The unfolding COVID-19 pandemic is impacting every aspect of society and business. To protect health and livelihoods, much activity has been paused, but shutting shop isn’t an option for many manufacturers – food and pharma packaging converters, for instance. For these key industries, keeping machines running without in-person maintenance operations is crucial, and the answer is to get connected with remote assistance.

New Sakurai inline film wrapping line at ESC
As a specialist for particularly demanding printing applications ESC offers with the inline filming system Sakurai LQM Evolution a time and cost saving possibility for the finishing of UV-screen prints with metallized hot stamping foil for all graphic applications, packaging printing, automotive or plastic cards etc.

Packaging converters are going through tough times. Not only due to the coronavirus crisis, but also due to the high demand for flexible packaging and labels that has been one of the consequences of it as retailers try to keep pace with consumer demand.

AR Metallizing has purchased an EXPERT K5 2450mm for the production of barrier paper which will be installed in the Franklin plant in the USA later this year.

Digitalize, automate and connect: the backbone of packaging production

Close exchange with print shops established through digital interfaces – from Heidelberg Assistant to Remote Service and online training

Global sales and service network with global logistics center remains committed to ensuring reliable supplies to print shops during the coronavirus pandemic
Production in China ramped up again
Health of customers and Heidelberg employees has top priority – MK Masterwork produces disposable face masks

As a manufacturer supplying machinery to the food and pharmaceutical industries, Koenig & Bauer Flexotecnica is permitted to continue working despite the current lockdown in Italy

Customer service is guaranteed
Use of modern remote maintenance solutions to respond to service calls
Spare parts are available

BOBST has become a member of CEFLEX (A Circular Economy for Flexible Packaging), the collaborative initiative of a European consortium of companies and associations representing the entire value chain of flexible packaging.

New Press Center generation delivers Push to Stop and an interface to the Prinect Cloud to all Speedmaster models

Hycolor Pro – the new digitally controlled dampening unit
Washup time reduction through LotoTec inking rollers, extended washup systems, and intelligent washup programs
New scalable solutions in the area of printing plate logistics
Zero defect production with intelligent waste paper management
Thoroughly positive feedback from field test customers

Machine downtimes are costly and time-consuming. Depending on the product, printing tests need to be performed before actual production. Currently, the coronavirus or even crises, attacks and other situations in different countries do not always allow application engineers to travel to customers. Schmid Rhyner's support solution, unique for the printing industry, also supports customers in this situation. RedButton is the name of the new innovative online support solution.

Cooperation extended for a further five years

Optimised and tested products for high-quality inline finishing
Joint development project

Focus on the “yellow bar” systematically addresses operator-dependent and process-dependent time losses

Heidelberg User Experience (UX) makes the Speedmaster a modern and attractive workstation
New Intellirun software organizes print production on the Speedmaster using an integrated approach
Other intelligent digital assistants support the operator and control processes autonomously
Machine operation on the go with the Press Center Mobile app