Common Heidelberg machine models produced are MO series, S-Line, SM or SpeedMaster series and CD or Cardboard Diameter line of machines. The series or model of the machine is usually the first acronym used after the words Heidelberg eg: “Heidelberg SM 72V” would mean that the machine in question is a SpeedMaster, similarly “Heidelberg MO-V” would mean that machine in question is a MO series Heidelberg machine.

Although available in a variety of sizes the most common are 19”x26” (this was mostly found in the MO series machines), 20”x28” referred to as the “72” Heidelberg model, 20”x29” or the “74” model this was introduced in 1996 as an upgrade to the 72 model, and 28”x40” or the “102” model. The size of the machine can usually be found after the series or model acronym in the machine name Eg: “Heidelberg SM 72V” refers to a Heidelberg machine of SpeedMaster series with a size of 20”x28”

Heidelberg Offset Printing machines prior to 1995 used an alphabet substitution method to mention the number of printing units present on a particular machine. 2 colour machine was written as “Z”, 4 colour as “V”, 5 colour as “F”, 6 colour as “S”. Eg: “Heidelberg SM 102 S+L” means that the machine in question is a Heidelberg SpeedMaster series of size 28”x40” 6 colour press (six printing units present on the press). The “L” means that the machine also has a coater unit. A coater unit with an extended delivery would have mentioned as “LX”

CPC 1.0R only controls plate registration, it is mostly found on some of the older double colour Heidelberg machines.

CPC 1.01 was the earliest press console developed by Heidelberg and could only control basic features like ink fountain zones, ink fountain sweep, circumfrential and lateral register. CPC 1.01 was a very short lived as Heidelberg seemed to waste no time in releasing CPC 1.02

CPC 1.02 launched around 1985 was a significant step up from the CPC 1.01. It provided many sought after features like simultaneous plate registration, ink shut of all units together or selected unit and storage of jobs in cartridge or memory SD card.

CPC 1.03 it introduced CIP technology to the Heidelberg consoles

CPC 1.04 introduced the ability of the press to communicate with pre-press CTP and auto load job data

CP 2000 was a major breakthrough in console technology introduced by Heidelberg in the year 2000. The CP2000 console is a windows OS based machine console for newer generation machines. It is has a very user friendly interface and allows machine operators who have computer operational knowledge to have higher electronic control of the machine specially for the inking and registration controls. It is primarily an electronic upgrade with very little mechanical change to previous models. It also allows the printing press to communicate with other pre & post press equipment via the Heidelberg Prinect system

Control of printing units impression on/off, print pressure adjustment (not on the earlier models), Ink ductor On/Off, Dampening Unit Control, Sheet Counters, control of compressors, Front Lay Height and Margin adjustments and also diagnostics of electronic issues etc.