Successful positioning as solutions provider
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) won orders
worth almost 260 million Euro at the year's largest print
fair, IPEX, held in Birmingham, U.K., over the period April 9-17.
"This result reaffirms our leading role as a solutions
provider in the graphic arts industry", stated Bernhard
Schreier, Chairman of Heidelberg's Management Board, and added
"Although there were fewer visitors to IPEX than last year,
the quality and the many countries represented were surprisingly
high". Mr. Schreier referred to the company's performance
as "an excellent start to the new fiscal year".
Nevertheless, he explained, the world economy was still unlikely to
experience any tangible recovery before the second half of 2002.
Heidelberg has received orders from all over the world -
Western and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
Despite the difficult economic climate, Heidelberg was very
successful in all segments. Its orders included several hundred
printing units for eight, ten and twelve-color long perfectors for
medium and large formats, two M 600 and two Sunday 2000 web offset
presses, and additionally around 60 CtP machines. Visitors were
particularly interested in the ST 400 gang-stitcher which has an
exceptionally high level of automation and can be integrated into
the digital workflow. Digital printing was another focal point for
visitors. Many customers wasted no time in signing up at IPEX for
the NexPress 2100 digital color press, the Digimaster 9100
black-and-white high-performance system and direct imaging units.
"Our decision to invest in digital print technology has once
again been shown to be the right one", stated a pleased Holger
Reichardt, Member of Heidelberg's Management Board responsible
for Marketing and Sales.
The Prinect Center was another highlight of the trade show,
and provided visitors with demonstrations of how an integrated
print shop works in reality. The presses are controlled by the
production data which is combined with the business management
data.
"At IPEX we signed a contract every 6.6 minutes",
reports George Clarke who is in charge of the U.K. market. Virtual
Literature Management Ltd. (VLM) ordered its fifth NexPress unit at
the very start of the fair. VLM can now offer its portfolio of
services in both Birmingham and Dublin. A very substantial deal was
con-cluded with Hackman South West Print (HSW Print), who bought a
Speedmaster SM 102 twelve-color press with CutStar, an ST 400
gang-stitcher, a Stahlfolder and a Digimaster 9100. This is further
proof that customers are investing in both conventional and digital
technology in order to provide their customers with an extended
range of services.
For further information:
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Corporate Communications
Hans-Dieter Siegfried
Tel.: +49 (0)6221 92 50 63
Fax: +49 (0)6221 92 50 46
E-mail:
hans-dieter.siegfried@heidelberg.com