Gallus Introduces New Automation Control Panel, Labelfire Hybrid, & More

Over the past month, Gallus Group, a subsidiary of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, made several new product and service announcements intended to support the long-term success and growth of the label and package printing and converting industry.

• A new HEIDELBERG Customer Portal was introduced to drive automation, solve labor shortages and unlock significant production efficiencies of up to 35% for printers and converters.
• A new digital printing unit (DPU) that turns a Gallus ECS 340 into a hybrid Gallus Labelfire 340.
• A new inkjet label printing and converting system — Gallus One with Converting — that provides inline flexo and die cutting.

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG cited package printing’s annual growth of more than 2% in global print volumes as an essential driver in the company’s continued focus on package printing innovation. Noting that together with label printing, package printing is an important core area for Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG.

In a written statement, Dario Urbinati, CEO, of Gallus Group, comments, “We are committed to being in touch with the market and forecasting, and then responding to, likely trends that could impact our customers and brands. As a result, Gallus and Heidelberg are committed to leading the new digital transformation – driving ‘smart, connected printing’ to unlock revolutionary levels of production automation and manufacturing efficiencies. Key to solving the labor issues of today, this will enable customers to reduce costs and increase both profitability and sustainability.”

To further drive the labels and packaging industry’s “digital transformation” and help solve current labor shortages and increases in costs, Gallus also unveiled a new HEIDELBERG Customer Portal (HCP) that automates almost every customer touchpoint. In what the company calls an industry-first announcement, future iterations of the solution will also provide predictive capabilities utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to provide recommendations to increase productivity, reduce maintenance, and boost profitability. The new platform is expected to save customers, on average, up to 35% in both time and money.

In further pursuit of a total cost of ownership (TCO) advantage for label production, Gallus also launched its new Gallus One with Converting, hot on the heels of the North American debut of the Gallus One — 4C+W. That Gallus One was shown with a Prati offline finishing unit at Heidelberg’s Summer Innovation Showcase, held in June 2023.

The new Gallus One with Converting brings everything inline and features a digital printer with an inline flexo station, a semi-rotary die cutter that can change jobs within one minute and process up to 70 meters per minute, and vision inspection systems to ensure the highest level of quality and minimize waste.

Dario Urbinati, CEO, Gallus Group welcomes customers, partners and brand owners to the company’s 100th-anniversary celebration at the new Gallus Experience Center in St. Gallen, Switzerland. The company's new products and services are expected to make their North American debuts at the upcoming PRINTING United Expo to be held October 18-20, 2023, in Atlanta. | Credit: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG

The Gallus One with Converting made its global debut during a 100th-anniversary celebration at the new Gallus Experience Center in St. Gallen, Switzerland. For those who couldn’t make it to Switzerland for Gallus’ 100th-anniversary celebration, Heidelberg also announced that it will present the Gallus One with inline finishing from partner Prati at PRINTING United Expo, October 18-20, 2023, in Atlanta.

The North American debut of the Gallus One with inline finishing to be held in Atlanta is particularly significant due to Heidelberg’s connection to the area. In a written statement, Felix Mueller, president of Heidelberg North America, says, “We’re thrilled to have PRINTING United right in our ‘backyard’ this year.”

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG also announced the option to upgrade an existing Gallus ECS 340 flexo press with a digital printing unit (DPU), transforming it into a Gallus Labelfire 340 hybrid press without additional platform investment.

To help label and package printers and converters understand the bevy of label and package printing innovations coming from Heidelberg, Mueller noted visitors to Heidelberg’s booth (B13033) at the 2023 PRINTING United Expo will be able to explore Heidelberg's entire portfolio of people, processes, and technologies intended to support the package printing community.