You’ve heard this before, but Heidelberg says it plans to be “a global player” in digital printing after joining forces with Fujifilm.

It’s not their first digital partnership, and there’s a significant difference between the strategic deal announced last week, and the bold plan for newspaper dominance the German maker talked about after its acquisition of the former Harris Web (writes Peter Coleman).

And that is the word ‘partnership’. Each brings something to the table, each arguably needs the other, and they should make a formidable team.

Heidelberg has previously partnered Kodak – for the NexPress digital system it now owns – and is still in a partnership with Ricoh. Presumably it is thought the two arrangements can run alongside.

Fujifilm has inkjet technology through its acquisition of printhead manufacturer Dimatix in 2006, plus a lot more from its own efforts, while Heidelberg’s expertise in every area of sheetfed offset production is legendary. Did it learn (or retain) anything from its time owning Harris and subsequent 15 per cent shareholding in Goss International – that it can bring to inkjet web; will it live on to dominate newspaper printing after all? We doubt they will bother, but only time can tell, but it’s clear the partnership does bring something to the industry, just as Komori’s deal with Landa will.

The statement ties “Fujifilm Corporation together with Fujifilm Global Graphic Systems Co” with Heidelberg in what is described as a strategic partnership in the area of inkjet printing. Heidelberg gains access to Fujifilm's inkjet technology, and Fujifilm will leverage Heidelberg's strengths in engineering and manufacturing, with synergies expected by leveraging sales strength and global customer service network in each company.

“The alliance has a special focus on bringing next generation products to the attractive digital printing market and gives both companies access to advanced technologies Heidelberg and Fujifilm have in the prepress area,” it says.

Fujifilm chairman and chief executive Shigetaka Komori mentions the “cutting-edge inkjet technology” of his company’s JetPress 720 digital sheetfed press with its rapid pigment coagulation, and there’s no talk about restrictions which might limit web. Currently, of course, Fujifilm is selling Screen’s inkjet web in many markets.

On our homepage: Inside the JetPress 720