In response to the market need for long-run folding carton printing for food, beverage, and consumer packaging, with very large format (VLF)/format class 6 sheetfed offset presses playing a key role, and to coincide with its 175th anniversary, Heidelberg has partnered with Manroland Sheetfed to add the Cartonmaster CX 145 and in format class 6 to its portfolio for packaging customers.

The Cartonmaster CX 145 is based on Manroland Sheetfed’s Roland Evolution 900, which Heidelberg is incorporating into its digital ecosystem.

The press can be integrated into both the Prinect workflow and the workflow solutions of third-party suppliers. Customers can access performance data for their press in the Heidelberg Customer Portal.

“Our new Cartonmaster CX 145 makes Heidelberg a full-range provider for folding carton printing,” the company’s chief technology and sales officer Dr. David Schmedding said.

“As part of our growth strategy, we are expanding our range of solutions for the packaging sector and, at the same time, plugging a gap in our portfolio.”

Heidelberg supplies a full range of products for folding carton printing. The company offers packaging customers Speedmaster presses in all kinds of configurations in the 50cm by 70cm and 70cm by 100cm formats, all the way through to the new Peak Performance generation of the Speedmaster XL 106.

Together with its partner MK, it also provides solutions for postpress applications, including robotics. The Boardmaster flexographic web printing system in the Heidelberg portfolio covers the top end of the productivity range in folding carton production.

By launching the new Cartonmaster CX 145, Heidelberg is now plugging the gap between its Speedmaster portfolio and the Boardmaster. The company has integrated all these presses into its digital ecosystem comprising equipment, Prinect software, consumables, and service as well as training and consulting.

The Roland Evolution 900 is a 6B3 large format press that includes new TripleFlow inking technology, providing three separate inker running modes, while the AC Drive promises annual savings of up to 10,000 kWh – or eight years over the lifetime of the press.

It prints at up to 16,500 sheets/hour, takes up to 0.04mm to 1.2mm in stock thickness, as well as a sheet format minimum of 600mm by 850mm and a sheet format maximum of 1060mm by 1450mm.

The new press is available to order from Heidelberg with immediate effect. The first customer installation of a Cartonmaster CX 145 is planned for 2026 and this will be followed by a global rollout. Heidelberg is expecting the biggest demand to come from the US, Europe, and China.

“Adding the Cartonmaster CX 145 to our portfolio is further proof of our credentials as a system integrator for the end-to-end production of folding cartons,” Heidelberg CEO Jürgen Otto said.

“Thanks to our excellent position in the folding carton segment, this new press, too, is expected to be highly popular with customers and generate increasing sales.”