Gallas installs more than 10 presses in US

Heidelberg North America and subsidiary
Gallus Group make their return to Loupe Americas (formerly Labelexpo), September 15-17, 2026, in Chicago. At booth 3524, under the theme 'Let’s Connect', Heidelberg and Gallus will show how their technologies help converters move beyond fixed press configurations and build customizable, scalable and future-proof production environments.

With more than 10 new press investments secured in the US since the start of its fiscal year on April 1, Gallus’ modular and flexible label printing technologies, under the System to Compose concept, are gaining momentum in the US.

The North American label market continues on a stable growth path, projected to achieve a steady 2 percent annual growth through 2028, according to AWA Labeling & Product Decoration Market Report 2026.

US converters are translating that outlook into investment, as reflected in the strong momentum Heidelberg and Gallus have seen since the start of its fiscal year, with multiple presses across the portfolio, including the Gallus RCS, Gallus Labelmaster, Gallus One and Gallus Five, installed at US converters in just five months.

One of the most recent investments was made by Hub Labels of Hagerstown, Maryland, already equipped with a Gallus EM 410, two Gallus EM510s, two Gallus RCS 330s and a Gallus Labelfire 340 Hybrid, which Hub was an already adopter of. The converter also recently signed for the newly launched Gallus Five.

At the heart of the Gallus Five is its hybrid concept: flexo and digital inkjet printing are combined on a single platform, further complemented by integrated embellishment and die-cutting modules.

Paired with the new Heidelberg Saphira UV05 ink set, the press reaches speeds of up to 100m/min, significantly boosting overall productivity. Thanks to its exceptionally high pigmentation, less ink is required per job, directly reducing ink consumption and contributing to a lower total cost of ownership (TCO). The inks are also fully LED-dryable, cutting energy consumption and making the Gallus Five a cost-effective option for hybrid printing, without compromising on precision or color intensity. Hub Labels will further benefit from the machine’s faster speeds and wider 17in printing width, enabling the company to compete more effectively across a broader range of jobs while shifting shorter runs from its already established presses to the new platform. This will support them in optimizing utilization across the entire production floor.

'Purchasing the Gallus Five was an easy decision for us,' said Thomas Dahbura, owner of Hub Labels. 'With the ability to color match between flexo and digital processes, we can mix technologies on a single job without compromise, and the little time needed for changing jobs on the hybrid platform is a real paradigm shift for high-SKU work. As a previous early adopter of the Gallus Labelfire 340, which also combined two technologies on one platform like the Gallus Five, we are excited to continue working with the Heidelberg and Gallus team, as they bring their latest technology to the US market and support us, in future-proofing our operation
with their flexible label solutions.'

The System to Compose concept will take center stage at North America’s largest dedicated event for the label and packaging industry. Designed to give converters greater flexibility and scalability by enabling tailored production configurations, the concept allows converters to add, adjust and remove units from their Gallus system as business needs change, offering unmatched compatibility across its product lines.

Bringing the concept to life at the show, the Gallus machine configurator offers visitors an interactive way to explore custom machine combinations, application possibilities and production workflows in real time, demonstrating the full potential of Gallus’ modular platform. At the booth, visitors can 'compose their own masterpiece' by selecting one of Gallus’s various machine models as the foundation, from the renowned Gallus Labelmaster to its latest digital and hybrid models, the Gallus One and Gallus Five – and customizing the configuration to meet their unique production needs.

Also on display at Loupe, Heidelberg and Gallus will showcase its newest Screeny screen printing unit, highlighting its performance, precision and quality capabilities for high-value label applications.

'We’re at an exciting point for the industry, as more converters recognize that modularity and flexibility are exactly what they need to thrive in a changing market,' said Dario Urbinati, CEO of Gallus. 'Loupe Americas 2026 gives us a valuable opportunity to connect with more customers in the US and show how Gallus, together with Heidelberg, can help them build more agile, efficient and future-ready production environments.'

Heidelberg and Gallus look to continue the momentum of the last five months as it approaches Loupe Americas 2026.

'US label converters are increasingly putting their confidence in Gallus technology,' said Clarence Penge, Heidelberg USA president. 'We are continually seeing this reflected in the significant traction across our System to Compose portfolio, from our newest innovations through to our trusted legacy platforms. We’re looking forward to meeting customers at Loupe, learning about their businesses and showing them how our solutions can be tailored to their specific needs.'