Increased self-confidence

Print machine manufacturer and solutions provider Heidelberg is optimistic about the future. "Although we have doubled our profit," said Bernhard Schreier, CEO of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg), at a recent press conference, "we cannot and must not sit back and relax." Schreier also provided the reasons for this sentiment, which applies to countries such as Germany and Switzerland: "There is still overcapacity in the market and prices remain under pressure." Overall, however, things are going very well at the moment: "We are producing at the limits of our capacity," said Schreier, describing the current level of capacity utilization.The drive to the EastThe growth markets for Heidelberg are in the East. In the countries that have joined the EU since its eastward expansion, the overall picture is very positive. According to Dr. Walter Stählin, who is responsible for the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, the company is expecting economic growth in the Czech Republic and Poland in particular in the coming year - including in the graphic arts industry there. The countries in this "new geographical center of Europe" are among the markets to which the Group owes its profit improvement. The North and South America region is also currently reporting good results. Heidelberg has been able to extend its market leadership in the USA and significantly increase sales. However, Marcel Kiessling, who is responsible for the region, describes the prospects there as rather subdued.
The Asian region has developed particularly successfully for Heidelberg. The Group already generates a full 26 percent of its consolidated sales in the Far East. Bent Mortensen, who spoke of both the opportunities and risks of these markets, confirmed that Heidelberg has good prospects for the future, particularly in China and India.
 
Answers for the upper segment and for digital printing Heidelberg has upgraded its technology. Specifically, Chief Technology Officer Dr. Jürgen Rautert announced two innovations to existing presses. From mid-2007, the Group will be offering the Speedmaster XL 105 sheetfed offset press as a UV version or as a double-coating press. While the UV press can also be used to apply maximum gloss effects to laminated materials, foils or metallized surfaces, the dual-coating press will be an all-rounder: "As an alternative to a pure UV press, the Speedmaster XL 105-LYYL (L = coating, Y = drying unit) can process conventional inks and also apply UV coating inline after applying a primer." Heidelberg is thus rounding off the top end of its most recent and successful XL platform. A perfecting press is expected from Heidelberg at drupa 2008.
The company is also announcing innovations in the lower segment. For example, the Speedmaster SM 52 sheetfed offset press equipped with Anicolor inking units, which was first announced at Ipex, will go into series production at the beginning of 2007, which suggests that the new inking unit will be very well received. Following the very successful market launch, the presses based on the Speedmaster SM 52 series are now to be expanded step by step. Optional die-cutting units for inline die-cutting, UV printing units and eight-color presses will be available in the near future.
According to Rautert, the machine has completely won over the first users. His personal conclusion: "There is no better machine in terms of print quality than the Anicolor." But Rautert goes even further. Thanks to the Anicolor inking unit, which enables very fast inking and set-up, he also sees the machine as particularly competitive with digital printing. "If you leave personalization out of the equation, it is not only competitive with the digital printing system in terms of unit costs, but actually superior to it."
Jürgen Franck