At interpack 2026 in Düsseldorf, HEIDELBERG announced three strategic partnerships aimed at strengthening its position in integrated packaging production, sustainable carton applications, traceability, and connected logistics workflows for the packaging industry.
The partnerships with Pack-Smart, Metsä Board, and the pfenning group reflect Heidelberg’s growing focus on packaging as a key growth segment beyond conventional commercial printing. The collaborations combine substrate development, printing, converting, inspection, serialisation, and logistics integration into a broader packaging production ecosystem.
The agreement with Pack-Smart will focus on integrating industrial inkjet technologies for serialisation, authentication, coding, and traceability into packaging lines serving pharmaceutical, cosmetics, food, beverage, label, and folding carton applications. The companies aim to develop standardised systems that support variable data printing, anti-counterfeiting measures, and regulatory compliance requirements increasingly demanded by global brand owners.
Heidelberg’s collaboration with Metsä Board centres on fibre-based packaging materials and recyclable folding carton solutions. The two companies plan to jointly develop packaging concepts that combine paperboard materials with Heidelberg’s offset printing and converting technologies. Activities will include customer demonstrations, pilot production projects, packaging prototyping, and technical development work focused on lightweight and resource-efficient carton packaging.
The partnership with the pfenning group extends into packaging logistics and supply chain integration. The companies intend to connect packaging production with warehousing and distribution systems to improve material flow visibility, documentation, and operational efficiency across the packaging value chain.