What the host reports
The manufacturer reports more than 300 participants from nearly thirty countries. Its account covers AI-supported planning, automated job bundling and demonstrations integrating offset and digital production at the Home of Print in Wiesloch-Walldorf. These are statements from the event host, not an independent assessment of the systems or a claim that Chromatic attended.
Our studio take: include an awkward job in the demonstration
An evaluation should include more than a file that follows the expected path. Ask the supplier to demonstrate an incomplete specification, an unavailable stock or a revised artwork file arriving after approval. Agree in advance which cases should pause the job rather than continue automatically.
Look for a clear explanation of the problem and a visible next action. The person reviewing the exception should be able to tell what has already happened, what remains uncertain and who can authorise the next step.
Keep approval and recovery visible
Ask whether the system records which artwork and specification were approved, and how it handles a correction after production has begun. A useful demonstration makes both the normal path and the recovery path understandable.
Compare the result with the way the team actually works before accepting broad efficiency claims. These are Chromatic’s evaluation questions inspired by the report; they do not announce new automation, equipment or capabilities at Chromatic.
Sources
HEIDELBERG — SHIFT 2026: AI, software and robotics in the printing industry ↗
Published October 14, 2026; checked October 18, 2026. Host-reported event account; Chromatic analysis.