Heidelberg will be presenting an extended range for 4D printing at In Print 2016, to be held from 15 to 17 November in Milan. 4D printing is the term Heidelberg uses to describe the digital, flexible, color, and personalized printing of objects. The company will be introducing the Heidelberg Omnifire 1000, and in so doing significantly increasing the spectrum of printable objects and surfaces. Manufacturers and retailers of consumer goods as well as industrial users will be able to print objects of almost any shape in color using the new system. The new development complements the well established Omnifire 250 range.
Heidelberg will be presenting application examples from the worlds of sport, aviation, and travel at its 60 sq. m space. Live demos will show visitors how suitcases from an international brand can be turned into personalized one-off pieces, thereby making mix-ups at airport baggage conveyors a thing of the past.
Heidelberg will also use the example of ice hockey to show how end-to-end personalization concepts can be realized from head (helmet) to toe (skates) on a full set of sports gear, and will present new design possibilities in interior furnishings using different design elements from an aircraft cabin.
“Following the huge success last year, we will once again be using InPrint as a marketplace for ideas for showing manufacturers of consumer goods and industrial users the design options and benefits provided by our 4D technology. There are many different ways of cost-effectively personalizing mass-produced items or increasing the automation and flexibility of production lines in industrial environments such as the automotive, furniture, or design industry,” says Jason Oliver, head of digital print solutions at Heidelberg.
As well as enjoying live demonstrations, visitors to InPrint will be able to talk to experts from Heidelberg and find out exactly how they can integrate 4D technology into their business model. As part of the accompanying conference program, Frank Janssen, general manager, Digital 4D Printing at Heidelberg, will also be explaining the 4D technology together with an Omnifire 250 user, which allows customers to individualize packagings according to their wishes in a shop setting.
