Heidelberg hosts ‘Innovation Week 2021’

Welcoming visitors to the event under the slogan ‘Always a Step Ahead’, Rainer Hundsdörfer, CEO,  said the new Print Media Centre was now the focus for all things Heidelberg, from packaging to labels and commercial print.

In a markedly upbeat mood, he said that customers’ demand for new products is currently high and has been so for more than 12 months.  “We see a willingness to invest in new technology from all sectors of the market and most areas of the world, and this has been reflected in significantly higher sales than the preceding period, with a sizeable order book to carry forward.”

Acknowledging the effect that the global pandemic had on business and business methods, he said Heidelberg has done its homework thoroughly and was well-placed to respond to the changed trading conditions.  Now, the task is to translate that change into a period of sustained and profitable growth.

“We are not only confident for the current business year, but also increasingly optimistic for the following years.  Subject to solid economic development, we see good potential for a continuation of the profitable upward trend,” he stated.

Citing the successful implementation of the measures for realignment, and the consistent use of technology leadership as the basis for this growth, he said that future success is based on the advanced focus on the company’s profitable core business and on the expansion of growth fields and regions.  He said that there is significant potential for sustainable growth and value enhancement particularly in package printing, and in the world’s largest single market, China, with digital business models and new technology applications.

Repeating an earlier message that Heidelberg is developing from a printing press supplier into a technology company, he said that the company is consistently developing its e-mobility business.  This sector is already the subject of a spin-off into a GmbH (limited liability company), which gives further options for expansion.

“We will be pushing ahead with our portfolio of products and services as well as with pan-European sales and are building strategic partnerships in the field of charging systems, billing, and operation.  We hope to be able to communicate more details by the end of 2021,” he added.

As far as core business is concerned, the successful premiere of the Speedmaster CX 104 press in the Summer is the prime focus of attention at the Innovation Week.  Orders for more than 1,000 printing units, 500 of them before the official launch, indicates significant future potential especially in carton printing, with digital business models and with new automated technology applications.

In the area of software, Heidelberg is transferring Prinect to the cloud, and the company can now demonstrate the competitive advantages this will give to its customers.  Also being launched are a wealth of technological innovations, the advantages of Heidelberg’s contract scheme, and the new digital Heidelberg Eco-System ‘Heidelberg Plus’.

Concluding, he said, “All this shows that we are tackling the right things and will remain technology leaders. Our aim is to be a full-service provider and a strong partner at our customers’ side.”

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