Displaying items by tag: Heidelberger

London, December 2010: Butler Tanner & Dennis, the UK's premier colour book printer, can announce a significant investment in new machinery with the purchase of the first Very Large Format (VLF) press of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) in the UK.

The new Speedmaster XL 162-6+L is a six-colour press with coater that will be delivered to the Frome based printer in early January 2011. The Speedmaster XL press range has already established itself as a proven peak performance technology which has been extended into the very largest sheetfed formats. The XL 162 is Heidelberg's largest press. Two key tools on the Butler Tanner & Dennis press are the Fully Automatic two minute plate change and Prinect Inpress Control, a spectrophotometer which automatically sets the colour and register of the job, reducing set-up times and paper waste at the start of production. Prinect Inpress Control also measures and maintains colour throughout the job, ensuring the colour is absolutely consistent throughout a print run. The press complements an investment programme to revamp Butler Tanner & Dennis's printing and binding capability.

Kevin Sarney, MD of Butler Tanner & Dennis, explains: "This investment reinforces our strategy of meeting market demands, including the requirement for shorter run, high quality 'on demand' products. Supply chain cost is also becoming increasingly important. The XL 162s performance, particularly the make ready time, was a significant factor in our decision to invest. Its ability to coat will also provide advantages in our bindery. This investment is another step to improving efficiency going forward, a key focus for the company. We can once again push the boundary in large format printing".
Jim Todd, sales director of Heidelberg, says: "It is fantastic that a company that has put UK-produced colour books back on track should be the first customer for our VLF Speedmaster range in the UK. Butler Tanner & Dennis undertook extensive trials before committing to this press which confirmed that they will benefit from the extraordinary productivity of the XL 162 and that their customers will be impressed by the quality and speed of delivery it makes possible."

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) has extended its product portfolio to include an innovative solution for label production. The new Speedmaster XL 105-DD was launched to an international audience on October 20 and 21, 2010 at the Print Media Center (PMC) Label Days in Wiesloch-Walldorf. "DD" stands for die-cutting.
More than 150 international guests used this opportunity to discover the benefits of the new press through various practical demonstrations and expert lectures. The Speedmaster XL 105-DD is ideal for use in label production, preferably for processing foil materials.

Positioning for the Speedmaster XL 105-DD
Heidelberg already offers two solutions for die-cutting - Varimatrix and Dymatrix. Both solutions are designed for packaging production and are based on the principle of flatbed die-cutting, whereas the Speedmaster XL 105-DD uses the principle of rotary die-cutting and has been specifically designed to meet customer requirements for processing inmold labels. These labels today are usually processed on flatbed die cutters or "push-through" die cutters (in which the punching stamp pushes the material stack through the cutting die to give the stack its intended shape), but both are hampered by limitations, because flatbed die-cutters can only process single sheets and push-through die-cutters are only suitable for labels measuring up to 400 mm. The Speedmaster XL 105-DD press also offers advantages in terms of tool costs, because its delivers savings of more than 50 percent compared to flatbed die-cutters. The makeready times of the XL 105-DD are even more impressive: It only takes around 15 minutes to prepare the Speedmaster XL 105-DD. Thanks to the high accuracy of the cylinders and cutting dies, separate adjustment is not required. With a flatbed die-cutter, on the other hand, initial makeready for the IML takes up to five hours. The production speeds of the new machine are also much faster than the methods commonly used today. While flatbed die cutters reach production speeds of between 4,000 and 6,000 sheets per hour, the Speedmaster XL 105-DD reaches speeds of up to 10,000 sheets per hour.

Technical concept of the Speedmaster XL 105-DD
The new press is based on tried-and-tested XL 105 technology. It is equipped with two printing units, a Preset Plus Feeder, and a foil package for the feeder, die cutting unit, and delivery to ensure that critical plastics can be processed with ease. The impression cylinder in the die-cutting unit is fitted with hard-wearing cylinder jackets. The die-cutting cylinder is fitted with a clamping system that is identical to that of the coating blanket cylinder. The process of changing the die-cutting plate is semi-automated - the clamping process is performed manually, while the press positioning and pressing roller functions are automated.

Suction segment disks, sheet guide plates, and the dynamic sheet brake used in the XL 105 perfecting technology are employed to ensure that the die-cut sheets are transported safely to the delivery. The suction segment disks secure the sheet transfer from the impression cylinder to the sheet guide plates, and these then guide the sheets smoothly to the delivery. From here, the dynamic sheet brake takes on responsibility for sheet transfer, slowing the sheets from the press speed to the ideal delivery speed without any tension. These components, familiar from perfecting technology, ensure precisely-aligned piles without a single blank detaching from the sheet.

Eco-friendly printing is one of the big issues in the print media industry, with a growing awareness of the need to protect the environment. The increasing scarcity of resources and the impact on air, water, and soil are making this urgently necessary, with the focus first and foremost on cutting CO2 emissions. Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) provides support for its customers in all areas relating to environmental protection, thus helping enhance their competitiveness.

Sustainability Report 2009/2010
Dedicated to the CO2 footprint issue, the Heidelberg Sustainability Report for financial year 2009/2010, which has just been published, explains the ins and outs of the topic, its importance in the print media industry, how the CO2 footprint can be influenced, and what Heidelberg is doing to reduce it in press production and the print process. Heidelberg is committed to taking a holistic approach to eco-friendly printing, giving consideration not only to cutting the CO2 footprint but also to reducing and avoiding energy consumption, emissions, and process waste.

Through the example of manufacturing a press, the Sustainability Report 2009/2010 explains what the CO2 footprint is made up of and how it can be calculated precisely. For instance, the materials and energy used in manufacturing a Speedmaster XL 105 five-color press with coating unit add up to 218 metric tons of CO2. Examining the ratio of materials to CO2 emissions provides interesting findings. Heidelberg is currently the only press supplier that uses such a precise method and can ensure carbon offsetting for the presses it manufactures.

The Sustainability Report itself serves as an example for calculating a publication's carbon footprint. It also identifies the aspects that have the strongest impact on CO2 emissions, such as paper and the energy used - factors that therefore offer the greatest potential for savings.

Two customer profiles from Germany and the Netherlands offer a powerful demonstration of how varied the approaches to environmental protection and implementing it in practice can be and how important personal commitment is.

The report is rounded off by news on the environment, business, and social responsibility, and site and project information.

"We have a clear commitment to taking a pioneering role in environmental protection in the printing industry and providing our customers with support in putting this into practice. We see our comprehensive measures in this area as an opportunity to combine environmental and economic benefits. Printing ecologically ultimately also means thinking economically," says Stephan Plenz, Member of the Management Board at Heidelberg.  

Environmental protection along the entire value added chain
Environmental protection at Heidelberg has been an integral part of its company objectives since 1992. The company works consistently and systematically to achieve this aim along the entire value added chain, from product development and production to their use by customers. Heidelberg focuses on three aspects - wherever possible, consumption of resources, emissions, and waste should be reduced or, ideally, avoided completely. In producing the Sustainability Report 2009/2010 it was also made use of the opportunities for conserving resources and minimizing CO2, while the CO2 emissions that could not be avoided were offset. The report therefore leaves no CO2 footprint overall.

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) has completed the restructuring announced in November 2009 and identified further potential for improving efficiency. From April 1, 2010, the Group will be split into the Heidelberg Equipment, Heidelberg Services, and Heidelberg Financial Services divisions. "We are starting the new financial year with a leaner and more efficient organization. This will enable us to also provide our customers all over the world with a faster and more focused service," said CEO Bernhard Schreier. 
The company is also responding to the changing structures in the global print media industry by expanding the Heidelberg Services division in the future, which is relatively independent from economic cycles. The objective is to provide services that will help Heidelberg customers enjoy greater business success on a sustainable basis.

"The new structure has paved the way for Heidelberg to be even more powerful in the strategic core businesses of equipment and services," continued Schreier.

New corporate structure geared towards strategic core businesses and expected market volumes
The aims of the Heidelberg Equipment division are to build on the company's market-leading position in the commercial printing segment, and to achieve growth in packaging printing and the associated postpress operations. The new Heidelberg Services division also strengthens the company's claim to be the preferred service partner for print shops in the print media industry.

The company's restructuring has involved optimizing processes and streamlining the entire organization. This will result in the planned shedding of up to 450 jobs worldwide in administrative and sales.

The slight upward trend in the print media industry has continued over recent months, but no major upturn is as yet apparent. Heidelberg plans to adjust the production workforce so as to gear capacities to the continuing economic uncertainty in 2010. This will result in the loss of up to 400 jobs - primarily at the Wiesloch/Walldorf site.

From financial year 2011/2012, the lowering of structural and personnel costs will result in annual savings of approximately EUR 80 million. The plan is to achieve EUR 60 million of these savings already in financial year 2010/2011. Some EUR 30 million of the costs resulting from these job cuts will be additionally booked in financial year 2009/2010, with a further EUR 20 million to be booked in the next financial year.

"The order situation in the print media industry has stabilized over recent months. The higher demand is still coming mainly from emerging markets such as China and Brazil. There is no prospect of a significant increase in the industry's investment volume in 2010. We are adapting our company's capacities and structure accordingly. As a result, the level of sales at which we achieve an operational break-even result has been lowered once again, to less than EUR 2.5 billion. The objective of this measure is to achieve a break-even operating result for the next financial year assuming stable economic development and furthermore an economic value added (EVA) in all areas of business in the medium term," said Schreier. The company will provide at the earliest an outlook for the new financial year at the Annual Press Conference.

The company intends to negotiate the additional personnel adjustments with employee representatives and the union straight away.

Business at Heidelberg in the fourth quarter of the current financial year 2009/10 is in line with the company's expectations. As already forecasted, sales will be up slightly on the third quarter, which will also improve the operating result. Heidelberg will thus achieve its most recent forecast for 2009/2010 as a whole.

Heidelberg Services
In addition to its proven Heidelberg Systemservice and Original Heidelberg spare parts, the "Heidelberg Services" division offers customers worldwide Saphira consumables, Prinect software solutions - including plate imaging equipment - services, consultancy, and training at all levels, thereby helping print shops to enjoy long-term success. Key focal points include improving machine availability, boosting productivity, enhancing process efficiency, and providing consultancy services geared towards environmentally friendly printing. Customers around the globe have access to the Heidelberg service team, with around 4,500 employees in some 170 countries.

Heidelberg Equipment
The Heidelberg Equipment division offers products and technologies along the entire process and value added chain for print media companies in the commercial and packaging printing sectors. This division develops, produces, and markets precision presses - in the sheetfed offset format classes 35 x 50 cm (13.78 x 19.69 in) to 120 x 162 cm (47.24 x 63.78 in) - and postpress equipment. Innovation projects such as Linoprint - for customized decoration and labeling of folding cartons, labels, and blister packs based on inkjet technology - and printed organic layers round off the portfolio.

Heidelberg Financial Services
In an environment dominated by customers from small and medium-sized businesses, financial services are a great help when it comes to making economically astute investments in Heidelberg products. The associated opportunities and risks require unique know-how and transparency that has little to do with more traditional areas of business. All sales financing activities will still be combined in a dedicated segment. In addition to direct financing through one of the Group's own financing companies, this primarily involves putting customers at small and medium-sized companies in touch with Heidelberg financing partners.

For additional details, please visit the Internet Press Lounge at www.heidelberg.com.

Other dates:
Publication of the preliminary figures for financial year 2009/2010 is scheduled for May 11, 2010.

For further information, please contact:
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Corporate Public Relations
Thomas Fichtl
Phone: +49 6221 92 5900
Fax: +49 6221 92 5069
E-Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Important note:
This press release contains forward-looking statements based on assumptions and estimations by the Management Board of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft. Even though the Management Board is of the opinion that those assumptions and estimations are realistic, the actual future development and results may deviate substantially from these forward-looking statements due to various factors, such as changes in the macro-economic situation, in the exchange rates, in the interest rates and in the print media industry. Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft gives no warranty and does not assume liability for any damages in case the future development and the projected results do not correspond with the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) offers a technology for the Speedmaster XL 75 and XL 105 that enables coating before and after sheet reversal in a single pass. About 150 participants followed Heidelberg's invitation to experience the hands-on demonstrations and to exchange experiences with initial users on new opportunities provided by double-sided coating in a single pass. Print shops can use this technology to significantly boost their productivity by fitting processes that previously required two passes into just a single pass. This minimizes production times while also increasing the variety of surface finishing options available.

A systematic step towards greater cost-efficiency
Print jobs now only have to pass through the press once. In addition to cutting production times, double-sided coating enables print products to proceed immediately to postpress. This eliminates unproductive waiting and drying times as well as the associated intermediate storage of semi-finished products.

Heidelberg has achieved this by customizing all its dryer systems to the relevant press in order to optimize dryer efficiency and print quality, even with high machine speeds, high ink coverage, and exacting coatings. Drying is so effective that the printed sheets can go virtually straight to postpress. The environment benefits, too, because optimized drying is achieved with minimized energy consumption and lower operating costs.

Read More here....>

At this year's IPEX trade show in the U.K. city of Birmingham from May 18 to 25, 2010, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) will be showcasing the latest developments in its product and service portfolio. The company's stand in Hall 8 will focus on current market trends such as lean, environmentally friendly production for print shops. "Our aim is to ensure that our customers are well positioned to face future challenges, and we will work with them to develop and successfully implement new business options in a changing environment," stated Heidelberg CEO Bernhard Schreier.

* New products and services put print shops in an excellent position for when the economy picks up again
* Focus on solutions for new business options
* Heidelberg views IPEX as a trend barometer for the printing industry in 2010
* Initial signs of macroeconomic recovery in parts of the world

Heidelberg still offers the best price-performance ratio in the industry thanks to numerous prepress, press, and postpress innovations combined with the integration of all process steps. The successful entry of Heidelberg into the large-format sector in 2008 underlines the fact that innovations and, above all, greater customer benefits are the driving forces behind investments in the industry. "For Heidelberg, IPEX is a trend barometer and also an opportunity for the printing industry in 2010," said Schreier.

Despite initial positive signs in some parts of the world, it is still too soon to anticipate a significant turnaround in the economy in the near future. "Companies who invest in new technologies and new areas of business now, though, will be well positioned for the future," stated Schreier. Heidelberg would be using the trade show to continue redefining parts of the market with further innovations, he said. "Our customers expect us to boost their competitiveness with the latest technologies and a comprehensive service portfolio. We will definitely meet their expectations at IPEX," he stressed.

Heidelberg provides local support for its customers with a wide range of services that pave the way for sustainable business success. "We will also optimize and expand our range of products and services," stated Schreier. The digital printing was a market segment with excellent prospects that customers would increasingly add to their portfolios and for which Heidelberg was looking for a suitable partner, he explained. "We have the ideal service and logistics network for this, which gives us a clear competitive edge," Heidelberg's CEO stated. He added that the two technologies were predicted to successfully continue side by side on the future market.

Schreier also underlined that it was vital not to ignore the structural changes in the industry, but to adapt to them. He added that the global print volume of just under EUR 400 billion was an encouraging sign for the development of the market and that, when the economy picked up again, commercial printing would recover too and lead to new investments in this offset market segment. Packaging printing has enjoyed greater stability during the crisis and offers growth potential for Heidelberg. "We have systematically geared our range of products and solutions to the requirements of our customers in both market segments and ensured that they represent the state of the art. This makes us confident that both our customers and our companies are extremely well positioned for the recovery to come," concluded Schreier.

For further information:
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Corporate Public Relations
Thomas Fichtl
Phone: +49 (6221) 92 5900
Fax: +49 (6221) 92 5069

E-Mail:

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