Heidelberg to Sell Ricoh Digital Printing Equipment

HEIDELBERG, GERMANY—Ricoh Co. and Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) announced a global strategic cooperation, starting with a global distribution contract for Ricoh’s Production Printing Product portfolio. This agreement enables Heidelberg to sell Ricoh’s latest color digital press, the Ricoh Pro C901 Graphic Arts Edition, as well as appropriate future production printing offerings in Ricoh’s pipeline.

The global strategic cooperation, which includes Ricoh services and support, will start next month. The first markets will be the United Kingdom and Germany, with a phased rollout to follow in other geographies with completion targeted for drupa 2012.

Entering into a global distribution contract is the first step of the strategic partner cooperation between the two companies. Heidelberg’s and Ricoh’s future plans reportedly will include integration with Heidelberg’s workflow solution in the graphic arts industry, Prinect, as well as joint development activities for future printing applications.

As a world premiere, Heidelberg will display the new strategic partnership with Ricoh at the digi:media trade show from April 7-9, in Duesseldorf, Germany.