German printing company Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HEIDELBERG) has announced its growth strategy for the upcoming year, as it marks its 175th anniversary on March 11, 2025. The company, which began as a bell foundry in Frankenthal in the Palatinate region of Germany, has evolved into a leading global technology company and total solutions provider for print shops and packaging applications.
HEIDELBERG’s CEO Jürgen Otto states that the company’s clear growth strategy includes tapping into potential in its core business areas such as packaging, digital printing, and the software and lifecycle business. Additionally, HEIDELBERG plans to expand its offering in the growing green technologies market, with a focus on high-precision mechanical engineering, the automotive industry, charging infrastructure and software, and new hydrogen technologies. The company estimates a sales potential of more than € 300 million by the 2028/2029 financial year through these strategic initiatives.
One of the main drivers of HEIDELBERG’s growth is the constantly growing demand for packaging, with the end customer market for packaging growing by more than 60 percent worldwide over the past ten years. HEIDELBERG’s cooperation with Solenis allows them to respond to the global trend towards paper-based packaging and offer solutions for printing recyclable packaging, particularly for the food industry. The company already generates over 50 percent of its turnover in the packaging segment and expects this trend to continue.
In addition, HEIDELBERG is taking advantage of the opportunities in the growing industrial digital printing market, which is estimated to grow from around € 5 billion today to € 7.5 billion by 2029. The company has expanded its offering through its partnership with Canon and expects increased sales in this area in the upcoming financial year.
HEIDELBERG also sees potential for growth in its strong international presence in around 170 countries worldwide. The company plans to continue expanding this internationalization, particularly in growth markets such as Asia, the USA, and emerging markets. More than 85 percent of the company’s business is already conducted outside Germany.
Another focus for HEIDELBERG is its industrial business, where the company plans to open up new product areas, markets, and industries. With its extensive skills, expertise, and resources, HEIDELBERG is already using its capabilities in areas outside the printing industry, such as high-precision mechanical engineering, the automotive industry, electromobility, and hydrogen. The company also plans to offer its expertise and installed capacities to other companies in order to efficiently produce or manufacture their products.
As HEIDELBERG celebrates its 175th anniversary, it looks back on a long history of shaping the printing industry with innovative developments such as the “Original Heidelberger Tiegel” and the “Speedmaster” model series for sheetfed offset printing. CEO Jürgen Otto states, “175 years of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen are a strong testimony to consistency, as well as innovative strength and thus future viability.” The company plans to celebrate its anniversary with numerous events and activities throughout the year, including a week of celebrations at its Wiesloch-Walldorf headquarters in the newly designed demonstration center – the Home of Print.
With around 9,500 employees worldwide and production facilities in several countries and regions, including China and the USA, HEIDELBERG is a true global player and world market leader from Germany. “Our history impressively demonstrates how entrepreneurship, technical expertise, and the genuine creative power of our employees can have a lasting impact on a company over such a long period of time and, far beyond that, on an entire industry to this day,” says Otto.
For further information and images, visit the Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG press portal at www.heidelberg.com.
Important note:
This press release contains forward-looking statements based on assumptions and estimates made by the management of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft. Even if the company management is of the opinion that these assumptions and estimates are accurate, actual future developments and future actual results may deviate considerably from these assumptions and estimates due to a variety of factors. These factors may include, for example, changes in the overall economic situation, exchange rates and interest rates as well as changes within the graphic arts industry. Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft provides no guarantee and assumes no liability that future developments and the actual results achieved in the future will correspond to the assumptions and estimates made in this press release.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.