Heidelberg Printing Machines: Complete History & All Models
Every Heidelberg press ever made — from the 1914 Tiegel cylinder letterpress to the 2024 Speedmaster XL 106 with Push-to-Stop automation. 175 years of German engineering, complete model reference, and India guide.
The world's largest manufacturer of sheet-fed offset printing presses. From a single workshop in Heidelberg in 1850, the company grew to define commercial printing globally. Their presses are in more print shops, on more continents, than any other manufacturer. In India alone, an estimated 15,000–20,000 Heidelberg machines of all ages are in active service.
Heidelberg's first century was built entirely on letterpress printing — relief printing where ink is transferred from a raised metal surface. The company's legendary German engineering quality was established in this era, and the brand loyalty it created carried directly into the offset era. Many of these machines are still in daily use in India — particularly the Heidelberg Cylinder and the Tiegel Platen, which remain viable for embossing, die-cutting, letterpress business cards, and specialty print work.
India has the world's largest active base of Heidelberg cylinder and platen letterpress machines. These old machines — some 50–70 years old — are used daily for die-cutting, hot foil stamping, embossing, creasing, and letterpress business card printing. Parts are available from specialist suppliers in Ulhasnagar (Maharashtra) and Kirti Nagar (Delhi). A well-maintained Heidelberg Cylinder or SBB platen is worth ₹50,000–3,00,000 in the Indian used market depending on condition and fittings.
| Model Name | Years Produced | Type | Format | Speed | Notes & India significance | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schnellpresse (Original Heidelberg cylinder) | 1914 – c.1985 | Letterpress cylinder | Various (A2 to A4) | 3,000–5,000 s/hr | The machine that built the Heidelberg name globally. Known simply as "the Heidelberg" in India. Platen design with automatic feed. Enormous India installed base — still used for die-cutting and embossing. | Discontinued |
| Heidelberg Tiegel (Windmill / Platen Press) ★ Most iconic | 1914 – 1985 (UK production to 1990s) | Letterpress platen | SBD: 18×24cm / SBB: 26×36cm / GT: 30×40cm | 5,000–6,000 imp/hr | The "Windmill" — named for its distinctive rocking platen motion. One of the most-produced printing machines in history. Still in very active use across India for letterpress, foiling, embossing, die-cutting, and numbering. Tens of thousands estimated still running in India. Parts widely available. | Discontinued |
| Heidelberg T-Platen (Old Style Tiegel) | 1914 – 1950s | Letterpress platen | Small format | 4,000 imp/hr | Pre-Windmill design. Rare in India. Collectors' item in Western markets. | Rare |
| Heidelberg KS Cylinder | 1924 – 1963 | Letterpress cylinder | B3 (56×40cm) | 5,000–6,000 s/hr | Early large-format cylinder letterpress. Precursor to the later Heidelberg Cylinder series. Some survive in India in older printing establishments. | Discontinued |
| Heidelberg Cylinder (SORM/SORMa/SORSZ) ★ India favourite | 1958 – 1985 | Letterpress cylinder | SOR: 56×77cm / SORM: 72×102cm | 8,000–10,000 s/hr | The large-format Heidelberg Cylinder — the dominant letterpress/die-cutting machine in Indian large-format commercial and packaging printing through the 1970s and 1980s. Still widely used for die-cutting packaging blanks and for flexographic printing adaptations. Heavily modified examples exist in India. SORM model most common. | Discontinued |
| Heidelberg GT Cylinder (Dia) | 1958 – 1976 | Letterpress cylinder (two-colour) | B3 | 6,000 s/hr | Two-colour letterpress cylinder. Rare in India. | Rare |
| Heidelberg MOZ (Multi-colour Offset Zwei) | 1955 – 1962 | Offset lithography (early) | B3 | 7,000 s/hr | Heidelberg's very first offset experiments. Not truly commercially significant — transitional model. Very rare globally. | Very Rare |
Heidelberg's pivot to offset lithography in 1962 transformed the company and the industry. The GTO (Greifen-Tiefdruck-Offset) series — named for the gripper-mechanism offset technology — became one of the most successful press families in printing history. The GTO 52 alone is estimated to have sold over 50,000 units globally. In India, the GTO 52 was the machine that brought quality 4-colour offset printing to thousands of commercial printers who could not afford the larger German presses.
A functional GTO 52 in India today (2024) is still a viable production press for stationery, business forms, short-run books, and pharmaceutical inserts. At ₹3–15 lakh for a used machine, it remains the entry point to quality offset printing for small Indian printers. Parts are stocked by Heidelberg India and available from third-party suppliers. The GTO community in India is active — engineers who have maintained GTOs for 30+ years are available in most major print clusters.
| Model | Years | Format | Max Sheet | Max Speed | Colours | Notes & India significance | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KORD 64 | 1962 – 1985 | B3 | 46 × 64cm | 8,000 s/hr | 1C, 2C | Heidelberg's first commercial sheet-fed offset press. Single and two-colour. Named KORD for Kompakt-Offset-Rotations-Druckmaschine. Established Heidelberg's offset quality reputation. Rare in India — most replaced by GTO. | Discontinued |
| TOK (Tiegeloffset-Klein) | 1964 – 1978 | Small format | 34 × 24cm | 5,000 s/hr | 1C | Very small offset press — A4 format. Used in offices and small print shops. Few survive in India. | Discontinued |
| MO (Multi-Offset) | 1966 – 1985 | Small | 26 × 36cm | 8,000 s/hr | 1C, 2C | Compact offset for office/quick print. Some in India in older commercial shops. | Discontinued |
| GTO 46 | 1966 – 1995 | B3 | 34 × 46cm | 8,000 s/hr | 1C, 2C | Compact entry-level GTO. Popular in print shops serving DTP output before laser printers. Moderate India presence. 1 and 2 colour versions. | Discontinued |
| GTO 52 ★★★ Most popular Heidelberg in India | 1971 – 2003 | B3 | 36 × 52cm | 10,000 s/hr | 1C, 2C, 4C, 5C | Arguably the most successful offset press in history. Estimated 50,000+ produced globally. One of the most common printing machines in India — found in commercial printers, packaging shops, government presses, educational institution print units across every Indian city and town. The machine that democratised quality offset printing in India. 4-colour version is the workhorse. Parts widely available. A good used GTO 52 4C: ₹8–20 lakh. Spare parts: heidelberg.com or Heidelberg India directly. | Discontinued |
| GTO 52 ZP (Zerdruckmaschine — numbering) | 1975 – 2000 | B3 | 36 × 52cm | 10,000 s/hr | 1C + numbering | Specialised GTO 52 with integrated numbering unit for security documents, forms, cheques. Used by Indian government printing offices, banks, forms printers. Some still in service for cheque and security forms printing. | Discontinued |
| GTO 52 V (Varnishing) | 1985 – 2003 | B3 | 36 × 52cm | 10,000 s/hr | 4C + varnish | GTO 52 with integrated aqueous varnish unit — an early inline finishing solution. Rare in India. | Discontinued |
| GTOZ / GTO 52 R (Perfecting) | 1978 – 2003 | B3 | 36 × 52cm | 8,000 s/hr | 2/2 perfecting | GTO with perfecting (simultaneous front and back printing). Used for book signatures and forms. Moderate India presence. | Discontinued |
| GTO 52 N (Numbering and Perforating) | 1980 – 2000 | B3 | 36 × 52cm | 10,000 s/hr | 4C + number + perf | Combination print, number, perforate in one pass. Used for tickets, receipts, forms. Still found in Indian ticket and security print shops. | Discontinued |
| Speedmaster 102 (SM 102 — first generation) | 1977 – 1993 | B1 | 72 × 102cm | 13,000 s/hr | 2C, 4C, 6C, 8C | Heidelberg's first B1 format offset press — a major milestone. Introduced the Speedmaster name. Direct predecessor to the SM 102. Significant India installed base in large commercial printers, packaging converters, and newspaper supplements. Many upgraded or replaced by SM 102 but some still running. | Discontinued |
| Speedmaster 72 (SM 72) | 1979 – 1993 | B2+ | 52 × 72cm | 13,000 s/hr | 2C, 4C, 6C | Mid-format between B3 and B1. Less common in India than the GTO 52 or SM 102 — the format was considered awkward. Some in Indian commercial printers. | Discontinued |
| Speedmaster 74 (SM 74 — first gen) | 1981 – 1993 | B2+ | 52 × 74cm | 13,000 s/hr | 2C, 4C, 5C, 6C | B2+ format press. Became very popular globally for mid-format commercial and packaging. In India, the SM 74 and its successor the CD 74 were important presses for packaging and mid-size commercial printers. Precursor to the current SX 74. | Discontinued |
The SM (Speedmaster) and CD (Compact Delivery) generation brought fully computer-controlled makeready — ink zone presetting, automatic plate changing, and integrated colour control consoles (CPC — Computer Print Control). These are still the dominant Heidelberg presses in the Indian mid-to-large commercial and packaging market. A 2000-vintage SM 102 8-colour remains a highly capable, commercially viable press in 2024.
- SM 52 (4C, 2000–2005 vintage): ₹20–45 lakh depending on condition, options, impressions
- SM 74 / CD 74 (4C, 1995–2003): ₹35–80 lakh
- SM 102 / CD 102 (4C, 1995–2005): ₹60–180 lakh
- SM 102 (8C + coater, 2000–2005): ₹1.5–3.5 crore
- All prices are ballpark — actual price depends on impressions, servicing history, included options, and negotiation.
| Model | Years | Format | Max Sheet | Max Speed | Colour configs | Notes & India significance | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Printmaster PM 52 | 1999 – 2012 | B3 | 37 × 52cm | 12,000 s/hr | 1C, 2C, 4C, 5C | Entry-level GTO replacement. Simpler and cheaper than SM 52 — designed for in-plant and small commercial printers. Replaced the GTO 52 in Heidelberg's lineup. Strong India installed base — particularly in corporate in-plant print centres and small commercial shops. Used PM 52 (4C): ₹15–40 lakh. | Discontinued 2012 |
| Printmaster PM 74 | 2001 – 2012 | B2 | 52 × 74cm | 13,000 s/hr | 2C, 4C, 5C | Entry-level B2 press — bridge between PM 52 and SM 74. Used by mid-size Indian commercial printers. Some in packaging. Good value in the used market. | Discontinued 2012 |
| Speedmaster SM 52 ★★ Most popular B3 in India | 1993 – 2009 (superseded by SX 52) | B3 | 37 × 52cm | 13,000 s/hr | 1C–6C, 4C+V, perfecting variants | The SM 52 inherited the GTO 52's role as Heidelberg's primary B3 press. Fully CPC-controlled, faster and more automated than GTO. The SM 52 4-colour is one of the most common B3 presses in India's commercial print market. Multiple generations: SM 52 (1993), SM 52-2P (perfecting, 1996), SM 52-4 (4-colour, 1998), SM 52-5+L (5-colour with coater, 2001). Used SM 52 4C: ₹20–50 lakh. | Superseded by SX 52 |
| Speedmaster SM 74 ★★ Major India press | 1993 – 2008 (superseded by SX 74 then CX 75) | B2+ | 52 × 74cm | 15,000 s/hr | 2C–8C, perfecting, coater variants | A landmark press for Indian commercial and packaging printers. The SM 74 brought true high-speed B2 offset with full CPC control to the Indian market. Heavily specified for pharmaceutical cartons, food packaging, and commercial catalogues. Very large India installed base — estimated 2,000+ SM 74s in India. Multiple generations and configurations. Used SM 74 4C: ₹35–80 lakh; 6C+L: ₹80–180 lakh. | Superseded by CX 75 |
| Speedmaster CD 74 | 1998 – 2010 | B2+ | 52.5 × 74cm | 15,000 s/hr | 4C–10C, UV option, perfecting | CD (Compact Delivery) variant of the SM 74 — more compact footprint, improved delivery. Direct predecessor to the XL 75. The CD 74 UV version was highly popular for premium packaging. Good India presence, particularly in packaging converters who needed UV capability. | Superseded by XL 75 |
| Speedmaster SM 102 ★★★ Dominant B1 press in India | 1993 – 2008 (superseded by XL 106) | B1 | 72 × 102cm | 15,000 s/hr | 4C–12C, perfecting, coater variants | The most important single press model in Indian commercial and packaging printing history. The SM 102 (in 4C, 5C, 6C, 8C, and 10C configurations) dominates large-format printing in India. Found in virtually every significant Indian commercial printer, packaging converter, and book printer. Multiple generations: SM 102 (1993), SM 102-4P (perfecting, 1995), SM 102-8+L (8-colour with coater, 1998), SM 102-10 (10-colour, 2001), SM 102-5+L (5C+coater — most popular packaging config). Estimated 3,000–5,000 SM 102 presses in India. Used SM 102 4C: ₹60–150 lakh; 8C+L: ₹2–5 crore. Heidelberg archive ↗ | Superseded by XL 106 |
| Speedmaster CD 102 | 1997 – 2008 | B1 | 72 × 102cm | 15,000 s/hr | 4C–12C, UV available, perfecting | CD variant of SM 102 — more compact, UV-ready from factory. CD 102 UV was widely used for premium packaging in India. Excellent used market value. Used CD 102 4C: ₹60–160 lakh. | Superseded by XL 106 |
| Speedmaster SM 162 (first generation) | 1998 – 2004 | B0+ | 120 × 162cm | 13,000 s/hr | 4C–8C | Very large format — designed for corrugated pre-print, large-format packaging, and poster work. Very few in India — only the largest packaging converters could justify the investment and floor space. | Superseded by XL 162 |
The XL generation (introduced 2004 with XL 105) represented Heidelberg's most significant engineering advance since the SM series. The XL 105 (later renamed XL 106) reached 18,000 sheets/hour — a 20% speed increase — with simultaneous plate changing (AutoPlate XL), fully automated ink zone presetting (Intellistart), and dramatically reduced makeready times. The "Push-to-Stop" concept (introduced c.2015) automates the entire makeready sequence so operators press start and the press sets itself up while running. Current-generation XL 106 presses are available with LED UV, conventional UV, or conventional (drip-off/LE-UV) configurations.
- Speedmaster XL 106: heidelberg.com → Speedmaster XL 106 ↗
- Speedmaster XL 75: heidelberg.com → Speedmaster XL 75 ↗
- Speedmaster CX 75: heidelberg.com → Speedmaster CX 75 ↗
- Speedmaster SX 52: heidelberg.com → Speedmaster SX 52 ↗
- All current presses: heidelberg.com → All presses ↗
| Model | Introduced | Format | Max Sheet | Max Speed | Colour configs | Notes & India significance | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speedmaster SX 52 ★★ Current B3 standard | 2009 (supersedes SM 52) | B3 | 37.4 × 52cm | 15,000 s/hr | 1C–6C, UV option, perfecting, 5+L | Current B3 press. Successor to SM 52. Full CPC 3.1 console, AutoPlate, Intellistart. In India: widely specified for pharmaceutical inserts, label work, stationery, and small commercial print. Also popular as entry press for shops moving from GTO/PM. New price: ₹80–160 lakh depending on configuration. Official page ↗ | Current |
| Speedmaster XL 75 | 2004 (supersedes CD 74) | B2+ | 53 × 75cm | 18,000 s/hr | 4C–10C, UV, LED UV, perfecting, coater | First XL-generation press. Benchmark for B2+ format quality. Major upgrade over CD 74 in speed and automation. In India: heavily used in pharmaceutical packaging (B2 cartons), mid-size commercial print, and label work. Very strong installed base in India's pharma belt (Ahmedabad, Baddi, Hyderabad). Official page ↗ | Current |
| Speedmaster CX 75 ★★ Strong India seller | 2013 (new price position between SX 52 and XL 75) | B2+ | 53 × 75cm | 15,000 s/hr | 2C–10C, UV option, perfecting, coater | Heidelberg's "value" B2+ press — positioned below XL 75 on price but with genuine XL-generation automation. In India: the CX 75 has become one of the most popular Heidelberg presses for mid-size commercial and packaging printers who need B2+ format without the XL 75 price premium. New price: ₹1.2–2.5 crore depending on colours and options. Official page ↗ | Current |
| Speedmaster CS 92 | 2016 | Between B2 and B1 | 65 × 92cm | 15,000 s/hr | 4C–8C, coater option | Intermediate format — sits between B2+ (75cm) and B1 (106cm). Designed for packaging converters whose work is too large for B2 but doesn't justify a B1 investment. In India: gaining traction with folding carton converters. Official page ↗ | Current |
| Speedmaster XL 105 (renamed XL 106) | 2004 (XL 105) → 2009 (renamed XL 106) | B1 | 74 × 105cm (XL 105) / 75 × 106cm (XL 106) | 18,000 s/hr (std) / 20,000 (Push to Stop) | 4C–14C, UV, LED UV, LE-UV, perfecting, coater | The flagship Heidelberg — and arguably the most important press in global commercial and packaging print today. The XL 106 at 18,000 sheets/hour with simultaneous plate changing and Push-to-Stop automation represents the pinnacle of sheet-fed offset. In India: the XL 106 (4C, 5C+L, 8C+L configurations) is found in every major commercial printer, folding carton converter, and premium packaging plant. The XL 106 5+L (5 colour + inline coater) is the single most popular premium configuration for Indian pharma and FMCG packaging. New price: ₹4–12 crore depending on colours and configuration. Official XL 106 page ↗ | Current flagship |
| Speedmaster XL 106-D (Perfecting) | 2007 – present | B1 | 75 × 106cm | 18,000 s/hr | 8/8 perfecting (up to 16C simultaneous) | XL 106 with integrated perfecting — simultaneous front and back printing at full speed. Critical for high-volume book and catalogue printing. In India: used by major book printers (Replika Press, Thomson Press) and high-volume catalogue producers. The world's fastest perfecting press. | Current |
| Speedmaster XL 162 | 2007 – present | B0+ | 120 × 162cm | 15,000 s/hr | 4C–12C, coater | Super-large format for corrugated board pre-print, large-format packaging, display, and poster. In India: a small number installed at large integrated packaging converters (ITC Packaging, Huhtamaki, Essel Propack). Requires significant floor space and investment. New price: ₹15–30 crore. Official page ↗ | Current |
Every current Heidelberg Speedmaster press (SX 52, XL 75, CX 75, XL 106, XL 162) can be ordered in UV, LE-UV, or LED UV configuration. Understanding the differences is important for buyers — they affect substrate range, energy cost, ink cost, and maintenance requirements.
| Technology | How it works | Substrates | Energy | Ink cost | India application |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conventional UV (UV) | High-pressure mercury arc UV lamps. Instant cure of UV-specific inks and coatings. | Plastics, foil, metallic board, non-absorbent | High (mercury lamps) | High (UV inks 3–5× cost of conventional) | Premium packaging on challenging substrates — metalised board, PVC, plastic sheet |
| LE-UV (Low Energy UV) ★ Popular in India | Gallium/iron doped mercury lamps. Uses conventional offset inks with UV-reactive additive. Lower lamp intensity than full UV. | Coated paper, board, some plastics | Medium (30–40% less than full UV) | Medium (LE-UV inks c.2× conventional) | Pharma packaging, FMCG cartons on coated board. Good balance of substrate range and cost. Growing India adoption. |
| LED UV ★★ Fastest growing in India | LED arrays emit specific UV wavelength. Instant on/off. No warm-up. No ozone. Very long lamp life (10,000+ hrs). | Coated paper, board, some plastics | Low (60–70% less than mercury UV) | Medium (LED UV inks slightly more than LE-UV) | Fastest growing UV technology in India. Lower operating cost, no ozone ventilation requirement, better for operator safety. XL 106 LED UV most popular premium packaging press in India currently. |
UV variants are available on: SX 52, XL 75, CX 75, CS 92, XL 106, XL 162. Ask Heidelberg India for the specific UV option for each model.
Heidelberg produced several generations of web offset presses (roll-fed, continuous printing) for newspapers, magazines, and high-volume commercial print. Web offset is less dominant in the Indian market than sheet-fed — most major Indian web offset operations run Goss, manroland web, or KBA Cortina newspaper presses. However, Heidelberg's M-600 commercial web press was installed in several Indian facilities.
| Model | Years | Type | Print width | Speed | India significance | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heidelberg Harris (acquired Harris Corp web division) | 1979 – 1997 | Coldset/heatset web | Various | Up to 50,000 c/hr | Harris was a major US press manufacturer. Heidelberg acquired the web division and sold presses as Heidelberg-Harris. Some in Indian newspaper and magazine printing. Harris brand discontinued after Heidelberg withdrew from this segment. | Discontinued |
| Speedmaster M-600 | 1995 – 2012 | Commercial heatset web | 630mm web width | up to 60,000 c/hr | Commercial heatset web for catalogues, magazines, and high-volume books. Some M-600 installations in India at large publication printers. Heidelberg exited the web offset market in 2012 to focus on sheet-fed — remaining installations are maintained through third-party service. | Discontinued 2012 |
Heidelberg has had a complicated history with digital printing — they tried, exited, tried again, and eventually settled on a partnership model. Understanding this history helps Indian buyers evaluate Heidelberg's current digital offerings.
| Product/Partnership | Period | Technology | Notes | India status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heidelberg NexPress (Nexpress Solutions) | 1997 – 2004 (Heidelberg owned 50%) | Cut-sheet toner (dry) | Joint venture with Kodak. NexPress was a genuine production digital press for commercial print. Heidelberg sold its 50% stake to Kodak in 2004 — presses then sold as Kodak NexPress. | Limited India installations — high price. Kodak subsequently discontinued the NexPress line. |
| Heidelberg Digital (sold to Ricoh) | 2007 (sold to Ricoh) | Toner | Heidelberg acquired the Digimaster toner press line and rebranded as Heidelberg Digital. Found the profitability challenging and sold the entire digital division to Ricoh in 2007. This is why Ricoh's Pro series closely resembles earlier Heidelberg Digital configurations. | Some Heidelberg Digital presses became Ricoh Pro presses. Legacy service through Ricoh India. |
| Heidelberg Versafire (CV/EP/EV) ★ Current offering | 2016 – present | Cut-sheet toner (built on Ricoh engine) | Heidelberg re-entered digital by rebadging and customising Ricoh Pro engines with Heidelberg's Prinect workflow integration. Versafire CV (colour) and EP (production). Offered as an integrated add-on to Heidelberg offset customers — same workflow, same service relationship. Official page ↗ | Available through Heidelberg India. Primarily sold to existing Heidelberg offset customers who want a digital complement. Limited standalone sales in India. |
| Heidelberg Primefire 106 ★ World first | 2017 – present | B1 inkjet (partnership with Fujifilm) | The Primefire 106 is a B1-format sheet-fed inkjet press developed with Fujifilm — using Fujifilm's DIMATIX inkjet heads in a Heidelberg feeder/delivery system with Prinect workflow integration. World's first B1 digital sheet-fed press with offset-comparable quality. Currently positioned for packaging personalisation and versioning. Official page ↗ | Very limited India installations — investment-intensive. For India market availability, contact Heidelberg India directly. |
Heidelberg India Pvt Ltd
Plot No. 2B, Phase II, Udyog Vihar, Gurgaon – 122016, Haryana
+91 124 439 5000
Service: Factory-trained engineers stationed in all major print clusters. Heidelberg India stocks a wide range of spare parts domestically — critical for minimising downtime.
Finance: Heidelberg Financial Services India — lease and hire-purchase available for new presses. Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) Speedmaster presses also available through Heidelberg India's used equipment programme.
Training: Heidelberg India operates a Print Media Academy (PMA) in Gurgaon offering operator training, press maintenance courses, and colour management certification.
India is one of Heidelberg's top 10 markets globally by installed base. The Heidelberg name carries enormous brand equity in Indian print — a second-generation printer who started with a GTO 52 and has graduated to an XL 106 has an emotional relationship with the brand that few other machinery manufacturers can claim. Key Indian print clusters with high Heidelberg density: Delhi NCR (Faridabad, Okhla, Mayapuri — commercial and book printing), Mumbai/Navi Mumbai (packaging, commercial), Bengaluru (technology company print, FMCG packaging), Ahmedabad (pharmaceutical packaging), Chennai and Coimbatore (educational books, Tamil-language publishing), Kolkata (Bengali publishing, stationery), Hyderabad (pharmaceutical packaging), Noida/Greater Noida (book and magazine printing). The used Heidelberg market in India is active and well-organised — Heidelberg India and several specialist used machinery dealers buy, refurbish, and resell Speedmaster presses with documented service histories.