Heidelberg Unveils New ‘Home of Print’ in Marietta: A Blueprint for the Future of Print Media

MARIETTA, Ga. — Marking a significant milestone in its 176-year history, Heidelberg USA officially opened the doors to its state-of-the-art Print Media Center Americas—affectionately dubbed the "Home of Print"—in Marietta, Georgia. The grand opening event drew nearly 200 industry leaders, global executives, customers, and trade media representatives for a multi-day immersion into the future of print manufacturing, advanced workflow integration, and workforce development.

The relocation from Kennesaw, where the company operated for 32 years, represents much more than a simple change of address. According to company leadership, the purpose-built facility is a strategic answer to the evolving challenges of the printing industry, designed from the ground up to foster collaboration, tackle chronic labor shortages, and showcase fully integrated print solutions.

Main Facts

The newly inaugurated facility spans a meticulously planned layout designed to optimize both customer experience and technical training. Key highlights of the Marietta campus include:

• Strategic Purpose-Built Layout: Fifty percent of the facility is dedicated directly to customers, while 25 percent of the total space is utilized as a premier training ground for North American technicians and print service providers.
• Cutting-Edge Zones: The campus features a comprehensive demonstration lab housing Heidelberg’s flagship machinery, alongside a dedicated data lab that offers customers transparent, actionable insights into their personalized operational metrics.
• Landmark Technology Commitments: During the grand opening festivities, Heidelberg secured multiple equipment orders, most notably a landmark agreement with Mississauga, Ontario-based CJ Graphics for the very first North American installation of the Heidelberg Jetfire 50 inkjet press.
• Global Footprint: The event underscored Heidelberg’s massive international scale, highlighting a global network comprising more than 11,000 connected machines and devices operating across 250 locations in 170 countries.

Chronology of Events

The grand opening unfolded over an intensive, high-energy schedule that balanced visionary keynote presentations, peer-to-peer panel discussions, and hands-on technological demonstrations.

Day One: The "Voices of Print" and Strategic Insights

The opening evening commenced with a high-profile keynote panel titled "Voices of Print." Moderated to draw out authentic operational experiences, the panel featured four prominent industry leaders:

• Jim Singer, President and CEO of Broadnax 21C Printers (Dallas, TX)
• Mark Glendenning, Owner and CEO of Inland Label and Marketing Services (La Crosse, WI)
• Mark Mills, President of Spectrum Packaging Corporation (Orlando, FL)
• Adam Lefebvre, President of Specialty Print Communications (Niles, IL)

The panel tackled candid discussions regarding capital investments, automated workflows, and the industry’s ongoing transition toward smarter manufacturing. Following the panel, Harold Hoff, Vice President of Sales and Service at Heidelberg Canada, conducted a one-on-one interview with Jay Mandarino, President and CEO of CJ Graphics. It was during this dialogue that the historic announcement of the North American debut for the Jetfire 50 was brought to light.

Day Two: The Connected Factory Blueprint

The second day shifted focus toward the macro-economic and operational realities of running a modern print shop. Industry analysts Pat McGrew (McGrew Group) and Ryan McAbee (Pixel Dot Consulting) delivered a compelling keynote address centered on the premise that a high-speed printing press is merely one component of a broader manufacturing ecosystem.

Attendees were subsequently invited to tour the facility, interact directly with Heidelberg’s engineering teams, and evaluate how integrated software solutions like Prinect can eliminate operational silos. The event culminated with official presentations, including a commemorative plaque given by David Schmedding, CTO, CSO, and member of the management board of Heidelberg, to Heidelberg USA President Clarence Penge.

Supporting Data and Operational Metrics

Throughout the event, participating print executives shared compelling quantitative metrics illustrating the tangible return on investment realized through modern Heidelberg technology:

• Makeready Reductions: Mark Mills of Spectrum Packaging Corporation reported dramatic improvements in operational efficiency. Prior to investing in the Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 106, the company’s makeready times averaged 35 minutes, fluctuating between 20 minutes and an hour and a half depending on job complexity. Following the integration of the new press, Spectrum Packaging slashed average makeready times down to just 12 minutes.
• Long-Term Equipment Reliability: Adam Lefebvre of Specialty Print Communications shared a candid industry pivot, noting that his firm had previously transitioned away from Heidelberg for offset needs in favor of an alternative equipment provider. However, after operating the competing press for just four years, reliability concerns prompted Specialty Print Communications to reinvest in a Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 106.
• Inkjet Parity: Jay Mandarino of CJ Graphics revealed that his team spent two years rigorously evaluating various digital inkjet devices before choosing the Jetfire 50. The deciding factor, Mandarino noted, was the near-impossible task of visually differentiating the print output produced by the high-speed inkjet Jetfire 50 versus the offset Speedmaster XL 106.

Official Responses and Leadership Perspectives

Leadership and participants alike emphasized that the "Home of Print" serves as a physical manifestation of adaptability and forward-thinking resilience.

Clarence Penge, President of Heidelberg USA, set the tone for the facility’s mission during his opening remarks to Printing Impressions.

“All companies need to go through a transformation,” Penge stated. “When you ask how did we get here after 32 years of being in the Kennesaw facility? We see the future being very different, and we need to change and adapt to what the future problems are — not today’s problems with yesterday’s thinking.”

Penge further elaborated on the collaborative philosophy driving the architectural and operational design of the Marietta campus:

“So when we thought about a new facility, the concept was we need a new facility that is designed for better collaboration, better teamwork, with the end goal of helping our customers succeed and inspiring people to be the best. The whole industry needs more training, needs more mentoring, and this facility really represents that space where everybody can come together and collaborate… We want this to be a space where [customers] can come, they can test the products, they can see how integrated our solutions are. We want it to be an incredible training center for them.”

Addressing the industry’s severe labor constraints, Mark Glendenning emphasized that print service providers require robust technological support and structured workforce backing—resources that Heidelberg has intentionally engineered into the new facility’s core programming, which features dedicated spaces for apprenticeship initiatives.

Reflecting on the financial commitment required to stay competitive, Jim Singer offered a candid perspective on investing in high-end machinery:

“I never thought I would buy a press that expensive, but it’s paying off in dividends.”

Implications for the Print Industry

The opening of the Print Media Center Americas carries profound implications for the North American print, packaging, and labeling sectors. Industry analysts and executives point to several key takeaways:

1. Moving Beyond Press Speeds to Factory-Wide Connectedness

As highlighted by Pat McGrew and Ryan McAbee during their keynote presentation, acquiring a faster printing press does not inherently solve business challenges; rather, it often merely relocates operational bottlenecks to other areas of the production workflow. Modern print facilities must recognize that customers purchase reliability and confidence, not merely mechanical speeds and feeds.

The Marietta facility addresses this by demonstrating how automated data collection, Prinect workflow integration, and transparent operational metrics can streamline the entire manufacturing floor. By identifying and eliminating "a dozen small missed handoffs," print shops can prevent systemic production failures.

2. Mitigating the Labor Crisis Through Mentorship and Training

With 25 percent of the new facility dedicated to training, Heidelberg is directly addressing the talent gap plaguing manufacturing sectors worldwide. By establishing structured apprenticeship programs and high-level technical training courses for both customers and internal technicians, the company is investing in the human capital required to sustain the industry for the next generation.

3. Convergence of Offset and Digital Technologies

The landmark order of the Jetfire 50 by CJ Graphics signals a broader market shift toward the seamless integration of digital inkjet technology alongside traditional offset platforms. As digital quality reaches parity with offset output—exemplified by CJ Graphics’ evaluation process—printers are increasingly empowered to optimize hybrid production environments without compromising fidelity or brand consistency.

Summary

Ultimately, Heidelberg’s transition to the Marietta "Home of Print" signifies a philosophical evolution for a heritage brand approaching two centuries of operation. By coupling legacy mechanical excellence with advanced software integration, data-driven operational transparency, and rigorous workforce development, Heidelberg is providing the printing industry with a comprehensive roadmap for navigating modern market complexities. As Penge underscored throughout the grand opening, thriving in tomorrow’s market requires the courage to abandon yesterday’s thinking in favor of proactive, collaborative transformation today.