Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG is entering its anniversary year 2025 with a growth-oriented strategy: March 11, 2025 will mark the 175th anniversary of the company's founding. What began in 1849 as a bell foundry in Frankenthal, Palatinate, has developed over more than a century and a half into a leading global technology company and a provider of comprehensive solutions for printing and packaging applications.
“To expand our market position, we are increasingly taking advantage of the growth potential in our core packaging and digital printing business, as well as in the software and lifecycle business,” he says. Jürgen Otto, CEO of HEIDELBERG. “We will also continue to expand our offering in the growing market for green technologies. This includes key areas such as high-precision mechanical engineering, the automotive industry, infrastructure and software, and new hydrogen technologies.” In total, HEIDELBERG expects growth potential of more than €300 million in sales for all strategic initiatives for the 2028/2029 fiscal year, while consolidating performance and increasing efficiency.
The packaging market has experienced significant growth since 2014
HEIDELBERG has benefited from the growing global demand in the packaging market. The end-customer market for packaging has grown by more than 60 percent worldwide over the past ten years. In cooperation with Solenis, HEI DELBERG is responding to the global trend away from plastic and foil in favor of paper packaging and will in future offer solutions for printing recyclable packaging, especially for the food industry. The company already generates more than 50 percent of its turnover in the packaging segment and the trend is clearly set for further growth.
According to market estimates, the global addressable digital printing market for HEIDELBERG, including services and consumables, will grow from the current €5.000 billion to €7.500 billion by 2029. HEIDELBERG has significantly expanded its offering, also through its cooperation with Canon. This will significantly increase sales of digital printing solutions. Incoming orders will already confirm this from the next financial year.
International business with great potential
HEIDELBERG sees a strong international presence in around 170 countries around the world. The company will continue to expand this internationalization, especially in growth markets such as Asia, the USA and emerging markets. HEIDELBERG is best positioned for this, especially in China, thanks to its local production and the partnership with MK Masterwork. More than 85 percent of the company's business is already conducted outside Germany.
Another business focus is the opening up of HEIDELBERG's industrial services to new product areas, markets and industries. To this end, the company has extensive skills, know-how and resources that are already being used outside the printing industry, especially in the fields of high-precision mechanical engineering, the automotive industry, electromobility and hydrogen. The company is also increasingly offering its expertise and its own facilities to other companies for the efficient industrialisation or manufacturing of their products.
Numerous anniversary activities throughout the year
HEIDELBERG has been in the printing industry for 175 years. Throughout its history, the company has achieved pioneering developments such as the “Original Heidelberger Tiegel” model series and the “Speedmaster” for sheetfed offset printing. “The 175 years of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen are a clear testament to consistency, innovative strength and thus future-proofness,” says Jürgen Otto. “Thanks to the impressive achievements of the past 175 years, the company expects to continue to grow in the coming years thanks to its current market position, the experience of its workforce and customer relationships around the world.”
.Together with customers, employees and partners, HEIDELBERG is celebrating its anniversary with numerous events and activities. In the summer, for example, there will be a week of celebrations at the Wiesloch-Walldorf headquarters in the new demonstration centre – the Home of Print – including an anniversary ceremony with guests from all over the world, i.e. customers, suppliers, partners and representatives of politics and society. Family days for employees are planned at each of the locations. In addition, there will be an anniversary magazine presenting the company's history and working towards the future.