In a significant milestone for the label printing industry, Gallus Group, a subsidiary of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HEIDELBERG), has announced the global debut of its high-performance hybrid press, the Gallus Five, at Italian label specialist Artes Etichette.
Installed in December 2025, the Gallus Five is already transforming Artes’ production capabilities, enabling a seamless shift from conventional to digital printing. This transition is helping reduce setup times, minimize material waste, and simplify complex production processes—marking a new chapter in industrial-scale digital label manufacturing.
Rapid Transition to Industrial-Scale Production
Within just a few months of installation, Artes Etichette has successfully integrated the Gallus Five into its operations, handling a growing share of production across sectors including food, chemicals, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and durable goods.
Routine print jobs of around 10,000 linear meters, along with repeated high-volume runs of up to 60,000 linear meters, demonstrate the press’s ability to deliver consistent, industrial-level performance.
As customer expectations evolve, demanding faster turnaround times and uncompromised quality, the Gallus Five is increasingly becoming the preferred platform for high-volume, precision-driven production.
Redefining Efficiency and Quality in Label Printing
Developed in collaboration with HEIDELBERG, the Gallus Five is engineered to bring hybrid printing into mainstream industrial production. A key innovation lies in the integration of the HEIDELBERG Saphira UV05 ink set, which offers high pigmentation, reduced ink consumption, and lower total cost of ownership.
Operating at speeds of up to 100 meters per minute, the press delivers:
- Exceptional color stability and precise registration
- Reduced waste and minimal setup time
- Faster job changeovers with no ink leftovers
This allows complex print jobs—previously requiring hours of preparation—to be initiated in as little as 30 minutes, significantly boosting operational efficiency.
A Strategic Investment Backed by Experience
Artes Etichette’s investment builds on nearly five decades of collaboration with Gallus technologies, spanning traditional flexographic systems to advanced digital solutions.
Following installations of:
- Gallus Labelfire presses (2018, 2022)
- Europe’s first Gallus One (2024)
…the addition of the Gallus Five represents a strategic step forward in scaling digital production.
The press reached full operational capacity within weeks and now runs two shifts per day (approximately 15 hours), highlighting both strong demand and operational reliability.
Driving the Future of Hybrid Printing
The Gallus Five is designed under Gallus’ System to Compose concept, offering modular flexibility that allows converters to scale and adapt without disrupting existing workflows.
This installation underscores a broader industry shift—where hybrid printing is no longer a niche innovation but a fully viable, industrial production solution.
As the global label market continues to grow—particularly in regions like Italy, where it is valued at approximately USD 2 billion—technologies like the Gallus Five are poised to play a critical role in enabling smarter, faster, and more sustainable printing operations.