Numerous visitors already on the first day of the trade fair, many interested customers at our machine presentations, exciting discussions about the future of the digital market – for Muller Martini, the start of the Hunkeler Innovationdays (HID) in Lucerne was extremely successful.
Finally! After being cancelled in 2021 due to the Corona crisis and postponed again for a year in 2022, the Hunkeler Innovationdays (HID) opened its doors yesterday, Monday. Until next Thursday, the Lucerne exhibition center will be the venue for a unique international industry meeting that is all about high-performance digital printing and finishing. The fact that company owners, managing directors, executives, machine operators and technical experts can gain an overview of the numerous innovations and further developments of all well-known manufacturers as well as an insight into versatile scenarios with a high practical relevance in a manageable space and in a short time is what makes the HID with its attractive interdisciplinary concept so attractive.
Why the HID are so important for us
During the pandemic, there was a lot of discussion in our industry about the importance of trade fairs nowadays, whether the costs for them can still be justified and whether it would not be possible to meet virtually. Everyone has their own opinion on this – but with regard to the Hunkeler Innovationdays, my point of view is clear: they are extremely important for the graphic arts industry in general and for Muller Martini in particular.
And for two reasons. Firstly, they are attended by many important decision-makers. Secondly, the focus of HID is traditionally on digital – in other words, precisely the segment in which we are ideally positioned with our Finishing 4.0 and Smart Factory solutions. So in Lucerne, we meet exactly the customer segment that is interested in our digital systems. And that's exactly what happened on the first day of the trade show.
I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly our booth filled up – especially since many visitors to the trade show only arrived yesterday, Monday. Our first demonstrations were already well attended. The great interest proves that we are hitting the nerve of the graphic arts industry with our solutions and that awareness of finishing in digital production continues to grow. Companies are realizing that they need appropriate finishing solutions if they are to take full advantage of the possibilities offered by digital printing.
Two interesting news items
The fact that we welcomed a pleasingly large number of visitors to our stand yesterday is undoubtedly also due to the fact that we are showing two interesting new products. Firstly, we are presenting the world premiere of the
Prinova Digital – a hybrid saddle stitcher that is not only perfectly suited as an entry-level model for digital saddle stitching, but also processes conventionally printed jobs confidently and reliably.
Secondly, we will be showing for the first time the
End sheet feeder/Vareo PRO/InfiniTrim line supplemented with a De-Stacker and sorting solution – whereby the two new systems at the beginning and end of the line ensure an increase in efficiency in softcover and hardcover production of very short runs and optimize logistics.
Everything you need to know about the digital market in a very small space
"Muller Martini has the right feel for the digital market and – as you can see on the stand – also understands that new solutions today need to be developed faster to keep customers happy," says Bill Graushaar of BGConsulting LLC. The American consultant is a regular visitor and has attended all of HID. "If you want to know how to grow, you absolutely have to come to HID. Here you'll find everything you need to know about the digital market in a very small space, and the specialists from the machine manufacturers have plenty of time to answer your questions." Bill Graushaar therefore regrets that more American customers did not find their way to Lucerne and get an overview of the current developments with their own eyes. "Because there is nothing like the HID in the U.S.," he says.
"The HID are 100 percent reflective of our business"
The fact that the entire digital world is presented compactly in Lucerne, from software to printing to finishing, also fascinates David Button. "We don't have to reel off countless miles to see what we want, as we do at drupa," says the Managing Director of Muller Martini customer 4 Edge Limited in Hockley, England. "HID is 100 percent reflective of our business."
Sergio Nobile also sees it that way. "We experience a lot of inspiration in a very small space," says the Managing Director and Delegate of the Board of Edubook in Merenschwand in the Swiss canton of Aargau. The company, which is fully focused on digital printing, will commission a new Vareo PRO perfect binder from Muller Martini next May to boost productivity and expand its product range. Because the HID for Edubook is just around the corner, the entire extended management team drove to Lucerne. "This gave us all a chance to look into the future of digital production together."
"It's not finished until it's finished"
For us at Muller Martini, the HID are also a good opportunity to further strengthen our contacts with the various digital printing press manufacturers and to present our latest solutions to them live and on site. Word of our innovations has also spread to them, and we are pleased to have been able to take over the finishing for some of them for digitally printed products on our Vareo PRO line or Prinova Digital line – true to the motto "It's not finished until it's finished".
With this in mind, I look forward to the three remaining days of the trade show and to further interesting encounters with you in Lucerne!
Yours,
Adrian Mayr
Head of Product Management & Corporate Marketing Muller Martini
Tomorrow, you can read an HID guest blog by Knud Wassermann, Editor-in-Chief of "Graphische Revue".