Heidelberg Is No Longer Just About Printing Presses · Elke Steinbach · Heidelberg · FLOW 2026
Everybody knows Heidelberg for its printing presses. But the future of Heidelberg is about much more than printing.
At FLOW 2026 in Bad Hersfeld, INKISH’s Morten Reitoft meets Elke Steinbach from Heidelberg to discuss the company’s evolving role as a complete systems provider, connecting printing presses, software, robotics, and logistics into one integrated production environment.
Heidelberg has pursued end-to-end workflow integration for more than two decades, but the ambition now extends well beyond traditional prepress and press operations. With Prinect, robotic solutions, and increasing attention to intralogistics and material handling, Heidelberg wants to eliminate the gaps that still exist between individual production processes.
And there’s a very practical reason for this development: finding skilled employees is becoming increasingly difficult, particularly in Europe and other industrialized markets. Automation isn’t simply about replacing manual tasks. It’s about creating reliable, efficient production environments where people and technology work together.
Elke also explains why openness is essential. Just as Prinect can integrate equipment from different manufacturers, Heidelberg’s approach to robotics and workflow automation recognizes that most printing companies operate mixed production environments.
The conversation also touches on Heidelberg’s successful SHIFT event, the importance of bringing industry professionals together, and why real-world examples and knowledge sharing are becoming increasingly valuable.
Perhaps the biggest message is that Heidelberg no longer sees the printing press as the center of everything. The entire production process — from incoming materials and data to finished products and logistics — must function as one connected system.
A conversation about Heidelberg’s transformation, the growing importance of robotics, and what it really takes to build the smart printing factory of the future.
Recorded at FLOW 2026 · Bad Hersfeld, Germany · INKISH
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Thu November 5th
AI Won't Save Your Print Business If Your Dat...
Can you name your 20 most profitable printing jobs from the past six months? If not, you might have a bigger problem than outdated software. At FLOW 2026 in Bad Hersfeld, Pat McGrew meets Stephan Reiter from CAI Software to discuss why the future of print management isn't simply about implementing new technology, but understanding the economics and processes behind every printing job. With roots in EFI and eProductivity Software, CAI brings together an extensive portfolio of MIS, ERP, web-to-print, and workflow solutions serving printing companies of every size, from small businesses to multinational enterprises. But Stephan challenges the traditional way printers approach software investments. Rather than starting with a list of desired features, he asks fundamental business questions: Which jobs actually make money? How much capital is tied up in unused inventory? Where are employees spending time on unnecessary manual processes? CAI uses time-and-motion studies to examine workflows, often tracing completed invoices backward through production, estimating, and order entry to uncover hidden inefficiencies. And what about artificial intelligence? While CAI is developing AI-powered capabilities for onboarding, estimating, migration, and reporting, Stephan is clear that AI alone cannot solve structural problems. Without accurate data and well-defined processes, even the most sophisticated technology will struggle to deliver meaningful results. The conversation also explores why printing companies should reconsider legacy MIS installations that may have served them well for years but no longer reflect their business needs. With changing customer expectations, increasing automation, and growing competitive pressure, Stephan argues that printers need to understand their profitability and rethink how their entire business operates. A thought-provoking conversation about the real value of MIS, the limitations of AI, and why the printing companies that understand their numbers may be the ones best prepared for the future. Recorded at FLOW 2026 · Bad Hersfeld, Germany · INKISH