Hunkeler is bowing to pressure and will for the first time allow competitors to take space at the Hunkeler Innovation Days event in Switzerland next year.
The HID has grown to be recognised as the foremost showcase for all continuous feed technologies, except that until now head to head rivals for Hunkeler’s technology were vetoed from attending. In 2025, the last edition of the show, the company permitted representatives of rivals to enter the halls for a limited time, something that had also been verboten.
Now direct rivals like Tecnau, EMT, MBO and Horizon will be welcome in Lucerne. Horizon has been present on previous occasions, partly because Hunkeler did not have a direct comparison to Horizon’s book finishing lines that deliver fully finished books and partly because there has been a strong relationship between the two companies: in the US Standard Finishing has been agent for both companies. MBO folders have also been present as part of larger finishing systems, but not with an end to end solution.
This situation is now changing, partly from pressure from companies showing presses, and partly because Hunkeler has been acquired and is now part of Muller Martini.
The press suppliers point out that there is a significant cost to bringing and running machines at the four-day show and that the event has outgrown its beginnings as an open house for Hunkeler technology.
Exactly how rivals will be participating is not known, or the extent to which visitors will be able to make a head to head comparison – from unwind and rewind units through plowfolders, cutters stackers and so on for continuous feed inkjet or for cutter stackers for cutsheet machines – is not clear at this point.
A systems solution might include a number of different suppliers combining technology to create a bespoke line for a customer, and this change reflects this. Muller Martini will not want to be tightly bound to Hunkeler’s technology but will want to work with prospects on a solution tailored to their requirements.
Global marketing and communications head Matthias Annaheim says: “The future of our industry depends on people who are willing to learn from one another and embrace new opportunities together. That is exactly what Hunkeler Innovation Days represents.”
The company adds: “Collaboration and competition both play an important role in driving progress. Together, they spark creativity, encourage new thinking, and accelerate the development of technologies, applications, and business models. By working together, industry leaders can develop solutions, advance standards, and strengthen the market as a whole.”
Hunkeler Innovation Days takes place in Lucerne, 22-25 February next year.
