Displaying items by tag: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG

The Packaging Days of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) on September 25 and 26 at the Print Media Center in Wiesloch-Walldorf enabled some 120 customers and industry experts from across Europe, USA and Brazil to obtain information about the company's packaging solutions. The focus was on the interaction of technology, services, and consumables for successful business models in packaging printing and folding carton gluing. Key topics included HEI Productivity through intelligent material logistics and HEI Quality, as represented by the automated color measurement and control systems Prinect Inpress Control, Prinect Image Control and the inline inspection systems Prinect Inspection Control and Diana Inspection Control. An entire day of the event was dedicated to showcasing the benefits of the optimized production processes that can be achieved using the Prinect Packaging Workflow.

Practical customer demonstration based on complete valued-added chains
Complete HEI End value-added chains for folding carton production - from prepress and press to postpress - showed participants the benefits of integrated, sustainable production. Each of the production lines was built around a press with a complete logistics system, such as the Speedmaster XL 106 for the 70 x 100 centimeter (27.56 x 39.37 inch) format that was unveiled at drupa and the large-format Speedmaster XL 145. Postpress equipment on show included the Dymatrix 106 Pro CSB die cutter, and the Diana X 80 and Diana X 115 folding carton gluing machines. On the Diana X 80, Heidelberg also demonstrated the new Diana Inspection Control inline inspection system, which identifies defective repeats prior to gluing and ejects them from the production process at full machine speed. In addition, the company showcased the benefits of the new Braille module, which has been developed specifically for the manufacture of pharmaceutical packaging and enables fast and reliable inline Braille embossing of packaging.

Besides the actual technology, highlighting the importance of an efficient service portfolio and the smooth interaction of equipment and consumables for reliable and stable production formed an integral part of all the demonstrations.

Entire day dedicated to demonstrating the Prinect Packaging Workflow
This was the first time in the history of the Packaging Days that Heidelberg had devoted an entire day to the topic of HEI Integration, demonstrating the many different applications of the Prinect Packaging Workflow that was extended to coincide with drupa. Job management and production were fully integrated and all the individual steps were demonstrated - from structural design to delivery of the finished cartons. The complete integration of all print shop steps is even more important in the highly industrialized production of folding cartons than in purely commercial printing, because reducing makeready times and paper waste at the press and postpress stages significantly boosts the profitability of production for both initial and repeat orders. The Prinect Packaging Workflow offers a comprehensive range of functions for this kind of cost-efficient industrialized production. The workflow presentation focused on saving material, reliability in production, and optimum repeatability. Participants were also treated to a detailed presentation of Prinect Package Designer, which integrates structural packaging design in Prinect to create the graphic design directly on the contour data with Adobe Illustrator while also performing a 3D check.

Accompanying workshops and opportunities to chat with experts
Participants could use the accompanying workshops that took place on both days of the event to obtain detailed information about specific Heidelberg products and services in which they had a particular interest and determine how important they were for their business model. Heidelberg experts were available for in-depth discussions on all topics.

"The great interest in our solutions for packaging printing underlines the importance of this growth segment for both our customers and our company. Although it's not that long since drupa, many participants took the opportunity offered by our customer demonstration center to obtain detailed information about how to structure their business more profitably in terms of both technology and business management," explains Stephan Plenz, member of the Management Board responsible for Heidelberg Equipment.

At the end of 2010, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) repaid in full the loan from the Special Program of the KfW (Reconstruction Loan Corporation) for large companies ahead of schedule. The KfW loan was reduced by just under EUR 190 million immediately after the capital increase last year, and now the remaining sum of around EUR 100 million has been repaid following some reallocation within the financing structure.

"We would like to thank the KfW for supporting us during the financial and economic crisis and helping us to bridge this difficult period. It was, however, always understood that we would revert to capital market financing as soon as possible. As announced, we therefore used all the net proceeds from the capital increase in September 2010 to reduce our financial liabilities. We then repaid the outstanding sum of approximately EUR 102 million due under the KfW loan ahead of schedule on December 30, 2010. This has simplified our financing structure and will also facilitate our future refinancing," said Heidelberg CFO Dirk Kaliebe.

The proceeds from the capital increase and the positive free cash flow in the first half of the current financial year enabled Heidelberg to significantly lower its financial liabilities from some EUR 816 million at the end of March 2010 to around EUR 377 million by the end of September 2010.

The capital increase has given Heidelberg a more stable capital structure overall, with a much lower net debt of EUR 243 million and a solid equity basis of around EUR 830 million as at September 30, 2010. This has also resulted in a change to the Group's financing requirements. Financing has fallen from the previous level of EUR 1.4 billion to just under EUR 900 million. It is now made up of the credit line supported by guarantee pledges from the State and the syndicated credit line from a consortium of banks. These two credit lines have each been reduced to around EUR 445 million.

In summer 2009, Heidelberg concluded a financing package for the period up to the middle of 2012. It comprised a loan for an original sum of EUR 300 million from the KfW, a loan originally totaling EUR 550 million, supported by guarantee pledges from the Federal Government and the States of Baden-Württemberg and Brandenburg, and an existing syndicated credit line from a consortium of banks, also for an original amount of EUR 550 million.

The Print Media Academy in Heidelberg and in Kuala Lumpur together with Heidelberg Thailand will jointly be hosting the next Winter University 2011 in Bangkok, Thailand, from March 20 to March 24, 2011. The four-day intensive seminar at the Shangri-La Hotel is geared to participants from all over the world, offering them the opportunity to broaden their knowledge of the sector and share experience and strategies for success.

"The pressure to compete and changing market dynamics are continuing to increase. Managers in the print media industry therefore always need to be up to date on current trends in the industry and comprehensive, sustainable methods of strategic management," says Martina Brand, Head of International Business Training at the Print Media Academy in Heidelberg. That's why the seminar will be focusing on the different aspects of business management in particular. Further presentations and discussions and an onsite customer visit will spark new ideas within the areas of finance, controlling, leadership as well as marketing and management. Participants will also have the chance to discuss their own experience with experts and colleagues and get valuable feedback.

The course will be led by Stan Solomidis and Martina Brand. Solomidis is the owner and director of Synthesis Australia Pty Ltd. Solomidis sits on the board of some very competitive and marketing oriented printing businesses and this experience coupled with his corporate experience makes him well equipped to assist printing managers who are looking to improve their firm's performance.

The Winter University has established itself within the print media industry as an important international forum. Executives from all over the world use the opportunity to share country-specific experience and network in an informal atmosphere. Previous venues have included Shanghai, Hongkong, Moscow, Sao Paulo, Capetown and Dubai. 

The location for the event is the Print Shangri La Hotel in Bangkok. The seminar fee is EUR 1.650 plus VAT (2.182 US$), which includes lunch and drinks on each day as well as a team event and all seminar handouts. As the number of participants is limited, early registration is recommended. The seminar language is English.

Up-to-date seminar information and profiles of the speakers are available on the internet at www.print-media-academy.com

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.

The Institute for Printing Presses and Printing Methods (IDD) at Darmstadt University of Technology and Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) are extending their joint research platform till 2012. The two partners have been working on the "functional printing" development project since 2007. The main aim of the project is to develop new applications for the print media industry. This involves devising new surface-finishing technologies that enable print shops - and packaging printers in particular - to stand out from the crowd. "Functional" here means properties that enhance the print medium, such as new, decorative, visual, electrical, and electronic functional characteristics. The first three years of collaboration successfully culminated in predevelopment work for new decorative elements and simple display elements known as demonstrators. Examples include display elements based on electroluminescence or thermochrome inks that can be used for special effects on packaging and a display stand with light effects for use at the point of sale. "Our motivation is based on developing a feel for what the market of the future needs and investigating this using feasibility studies," explains Manfred Jurkewitz, Head of Research and Development at Heidelberg.

Research work is currently devoted to new applications for the print media industry. The first examples are promising and include innovative new effects with structural coating and special optical effects in 3D. "We are looking to develop further visual effects and applications that lie between the print applications of today and organic electronics applications of the future," says Professor Edgar Dörsam, Director of the IDD, describing the joint research.

Heidelberg is providing the relevant printing technology for the cooperation project - a Gallus RCS 330-HD rotary press. The press is tailored to development needs and has been configured accordingly. It has four printing stations and four printing processes - flexographic, screen, offset, and gravure. The printing units for the individual processes are separate modules that can be operated in every position of the printing stations. The sequence of processes is therefore freely configurable and can thus be adapted to numerous requirements for new applications. Space for further equipment such as dryers and special measuring technology is available between the individual printing stations. "The applications we're developing on this modular platform are then transferred to the Heidelberg sheetfed press sector to ensure our Speedmaster customers can also benefit from them," explains Dr. Martin Schmitt-Lewen, project manager at Heidelberg for the cooperation project with the IDD.


Applications outside the print media environment
Further applications are possible outside the print media sector. This applies in particular to the up-and-coming area of organic electronics. The fields for applications here are even wider and more varied. Examples include organic photovoltaics, OLED (organic light emitting diode) systems for displays and illumination, sensor technology, and applications relating to electrical/electronic circuits with transistors, for instance.

These topics are being covered by Heidelberg in a further research project that is also being conducted in partnership with the IDD and is backed by a large research association publicly funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). Heidelberg's role, in collaboration with the IDD, is cross-functional, spanning various applications and including the development of (print) processes for thin layers. This is putting the development of "functional printing" on an even broader footing and may subsequently also open up new areas of application outside the print media world.

This activity, which aims at developing new processes for manufacturing organic electronics, is a key project in the "Organic Electronics Forum" cluster of excellence. This is a cooperation network of three DAX companies, eight large international enterprises, five SMEs, and eleven research institutes and institutions of higher education, including two elite universities. The objectives of the cluster of excellence are to create a world-beating research, development, and production site for organic electronics, one of the most attractive locations for current and future specialists, and the world's leading center of innovation for knowledge transfer and company startups. The 27 enterprises, institutions of higher education, and research institutes are working together on the research projects, which are receiving funding from the BMBF to the tune of EUR 40 million, in the future technology of organic electronics.

For further information, please contact:
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Corporate Public Relations
Hilde Weisser
Phone: +49 (0)6221 92 5066
Fax: +49 (0)6221 92 5069
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

"Onward and upward - even against the flow" are the words that drive the corporate philosophy of Druckerei Kern, a print shop based in Bexbach in Germany. "We have always invested in the latest presses in order to offer our customers optimum products," says André Kern, Managing Director. The print shop has been utilizing the world's first Speedmaster CX 102 five-color press with coating unit since mid-May 2010. The Speedmaster CX 102 for industrial sheetfed offset printing was unveiled by Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) at IPEX 2010 in Birmingham, U.K. "We have made the right choice. We were impressed by the Speedmaster CX 102 right from the outset and the complete investment package has enabled us to make great strides in our industrial production," adds Kern. The package consists of the Speedmaster CX 102, Speedmaster SM 52, and Prinect components for networking.

André Kern consulted a whole host of suppliers before making the investment. "Ultimately we felt we received the best advice from Heidelberg, and the company put together an attractive, comprehensive package." Prinect Prinance and Prinect Cockpit make the offerings and pressroom completely transparent.

The Speedmaster CX 102 has been successfully tried and tested, with Druckerei Kern reporting far shorter makeready times, only half the waste, stable production speeds, quiet, smooth sheet travel, and extremely high net speed. "We were amazed by the clear boost in quality for high grammages and coating jobs," adds Kern. The printers appreciate the press's excellent ergonomics and the fact that everything can be viewed quickly and easily on the large wallscreen of the Prinect Press Center. The process-oriented Intellistart operator guidance enables presses to be set up fast. The press, which is fully integrated into the Prinect workflow, inks up quickly and high speeds are now standard during the production run.

Family-owned Druckerei Kern, whose roots go back to the 19th century, is now in its fourth generation and has a workforce of 35 employees, generating sales of EUR 6 million in 2009. For the last ten years, the company has been based in Bexbach. The French branch in Saareguemines mainly produces large-format display stands, banners, and posters for sales promotion using laser technology. In Bexbach, the full-service print shop produces brochures, catalogs, and magazines using offset and digital printing in two-shift operation. The company specializes in personalized direct mailings and postpress operations, featuring a Flexomailer with a sheet reversal facility that it has developed itself and four Stahlfolder units.

Its production operations cater to manufacturers of branded goods and industrial customers, with a very wide range of run levels and grammages. It prints everything, from lightweight paper to 400 gsm cardboard - a further benefit of the new Speedmaster CX 102. "We are looking to be more actively involved in web-to-print in the future and apply our positive experience of transparent production to postpress with the Prinect Postpress Manager," says Kern, explaining his further plans.

The Speedmaster CX 102 from Heidelberg is the right press at the right time
Lying between the Speedmaster SM 102/CD 102 and the Speedmaster XL 105, the Speedmaster CX 102 from Heidelberg is the ideal press for every customer. As a new market segment in the 70 x 100 cm (27.56 x 39.37 in) format, the Speedmaster CX 102 comes just at the right time for large numbers of customers. The press offers an interesting alternative for many printers who are impressed with XL technology but do not have the quantity of jobs needed to make full use of such a productive press, particularly as it enables them to work with the same plate format. This is confirmed by the high level of interest shown in the Speedmaster CX 102 and the sales successes so far. Over 15 presses were sold by the end of IPEX 2010. The presentation of the Speedmaster CX 102 also attracted a great deal of interest at ExpoPrint in Brazil and at the Open House event for the West region in Germany. Almost 30 presses have now been sold, with buyers including commercial and packaging printers. One in three Speedmaster CX 102 units is equipped with Prinect Inpress Control, which significantly cuts waste and therefore makes a major contribution to ensuring eco-friendly production.

Demonstration opportunities extended for commercial and packaging printing
Customer demonstrations on a Speedmaster CX 102 six-color press with coating unit have been underway at the Print Media Center (PMC) in Wiesloch-Walldorf since May this year. The press is elevated by 500 mm (19.69 in), fitted with the CutStar sheeter and used for both conventional and UV production. The Speedmaster CX 102 is geared toward packaging printing and also demonstrates foil printing.
The demand for demonstrations is so great that Heidelberg will be putting an additional demonstration press into operation at the PMC in Heidelberg. This Speedmaster CX 102 five-color press with coating unit is aimed at commercial printers. It is equipped with Prinect Inpress Control and prints without alcohol, thereby enabling Heidelberg once again to demonstrate its commitment to eco-friendly production.

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) is publishing its results for the first quarter of financial year 2010/11 (April 1 to June 30, 2010). The overall improvement in the underlying economic conditions has had a positive impact on business. Heidelberg customers showed greater readiness to invest in the period under review, thus continuing the previous quarters' upward trend in incoming orders.

At EUR 786 million, incoming orders in the first quarter of financial year 2010/11 were 43 percent up on the previous year's figure (EUR 550 million) and 16 percent higher than the previous quarter (EUR 678 million). Contributory factors included positive exchange rate movements equivalent to around EUR 45 million, the high level of orders placed at the IPEX trade show in May 2010, and encouraging business developments - especially in China and Brazil.

As a result of the healthy incoming order situation, the Heidelberg Group's order backlog improved significantly to EUR 810 million at the end of the first quarter. This is the highest level for six quarters.

In the first three months of the current financial year, Heidelberg recorded sales of EUR 563 million, around EUR 36 million of which are linked to exchange rate movements. After adjusting for these movements, sales were 3 percent up on the previous year's figure of EUR 514 million.

"The market recovery continued in the first quarter, thus helping to maintain the upward trend in incoming orders and sales," said Heidelberg CEO Bernhard Schreier. "Together with the cost-cutting measures initiated, this has substantially reduced our operating loss," he added.

The operating result excluding special items improved considerably from the previous year's figure of EUR -63 million to EUR -35 million. Key factors in this improvement were slightly higher sales, the savings achieved by the cost-cutting program, and the greater efficiency resulting from the reorganization. Following the agreement reached between the company and employee representatives, parts of the provisions formed in the previous year to improve efficiency could be released. As a result, the income from special items was EUR 15 million. This produced an operating result, including special items, of EUR -20 million. Higher financing costs led to a financial result of EUR -35 million (previous year: EUR -22 million). The profit before taxes for the first quarter improved to EUR -56 million (previous year: EUR -86 million), while net loss in the period under review was EUR -52 million (previous year: EUR -69 million).

Heidelberg recorded a positive free cash flow of EUR 62 million in the first quarter, a significant improvement on the figure of EUR -29 million for the same quarter the previous year. Key factors in this positive development are the further improvement in net working capital and tight asset management.

"The further improvement in our operating result and the increase in our free cash flow prove that we are on the right track to ensure a stable and profitable future for Heidelberg," said the company's CFO Dirk Kaliebe. "Due to the capital increase approved by the Annual General Meeting at the end of July, Heidelberg can expand its scope with regard to other refinancing measures, and can thus boost its flexibility. Shareholders, customers, and employees will all benefit equally from this," he added.

Headcount fell by a further 278 in the first quarter of financial year 2010/11. As at June 30, 2010, the Heidelberg Group thus had a workforce of 16,218 worldwide.

Business results in the divisions
Since April 1, 2010, the Heidelberg Group has been split into the Heidelberg Equipment, Heidelberg Services, and Heidelberg Financial Services divisions. This new corporate structure will enable more targeted marketing and efficient delivery of customer services. There is to be greater focus on services and consumables alongside the traditionally strong new equipment business.

In the period under review, the Heidelberg Equipment division benefited in particular from the company's success at the IPEX industry trade show. After adjustment for exchange rate movements, incoming orders for the quarter increased by 57 percent on the same quarter of the previous year to EUR 501 million (previous year: EUR 301 million). Sales were 7 percent up on the previous year (1 percent after adjustment for exchange rate movements) at EUR 297 million. The operating result excluding special items for the first quarter was still negative at EUR -48 million (previous year: EUR -53 million), but the savings resulting from the program of cost-cutting measures and the reorganization had a positive impact.

The Heidelberg Services division is less closely tied to economic cycles than the Heidelberg Equipment division and has therefore been less affected when orders have fallen off. Even so, this division recorded higher incoming orders and sales than in the same quarter the previous year. Incoming orders were 15 percent up (8 percent after adjustment for exchange rate movements) at EUR 280 million, while sales were 13 percent higher (5 percent after adjustment for exchange rate movements) at EUR 261 million. At EUR 10 million, the operating result excluding special items was much better than the previous year's figure of EUR -11 million. This was the result of a more favorable sales mix, the increase in sales, and a lower cost base.

The Heidelberg Financial Services division is still responsible for all the company's sales financing activities. In the quarter under review, the division once again recorded a positive operating result of EUR 3 million, an improvement on the figure for the same quarter the previous year (EUR 1 million).

Further increases in Asia and Latin America
In the first quarter, incoming orders increased in all regions. The regional markets referred to in external reporting have been adapted to the company's internal sales structure. The Baltic markets and Finland have been moved from Europe, Middle East and Africa to Eastern Europe, and Mexico has been transferred from Latin America to North America. The figures for the previous year have been adapted accordingly.

At EUR 316 million, incoming orders in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region were 39 percent up on the previous year's figure of EUR 227 million. They actually doubled in the U.K. thanks to the company's successful showing at IPEX. German customers also rediscovered their willingness to invest. At EUR 84 million, incoming orders in the Eastern Europe region were up 59 percent on the previous year's figure of EUR 53 million. In the Latin America region, they more than doubled to EUR 44 million (previous year: EUR 19 million). This is a result of the positive development on the Brazilian market, which received a further boost from the orders placed at ExpoPrint Latin America 2010 in Sao Paulo. After adjustment for exchange rate movements, incoming orders in the North America region were merely up 7 percent at EUR 80 million (previous year: EUR 66 million). Especially high was the increase in the Asia/Pacific region. Incoming orders here totaled EUR 262 million, the highest level for five years and 42 percent up on the previous year's figure of EUR 185 million. The continued positive development in China played a key role in this, but significant increases were also recorded on many smaller markets such as India.

"The Chinese economy is still booming, with double-digit growth rates in some areas. China and Brazil are very attractive growth markets for us and we intend to further increase our share of sales there in the coming years," said Bernhard Schreier.

Outlook
For the current financial year 2010/11, Heidelberg is projecting a modest growth in sales. The result of operating activities will benefit from the increasing profit contributions as well as from the already achieved cost-reduction measures. Assuming stable economic developments, the company is still striving for a break-even operating result for the current financial year. The company's forecast of economic developments reflected in its financial year planning takes into account the respective product mix prevalent in the single markets. Nevertheless, the enormous growth in financing costs will place a heavy burden on the financial result. During the current financial year, Heidelberg therefore anticipates a marked net loss again.

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

Other dates:
The figures for the second quarter of financial year 2010/11 are due to be published on November 10, 2010.

For further information, please contact:
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Corporate Public Relations
Thomas Fichtl
Phone: +49 (0)6221 92 9500
Fax: +49 (0)6221 92 5069
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Wetterauer Druckerei in Friedberg recently obtained a certificate for the first climate-neutral printing press in Germany. The Speedmaster SM 74 five-color press with coating unit from Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) was installed in the spring of this year. The greenhouse gases produced while manufacturing the press have been calculated and compensated. The calculations took into account all relevant parameters - from the extraction of raw materials and the production of materials to the manufacture and testing of the press and its transportation to the print shop.

The new Speedmaster SM 74 uses less IPA (isopropyl alcohol) than conventional presses, which benefits the environment and employee health and creates a clean pressroom environment. The press is also equipped with the Prinect Axis Control standard measuring and control system, which measures color values in the quality control strip and then regulates the color online. This saves paper waste, which is a crucial way of making production operations more resource friendly.

"We have been consistently expanding and redesigning our print shop in line with ecological considerations since 1976," explains Andreas Kugland, owner of Wetterauer Druckerei. "It is our job to combine economy and ecology, while also ensuring perfect quality for the customer. This is exactly what we have achieved thanks to the new Speedmaster SM 74," adds Kugland, who previously worked exclusively with presses from other manufacturers.

The presses print on FSC-certified paper from sustainably managed forests. And the company has switched over entirely to green electricity from power supplier OVAG Energie. Moreover, Wetterauer Druckerei has already manufactured all annual production for 2009 and 2010 in a carbon-neutral manner according to Gold Standard. As a certified member of the climate initiative of the print and media associations, the print shop offsets the volume of CO2 generated through the production of print products by investing in climate protection projects.

Wetterauer Druckerei und Verlag was founded in 1934. Now in its third generation, this fully integrated, cutting-edge print shop currently employs a workforce of 20. Topname manufacturers and advertising agencies are included among the core customers from Germany and beyond who rely on this print shop's services and appreciate its environmentally aware approach to business.

Further information for journalists:
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Corporate Public Relations
Hilde Weisser
Phone: +49 (0)6221 92 5066
Fax: +49 (0)6221 92 5069
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.