Hoifu Group looks to premium packaging to leverage further growth; special configuration with 14 units will operate at Yancheng site; efficient inline production, productivity, and service promise key factors in investment decision; demand for specialty presses from HEIDELBERG booming in Chinese packaging market
HEIDELBERG’s Speedmaster CX 104 has earned the ‘bestseller’ tag in its product portfolio, with an impressive price-performance ratio as a key driver of its widespread customer appeal. The 1,000th press in this series has rolled off the production line and is destined for Hoifu Group, a rapidly expanding Chinese packaging printer with around 2,500 employees. The 14-unit special configuration, equipped for UV printing, will soon start operating at Hoifu’s new site in Yancheng, where it will be integrated into the company’s end-to-end Prinect-based workflow. This strategic investment gives Hoifu Group an opportunity to tap into new markets in the premium packaging segment, especially the luxury food, beverage, and tobacco industries.
Investment Criteria: Efficient Production, Productivity, Service Support
By making production more efficient, the enhanced automation and stability of the Speedmaster CX 104 also boosts productivity and ensures consistent, reproducible quality. The tried-and-tested colour accuracy of the press meets even complex requirements when it comes to printing high-end packaging. What’s more, the combination of automation and consistent colour reproduction reduces both makeready times and material consumption.
A comprehensive service commitment from HEIDELBERG also played a key role in the investment decision. “Besides exceptional technology, HEIDELBERG also offers excellent service support that goes a long way toward ensuring we achieve our productivity and quality targets in high-end packaging production,” says Hoifu Group Chairman Ou Shun Chou, during acceptance testing for the new Speedmaster CX 104 at the HEIDELBERG production site in Shanghai.
“The Speedmaster CX 104 is our global bestseller, and special long configurations – particularly for premium packaging production – are a HEIDELBERG specialty,” reveals Dr. David Schmedding, Chief Technology & Sales Officer at HEIDELBERG. Long presses combine a whole host of different processes in a single inline operation, meaning end products are available faster and the logistical outlay is minimised.
Especially in the crucial Chinese packaging market, HEIDELBERG is seeing booming interest in such specialty presses, which print shops can use to meet the demand for high-finish packaging in-house. Besides state-of-the-art technology with integrated solutions, customers also expect first-class service, including a reliable supply of consumables and spare parts. “The HEIDELBERG ecosystem offers all these things. It also means we can build on our strong position in the crucial Chinese market and the Asia-Pacific region as a whole,” adds Schmedding.
Third Speedmaster CX 104 at Yancheng Facility
Founded in 1996, Hoifu Group rapidly emerged as a prominent producer of high-end packaging. The company remains on a growth trajectory, and its latest investment marks a key step toward modernising production operations for high-end packaging. Once commissioned, the new acquisition will be one of three Speedmaster CX 104 presses in the Yancheng site’s production department. The company also operates HEIDELBERG sheetfed offset systems at other sites.
