Ravensburger Group, the German jigsaw puzzle and games manufacturer, has installed an HP Indigo 18K press to expand its digital printing capabilities and enhance the production of personalised and short-run puzzles.
The B2-format press, equipped with five ink cartridges and capable of printing up to 4600 sheets per hour, supports a range of applications across Ravensburger’s product portfolio. It is primarily being used for personalised photo puzzles.
Alongside its core product range, Ravensburger is also experiencing growing interest in limited editions, 3D puzzles, and custom shapes – including round, square, and motif designs. The company is further exploring digital enhancements such as augmented reality features and UV-active, glow-in-the-dark colours, expanding the interactive potential of its puzzles.
In preparation for the holiday season, Ravensburger is producing a high volume of individually designed puzzles, each accompanied by matching packaging. The surge in demand led the company to conduct an extensive review of digital printing technologies before selecting the HP Indigo 18K.
The company evaluated the press’s capabilities during a visit to the HP Graphic Experience Center in Barcelona, where it assessed print quality achieved through HP’s Liquid Electro Photography (LEP) technology. The system delivers offset-comparable results with the added agility of digital production.
According to Kai Linsner, director of operations at Ravensburger, the HP Indigo 18K offers both production performance and creative flexibility. “The HP Indigo 18K not only provides the quality and speed we need for our puzzles but also opens up innovative possibilities for other product categories,” Mr Linsner said.
The versatility of the press, including its compatibility with various substrates such as foil and foil-laminated materials, is expected to support Ravensburger’s continued development of new and personalised products beyond puzzles and packaging.
