Displaying items by tag: heidelberg

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

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.

The first press of the Speedmaster CX 102 series, introduced by Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) as a world premiere on the occasion of IPEX in Birmingham, has been sold to German commercial printshop Kern GmbH, located in Bexbach, Saarland. The new machine is designed for industrial offset printing and joins the ranks between the Speedmaster SM 102 / CD 102 and the Speedmaster XL 105. André Kern, Managing Director of Kern GmbH, outlines the company's philosophy: "We have always been fascinated by innovations. With the Speedmaster CX 102 we have been provided with the XL 105 peak performance technologies plus a considerably increased productivity, which however allows us to stick to the familiar and proven format."

Convincing versatility

In the forefront of the investment, André Kern and his team also had evaluated medium-format presses of different manufacturers. "Asian suppliers in particular are currently offering rock-bottom prices that are very tempting at first glance," says Kern. "However, our job portfolio and three-shift operation require a press, which delivers excellent productivity, consistent print quality and high availability from start to finish. In addition, we print on an extremely wide range of substrates, running the gamut from 50 gsm flimsy paper to board weighing over 300 gsm. We are certain that the Speedmaster CX 102 is the best solution for our diversity of requirements. The smooth running of the press and its ergonomic operation are convincing. Ever since we made the decision to invest in the Speedmaster CX 102, everyone is excitedly anticipating the world's first in its kind. As a long-term customer, we know that we can always rely on the well-proven quality and performance  in regard to Heidelberg innovations."

Lean processes and highly productive equipment as key to success

This state-of-the-art print shop runs a highly automated operation, and its central production processes are fully integrated via the Prinect Workflow. The new Speedmaster CX 102 five-color press with coating unit continues the tradition of the 70 × 100 cm format. To date, two Speedmaster SM 102 units were in operation - one six-color and one eight-color press. The six-color press has now been replaced by the new Speedmaster CX 102.

On a production area of some 2,200 square meters, a team of 35 works for manufacturers of branded goods, cosmetic suppliers, insurance companies, and consumer goods producers. The company produces items such as brochures, catalogs, and other marketing materials using offset and digital printing. Kern GmbH also uses its in-house mailing center to provide a wide variety of logistics services for direct marketing customers. The Kern GmbH is a family-run company in the fourth generation, managed by Juergen, Joachim, and André Kern. The Bexbach-based printshophas a subsidiary in Sarreguimines, France.

Picture 1:
Heidelberg introduced the Speedmaster CX 102 on the occasion of IPEX 2010. This marked the world premiere of a new printing press for industrial offset printing with a production speed of 16,500 sheets per hour. The new press, which manages flimsy papers, stiff board and a wide range of plastic materials as well, convinces by its high productivity and its versatility.

Picture 2:
The Speedmaster CX 102 provides André Kern with the XL 105 peak performance technologies the and considerably increased productivity- and allows the company to stick to the familiar and proven format.


For further information, please contact:
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Corporate Public Relations
Dirk Henrich
Phone: +49 (0)6221 92 5910
Fax: +49 (0)6221 92 5096
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Plenty of congratulations received the Heidelberg Print Media Academy (PMA) not only because of its tenth anniversary, but also for a top-class congress on learning from and with each other conducted on May 6, 2010 on the occasion of the anniversary. Some 200 guests took up the invitation issued by Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) and gathered at the Print Media Academy.

Following a welcoming address and introduction by Heidelberg Management Board members Bernhard Schreier and Marcel Kiessling, Professor Norbert Walter, formerly Chief Economist at Deutsche Bank, set out the prospects for the future and for economic development.
Dr. Eike Wenzel from the Zukunftsinstitut (Institute for the Future) then gave a keynote speech highlighting the impact of new media and communication channels on social structures and customs.

Learning, training, and knowledge transfer are considered extremely important at Heidelberg -
a fact underlined by CEO Bernhard Schreier. "The opening of the Print Media Academy in Heidelberg ten years ago and the associated expansion of our international training activities laid the foundation for offering comprehensive practical training to our customers - and to our customers' customers. Without sound, ongoing training activities, it would be impossible to master the ever-changing day-to-day challenges we are now facing. We see learning and teaching as a life task," he said.

Representing the city of Heidelberg, mayor Dr. Joachim Gerner offered his congratulations and stressed how important the PMA was to the city and the region. "Heidelberg's economy is not based on smoking chimneys, but on state-of-the-art technology and services. The combination of universities, research laboratories, and other educational establishments creates a unique high-density knowledge network - a key requirement for innovation and development. In the ten years since it was founded, the Print Media Academy has become an important hub in this network," he stated.

Heidelberg customer Jörn Kalbhenn, proprietor and director of B&K-Offsetdruck in Ottersweier, summed up: "My experiences with the PMA - both as a member of the Advisory Board and a former student - have been extremely positive, and I would like to say thank you for all the productive and informative years. It never ceases to amaze me how this state-of-the-art institution combines training with unusually high levels of synergy through the facilitation of international contacts. The wide range of opportunities offered by the PMA is an effective way of enabling companies and their personnel to make progress. The Academy also provides a valuable platform for discussion within the framework of interesting events and lectures. I hope the excellent program will continue and I look forward to some new ideas and opportunities," said Kalbhenn.

Center for training at all levels
From equipment and specialist training to management seminars, the Print Media Academy (PMA) provides a comprehensive and practical range of training at all levels to prepare employees and companies in the print media industry for a successful future. Specialists from Heidelberg team up with external experts to train participants on state-of-the-art equipment and deliver lectures on topical issues in the sector. The latest project is a collaboration with the ifm (Institute for Small Business Research) at the University of Mannheim - a seminar with relevance beyond the borders of the graphic arts industry that, for the first time, is open to anyone with an interest in smoothing the way for corporate succession.

Every year, some 7,000 to 9,000 people take part in the PMA's training courses and seminars.

Global network
The Print Media Academy in Heidelberg is the hub of a global network extending across 18 locations in 15 countries. It offers training courses and seminars for employees and decision-makers in the print media industry. The program is globally coordinated yet also caters to specific local needs. Ongoing communication between sites ensures the up-to-dateness and internationality of information and content.

Venue
The Print Media Academy in Heidelberg has also become firmly established as a regional and national conference and event center. Companies both large and small from the Rhine-Neckar region regularly hold seminars and forums at the PMA. They particularly appreciate the conference rooms' cutting-edge technical equipment and the excellent links with the train station and local public transport network. 
Even organizing large events such as product launches in the automotive industry is no problem for the PMA team. The swing door was recently dismantled to give Porsche & Co access to the generously proportioned foyer.
The PMA welcomes some 50,000 visitors every year.

"Passion for Print" exhibition
The permanent exhibition "Passion for Print" in the basement of the PMA provides an interactive multimedia presentation on the medium of print and print production. A tour gives visitors an insight into how a print product is produced and the role Heidelberg plays in this process.

The building
Since it opened on April 14, 2000, the PMA has become one of Heidelberg's landmarks. It proudly appears alongside the castle and the Old Bridge in brochures of all kinds. The materials and architecture create a sense of transparency and a feeling of lightness and openness that defies the building's size (it has 37-meter sides and is 50 meters high). This openness extends to the public - the PMA is open to all, welcoming guests, passers-by, and anyone curious enough to want to take a look inside. A lounge on the ground floor is the perfect place to sit and enjoy culinary delights and cocktails, while diners at Manfred Schwarz's restaurant on the twelfth floor can expect top-quality fare.

The front of the Print Media Academy is dominated by the "S-Printing Horse", a metal sculpture 13 meters high by Jürgen Goertz.

Picture 1: The Print Media Academy in Heidelberg.

Picture 2: Print Media Academy banner on the occasion of its 10-year anniversary in 2010.

For further information:
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Claudia Cischek
Telephone: +49 (0)6221 92 57 05
Telefax: +49 (0)6221 92 50 69
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Sydney-based print shop Macdonald & Masterson has merged with Southern Colour Printing in a move directors say will boost its presence in the market without going further into debt.

Peter Bounas director of Macdonald & Masterson told Australian Printer the decision to merge was influenced by Southern Colour’s equipment and accreditation portfolio. The company hosts two A1 Heidelberg presses as well as its ISO, FSC and PEFC certifications.

He says, “Our business was getting to the point where we had to make some important choices so we decided to go with Southern Colour as they already had the equipment we wanted and the accreditations, which are becoming more important in the market.”

Bounas continues, “The industry is ripe for consolidation at the moment and our two companies were an ideal fit in terms of the markets we operate in. We also had a healthy respect for each other.”

Around half of Macdonald & Masterson’s 22 staff will make the move to Southern Colour’s premises in St Leonards with the rest to be made redundant. The majority of the equipment from the company’s Botany site will be sold.

After the merger is finalised Macdonald & Masterson will be operating under the Southern Colour name. Peter Bounas will be employed by Southern Colour as an account manager.

Lean manufacturing - getting fit to combat the recession

While some branches of industry are already seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, the consequences of the financial crisis are still very much in evidence in the printing industry. This being the case, it is more important than ever to optimize and ensure the sustainability of cost-effective print shop operation. The key is to streamline core production equipment to achieve maximum benefits and to avoid waste wherever possible.

In the latest issue of its customer magazine, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG highlights why effective lean manufacturing is a good way of combating the recession. For instance, Heidelberg News No. 269 takes the example of the French print shop Baudat to demonstrate how a Speedmaster SM 74 can be used for efficient and eco-friendly production of high-quality print media. In addition, the magazine reports how, thanks to a visit from the Pope and its highly productive Speedmaster XL 105, Slovakian print shop i + i print is leading the way on a fiercely competitive market. Readers will also discover how Norwegian print shop Moltzau Plasttrykk has practically reinvented itself, emerging from its worst ever crisis as one of the country's leading packaging printers.

Another article describes the efficiency improvements that packaging printers can achieve with the new Dymatrix 106 Pro CSB. Heidelberg News also investigates how Heidelberg Systemservice provides an effective response to the totally unexpected breakdown of such a highly reliable die cutter at Faltschachtelwerk Hammer-Lübeck. Last but not least, it takes a look at the successful web-to-print business of German company printoo GmbH and asks the sprightly typography legend Kurt Weidemann about the purpose of this art form in modern times.
The current issue also includes a 20-page supplement with information about the innovations that Heidelberg will be showcasing at IPEX 2010 (May 18 - 25 in Birmingham, U.K.).

Issue 269 of Heidelberg News is available now. Copies for your own use can be ordered under www.heidelberg-news.com or requested by e-mailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or faxing +49 (0)6221 92 50 42.

For further information, please contact:
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Corporate Public Relations
Dirk Henrich
Phone: +49 (0)6221 92 59 10
Fax: +49 (0)6221 92 50 96
E-Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Print Media Academy (PMA) of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) will run the English-language  "Print Buyer University" for the third time from June 15th to 18th 2010.The four-day program in Heidelberg is tailor-made for marketing, purchasing and production professionals in advertising agencies, publishing companies and manufacturers who want to take offset print projects to a new level.

High quality of brochures, packaging or other print products is a key to successful marketing communication. The challenge is to usher a job through the procurement and production process while guaranteeing a high level of quality, regardless of where and when a job is printed. This requires outstanding expertise! The feedback from former Print Media Universities is that the know-how that participants receive in the workshops helps them to understand the value of print and to work together with their printers on a high level.

Whether the participants manage print projects for their own company or a client, they will benefit enormously from this program of information-packed seminars and workshops with emphasis on practical experience. The program will provide expert knowledge which is indispensable for professionals to oversee offset print projects and to achieve top quality, and which ideally supplements the expertise they already have in areas such as design, marketing or purchasing.

Participants also will be provided with guidance in applying international standards in drawing up job specifications and selecting providers. They will be able to judge print quality and to make "press pass" decisions with confidence.

The participants will gain an understanding of print in all its complexity straight from the best possible source: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, the world's largest manufacturer of printing equipment. They will benefit from the knowledge of print experts, who have extensive experience with sheetfed offset equipment and efficient production processes. The groups will be kept small to ensure effective learning. Heidelberg's technical facilities will be available for practical exercises involving actual pressruns. At the end of the program, participants will be certified as "Print Media Advisors" to document their ability to manage complex offset print projects.

The Print Buyer University will take place from June 15 to 18, 2010 in Heidelberg, Germany. Registrations are to be sent to the Print Media Academy by May 7, 2010. Detailed information and references are available at www.print-media-academy.com .

Global network and knowledge forum for the print media industry
The Print Media Academy was founded back in 2000 in Heidelberg and offers technical and management staff in the print media industry a comprehensive range of training courses tailored to the specific needs of the industry. High-profile speakers and trainers from the print media industry and business world impart information on the use of Heidelberg products, technological innovations, and successful management. The Print Media Academy portfolio includes one-off seminars, international management programs, advanced training, specialist congresses, and a range of publications.

The network is growing all the time and today comprises 19 PMA sites in 16 countries around the world. The Print Media Academy is represented in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Japan, China, India, Egypt, Afghanistan, Malaysia, and Australia. In Europe, there are PMA sites in Germany, the Czech Republic, Russia, Belgium, and now in the Netherlands. All the sites communicate regularly and share information on the latest trends in the print media industry. This makes it possible to develop the training program in close cooperation with one another and to tailor it to the specific regional requirements. In 2008, more than 21,000 participants took part in almost 2,500 training courses staged by the PMA network.

Contact & Enrolment
Print Media Academy Heidelberg
Silvia Becker
Phone: +49 (0) 6221 92 50 11
Fax: +49 (0) 6221 92 49 29
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Information for journalists
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Corporate Communications
Dirk Henrich
Phone: +49 (0) 6221 92  5910
Fax: +49 (0) 6221 92 5069
E-Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

From April 1, 2010, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) will have a new Chief Information Officer in the shape of Howard Hutchings (56). Following his IT studies in New Hampshire, U.S., Hutchings initially worked in the print media industry and finance.

In 1979, he joined what was then the Harris Graphics Corporation, a manufacturer of web offset presses that Heidelberg subsequently took over. Here, he was responsible for setting up and expanding the IT infrastructure. Following the takeover by Heidelberg, Hutchings relocated to Germany in an executive position with responsibility for developing the global IT infrastructure and Internet services.

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