SHERIDAN, WYOMING - December 8, 2025 - Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HEIDELBERG) is turning its "Home of Print" into a global showcase for the next generation of printers, using the first Print Technology World Championship to promote the attractiveness of print careers and strengthen the industry's long-term skills pipeline.
World Championship Turns the "Home of Print" into a Live Skills Arena
In November, HEIDELBERG and the Swiss Printing and Media Association jointly hosted the inaugural "Print Technology World Championship" for young printing professionals at the Print Media Center at the Wiesloch-Walldorf site. The competition was explicitly aimed at emerging talent and designed to draw attention to the relevance of print as a modern, technology-driven profession.
Over two days, participants from Germany, France, Japan and Switzerland were challenged to produce a series of offset and digital print jobs, including finishing, in the best possible quality and in the shortest possible time. The format put real-world production pressure on participants, mirroring the conditions they will face in commercial print shops and packaging plants.
Offset and Digital Skills on Full-Scale Production Equipment
To ensure a realistic environment, HEIDELBERG provided a Speedmaster CX 75 and a Speedmaster CX 104 for offset work, alongside a Versafire digital press. These platforms formed the central "tools" of the competition, giving contestants the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to manage job setup, quality control and throughput on high-performance, industrial equipment.
After an intense contest, Lukas Briggen from Switzerland achieved the best overall result and won the title, closely followed by Germany's Noah Blaumoser and Japan's Ayato Ueoka. The outcome underscores the global nature of print know-how and the importance of cross-border exchange when it comes to training and benchmarking young professionals.
Raising the Profile of Print Careers Amid Skills Shortages
HEIDELBERG is positioning the World Championship as a strategic response to the industry-wide challenge of recruiting and retaining skilled workers. "With this competition, HEIDELBERG is emphasizing how important it is for us to promote young talent in our industry, especially in view of the current challenges most companies are facing in recruiting skilled workers," said Nick Trabold, Head of Print Media Center and Service at HEIDELBERG. We also want to convey the message that printing is both relevant and exciting, so become part of the industry!"
From a participant perspective, the event also delivered on that promise. "That was great!" said Lukas Briggen from Switzerland after his victory. "The 'Home of Print' with its fantastic facilities is the perfect venue for a competition like this. I had a lot of fun and learned a lot too." For training providers, vocational schools and employers, this kind of high-visibility contest offers a powerful format to inspire new entrants and showcase modern print technology.
2026-2027 Roadmap: From German Championship to the Next World Stage
HEIDELBERG's commitment goes beyond a one-off event. The company plans to reinforce its support for young talent with further competitions hosted at the Print Media Center. In fall 2026, a German championship for media technologists will take place at the same venue, followed by the next World Championship in 2027.
Interested candidates up to the age of 25 will be able to register for one or both competitions, providing a clear pathway for young printers to benchmark their skills and gain international exposure early in their careers. The continuity of events is designed to create a recurring platform for the industry to celebrate excellence and to connect employers with promising young specialists.
Strategic Talent Investment for a Diversifying Technology Company
Behind the championship sits a broader strategic agenda. HEIDELBERG positions itself as a leading technology company with 175 years of mechanical engineering history and a growing footprint in packaging, digital printing, software, lifecycle services, automation and green technologies. Securing skilled operators, technicians and technologists is critical to capturing growth in these segments.
By investing in high-profile, skills-based competitions at its "Home of Print" and collaborating with national and international associations, HEIDELBERG is reinforcing its role as a partner to print shops, packaging converters and industrial customers worldwide-while helping to refresh the image of print as an innovative, tech-driven career choice for young people.
For more information about HEIDELBERG's technology portfolio and talent initiatives, visit www.heidelberg.com.