Gallus opens new Gallus Experience Centre to mark its 100th anniversary

With the 100-year milestone also marking its official opening, the landmark new Gallus Experience Centre will welcome customers and prospects from some of the world’s leading printers and converters, as well as partners and brand owners, as part of the company’s Gallus Experience Days.

In a presentation, Dario Urbinati, CEO Gallus Group, said that the world population is increasing. Yet, there’s less labour available for the industrial sector, and it will be much more severe in the future. “Gallus and Heidelberg are committed to leading the new digital transformation – driving ‘smart, connected printing’ to unlock revolutionary production automation and manufacturing efficiencies. Key to solving the labour issues of today, this will enable customers to reduce costs and increase both profitability and sustainability.”

With annual growth of over 2% in global print volumes, packaging printing is one of the strongest growth areas in the printing industry. Together with label printing, it is an important core area for Heidelberg.

Frank Kropp, R&D head at Heidelberg, speaking at the event, said, Gallus is an important pillar within the Heidelberg growth strategy. “Printing volumes is estimated to increase from Euro 28-bn to Euro 34-bn in 2027, with the share of digitally printed volume to be around 30%. The share of inkjet printed labels is set to grow at 6%. Digital label printing is the fastest growing segment within the industry.”

(l-r) Ferdinand Reusch, Ludwin Monz and Dario Urbinati

Gallus also used the event to launch its new Gallus One with converting. This solution brings everything inline and features a digital printer with an inline flexo station, a semi-rotary die-cutter that can change a job within one minute and process up to 70 mtr/min, and vision inspection systems. “The Gallus One is our offering that meets the digital expectation - one that fills the gap between the promise and reality of improving the total cost of ownership,” said Urbinati.

Gallus also announced the option to upgrade an existing Gallus ECS 340 flexo press with a digital printing unit (DPU), transforming it into a Gallus Labelfire 340 hybrid press without additional platform investment. “This means that customers are now able to access all the flexibility and versatility of digital printing, with the reliability and precision of conventional printing and further processing technology,” added Urbinati.

“As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of Gallus, Heidelberg is delighted to stand alongside the Gallus team this week – united, as one group. Together, we are even stronger, and have a robust growth plan looking ahead,” comments Dr Ludwin Monz, CEO, Heidelberg. “With labels and packaging now representing 50% of the Group's total sales, the new digital and automated solutions we see introduced by Gallus today play an important role in the future of Heidelberg. As a result, Gallus is an important pillar within the company’s growth strategy, and we’re more committed than ever to its long-term future.”

Besides, Gallus invited two guest speakers, Katie King, consultant, digital and artificial intelligence (AI) and Jack Stratten, head of trends at Insider Trends to share their market insights.

"18% of work globally could be computerised with the effects felt more deeply in advanced economies than emerging markets," says digital and artificial intelligence (AI) consultant Katie King. King gave examples of how AI with big data, insights, smart connected printing, smart education, smart marketing, and smart finance, among others, will all be beneficial.

Future in retail is particularly complicated, said Stratten. In a 30-min presentation, Stratten shared information on the end-customer behaviour, and how they are changing, calling it polarised customers.

26% of consumers spend the same amount on luxury as non-essentials worldwide. 31% of consumers will increase their spending on luxury in the next six months. And 95% of luxury brands in the UK and Europe generate positive growth in 2022.  Stratten further shared: “Let's look at digitisation. 54% of global consumers now value their digital interactions with brands more than their physical ones. It's the first time I've seen that statistic exceed 50%. Globally, a higher value is placed on digital. 61% of US, UK and Chinese customers of all ages say they prefer shopping online.”

Stratten informed that 50% of customers want retailers to become more sustainable. 61% of the same customers are more concerned about cost than sustainability. “I look at these trends all the time. I've seen no clearer data that customers will pay more to be sustainable. They say that they want to be sustainable. We all want to be more sustainable. There's no evidence yet that we will do it. The key is, providing for the end-users' needs without making it expensive.”