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:
claudia.cischek@heidelberg.com