narrative surrounding the Marietta opening centers heavily on collaboration, transformation, and a renewed dedication to customer success. Leadership and industry figures shared compelling insights during the event.

Clarence Penge, President of HEIDELBERG USA, emphasized the philosophical shift underpinning the multi-million-dollar investment:

"Print Media Center Americas — Home of Print represents much more than a new building. It reflects a new HEIDELBERG and a new way of thinking centered around collaboration. By bringing our people, expertise, and industry-leading technology together under one roof, we’re transforming how we support our customers — building a stronger foundation to help them succeed today and into the future."

Penge further elaborated on the practical utility of the space:

"The Home of Print gives customers and the industry at-large access to hands-on equipment training, workflow and automation education, and application development expertise, providing opportunities to collaborate directly with HEIDELBERG specialists and industry partners to accelerate business growth and operational excellence."

End-users were equally vocal about the tangible impact of HEIDELBERG’s technology and support structures on their bottom lines. Mark Mills, President of Spectrum Packaging Corporation, reflected on his company’s evolution:

"We moved into packaging about ten years ago, and installing our first HEIDELBERG press, a Speedmaster XL 106, two years ago really took our business to the next level. Since it was our first HEIDELBERG press, we leaned on their team and the full range of performance services to help us get the most out of the machine. With their support, we’ve been blown away by the print quality and the sheer power of the press."

On the digital front, Jay Mandarino, President of CJ Graphics in Mississauga, Ontario—the recipient of the first Jetfire 50 order in North America—expressed immense confidence in the new digital printing solution:

"HEIDELBERG continues to prove why they are the leader in the printing industry. The print quality of the Jetfire 50 was very impressive. And when combined with the power of Prinect, which seamlessly connects and automates production throughout our plant, along with HEIDELBERG’s commitment to service excellence, the Jetfire provides a reliable, comprehensive production solution that no other manufacturer can match."

Implications for the North American Print and Packaging Market

The establishment of the Home of Print in Marietta carries significant strategic implications for the broader North American graphic arts community. As the industry continues to grapple with supply chain fluctuations, labor shortages, and shifting consumer demands favoring short-run, highly customized packaging and commercial print products, HEIDELBERG’s new facility positions itself as a critical regional resource.

1. Accelerating the Hybrid Production Model

By housing both the Speedmaster offset line and the Jetfire digital platform under one roof, HEIDELBERG is actively demonstrating the viability of a hybrid workflow. Printers no longer need to view offset and digital as mutually exclusive philosophies. Instead, facilities like the Home of Print illustrate how shops can route long runs through automated offset presses while utilizing high-speed digital inkjet systems for short-run, variable-data, and on-demand jobs—all managed seamlessly through a unified Prinect workflow.

2. Bridging the Industry Skills Gap

The emphasis on a dedicated, spacious training center addresses one of the most persistent bottlenecks in modern manufacturing: skilled labor. By providing structured, hands-on apprenticeship programs and advanced operator courses, HEIDELBERG is directly investing in the human capital of its customer base. Well-trained operators mean higher uptime, reduced waste, and better overall profitability for print shops navigating tight economic margins.

3. Strengthening Regional Support and Agility

By centralizing its technical expertise, application development teams, and service infrastructure in Georgia, HEIDELBERG has markedly reduced response times and logistical friction for its North American partners. Printers visiting the facility can test complex substrates, develop new packaging applications, and troubleshoot workflow challenges alongside factory-certified engineers.

Conclusion

The grand opening of the Print Media Center Americas — Home of Print marks a defining chapter in HEIDELBERG’s long-standing history. By anchoring its technological innovations, educational initiatives, and collaborative ethos in Marietta, Georgia, the company has established a powerful anchor point for the future of print in North America. As early adopters like CJ Graphics and Lake County Press begin deploying groundbreaking technology like the Jetfire 50, the Marietta facility stands ready to guide the broader industry toward a smarter, more automated, and highly resilient future.