It’s almost that time again: Following last year’s successful premiere, Heidelberg is once again inviting the international printing industry to Shift 2026. The two-day event will take place on October 6, 2026, at halle02 in the city of Heidelberg, and on October 7, 2026, at Heidelberg’s ‘Home of Print’ in Wiesloch-Walldorf. The focus will be on the digital transformation of the printing industry, automated production processes, robotics, end-to-end digital printing innovations featuring the Jetfire 50 and Jetfire 75, and the continued integration of artificial intelligence into modern print shops.
With its very first edition, Shift has already established itself as the international Heidelberg forum for process digitization and AI-driven hybrid print production combining digital and offset printing. The event concept combines inspiring presentations, real-world user case studies, and networking opportunities, and is aimed at CEOs, executives, and decision-makers in printing companies, as well as digitization experts from around the world.
The first day of the event will focus on key industry trends and challenges. International speakers from printing and technology companies, as well as consulting firms, will provide practical insights into successful process digitization projects. Planned presentations include topics such as data-driven production, workflow automation, hybrid printing environments, robotics, and the use of artificial intelligence in business and production processes. In addition, several Heidelberg customers will present their experiences with implementing digital transformation projects, including Meinders & Elstermann. The company is one of the pilot users of Prinect Touch Free in conjunction with the Jetfire 50 industrial digital printing system and will report on its experience implementing the new workflow and on the efficiency gains that have already been achieved.
Experience AI-Driven Digitization with Prinect Touch Free Live
On the second day of the event, participants will experience the digitization of print production live at the ‘Home of Print,’ the Heidelberg Print Media Center, at the Wiesloch-Walldorf site. The focus will be on industrial digital printing applications using the Jetfire 50 with inline finishing and the Jetfire 75, both controlled by Prinect Touch Free, as well as intelligent postpress processing, data analytics, and automation concepts for fully integrated hybrid production combining digital and offset printing. The program will be complemented by live demonstrations, breakout sessions, and presentations by partner companies.
“Without digitalization, automation, and artificial intelligence, sustainable economic success in the printing industry will be virtually impossible in the future. Companies that consistently invest in these technologies today will secure decisive competitive advantages. Shift 2026 uses concrete, real-world examples to illustrate how this transformation can be successfully implemented,” says Dr. David Schmedding, CSO at Heidelberg. “Visitors will also gain valuable insights, new perspectives, and the opportunity to exchange ideas with leading industry experts.”
With Shift, Heidelberg has created an industry platform where industry representatives can learn about real-world application scenarios, share experiences, and experience tomorrow’s print production technologies firsthand. Participants can look forward to extensive networking opportunities and an attractive supporting program during both days of the event. Participation is free of charge.
