Sade Ofset consolidates packaging production in Istanbul with a single Speedmaster CX 104

From a RIP upgrade to a fully connected shop floor

The transition from fragmented production silos to connected digital workflows rarely happens overnight. For Istanbul-based Sade Ofset Packaging & Label, the journey began with a mundane technical hurdle: an aging Raster Image Processor (RIP) on their CtP system. Facing steep upgrade costs, the Turkish converter opted for a subscription-based entry into HEIDELBERG’s Prinect Production platform. What started as a tactical cost-saving measure has fundamentally restructured their shop floor in 2026.

Sade Ofset specializes in high-quality chocolate packaging and wet-glue labels for national and international brands. Anyone familiar with wet-glue label production knows the headaches of maintaining precise registration on lightweight substrates, typically ranging from 70 to 80 g/m². Material deformation during the printing process can lead to significant waste and press downtime. Prinect’s paper stretch compensation module proved critical here, allowing the company to manage material behavior dynamically in prepress rather than relying on manual press adjustments.

Hardware consolidation driven by software

This software integration laid the groundwork for a major hardware consolidation. Having previously operated presses from other manufacturers, Sade Ofset recently replaced two legacy machines with a single HEIDELBERG Speedmaster CX 104, equipped with inline color and quality control. According to Murat Demir, Owner and Managing Partner, this single press now handles the production volumes that previously required two machines running double shifts.

The efficiency gains highlight a broader trend in the packaging sector: software is dictating hardware strategy. By connecting prepress, pressroom, and production planning into a single data loop, converters can maximize Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) and reduce waste. Jürgen Grimm, Head of Prinect at HEIDELBERG, correctly points out that true digitalization requires the intelligent networking of data and machines, not just isolated software functions. The ability to capture production and quality data automatically provides management with the transparency needed to optimize scheduling and resource allocation.

Looking ahead, Sade Ofset plans to integrate Prinect with its existing Management Information System (MIS). This next step will bridge the gap between the commercial and production sides of the business, enabling a fully automated workflow from order entry to final delivery.

The Sade Ofset case perfectly illustrates how lowering the barrier to entry for enterprise software—via subscription models—can trigger massive hardware investments and operational turnarounds. Will more press manufacturers adopt software-as-a-service models to capture market share in the highly competitive packaging equipment sector? Follow The Paper for daily news, market signals and key updates from the global paper, corrugated and packaging industry. — Sigue toda la actualidad del sector en www.thepaper.ai