HEIDELBERG GTO 46

Conventional dampening.

Quick-release plate tensioning bars.

Bacher register system.

Plus version: ready for numbering.

Accessories.

Visible in Milan, Italy.

Note

The Heidelberg GTO is a legendary offset printing press, introduced in 1972 by Heidelberger Druckmaschinen, renowned for its compact format, mechanical reliability, and extraordinary production longevity. In the 1990s, they were virtually impossible to find, and used Model 46 machines easily fetched 55–60 million lire, regardless of their year of manufacture. The used market for Heidelberg GTOs is extremely active and stable, fueled by the legendary mechanical robustness of these machines. Despite the advent of digital printing, the GTO remains in high global demand, especially in emerging markets.

Origin and Evolution

1972: Introduced to the market as a revolutionary small-format offset press, capable of combining industrial printing quality with a compact footprint.

1970s/1980s: The range expands with 1-, 2-, and 4-color models, becoming the global standard for B3/A3 format.

1990: The Heidelberg GTO-DI is launched, the world's first computer-to-press press that engraved plates directly on the machine.

2014: Official production of the GTO series ends after over forty years of uninterrupted presence on the market.

Main Features

Speed: It reached up to 8,000 sheets per hour.

Versatility: In addition to offset printing, it allows the integration of modules for inline numbering and perforation.

Distribution: Considered the workhorse of hundreds of thousands of small and medium-sized print shops around the world before the widespread digital era.

Approximate Average Quotations

Prices vary significantly depending on the year of manufacture, cylinder condition, and number of colors:

1-color (GTO 46 / GTO 52): These range from € 8,000 to € 15,000. They are popular for commercial work, numbering, or inline perforation.

2-color (GTO Z / GTO ZP): They generally range from € 15,000 to € 25,000 and are highly sought after for two-color or perfecting printing.

4- or 5-color (GTO V / GTO FP): The most recent models range from € 30,000 to over € 60,000, if equipped with Alcolor dampening and a CPC control console.

Factors that influence value

Numbering and perforation unit (N+P): The presence of this integrated module immediately increases the value and resale value of the machine.

Dampening system: Models equipped with Alcolor alcohol dampening maintain significantly higher levels due to improved print quality.

Conditions The copy counter and the absence of repairs on the printing cylinders are the first elements inspected by the experts.