Successful Start to drupa for Heidelberg

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) has already exceeded its 1995 figures (just below 500 million Euro) through sales generated from orders received over the first half of the Düsseldorf drupa. 
 
"The latest sales figures for the fair indicate that we going to extend our leading position in the print media industry", stated Bernhard Schreier, Chairman of the Management Board of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG. Heidelberg has recorded excellent halfway figures after seven days into the fair. Around 200.000 visitors visited Halls 1, 2 and 5 along with the outside pavilion, and were all impressed by Heidelberg's solution approach. WOur customers' reaction to the new Heidelberg has been overwhelming", said Bernhard Schreier. "This will be the most successful drupa so far for our company."
 
Orders from the prepress, press and postpress sectors
Schreier believes that Heidelberg's appearance as a solution provider for the graphic arts industry is a complete success. "We have had great success in selling solutions covering the entire printing process chain." An American customer, for example, placed an order for products in the prepress, press and postpress sectors to a value of more than ten million D-Mark.
 
Prepress
Many customers, however, are opting for individual products as part of their solution. The new high-end Primescan D 8400 drum scanner announced at drupa was sold to a German customer of the very first day of the exhibition. Further orders weren't far behind. One customer ordered as many as eight of the new Topsetter 102 CtP system.
 
Press
The positive trend continued in the sheetfed offset sector. A fact confirmed by numerous customer orders during the fair. A Brazilian customer, for example, purchased twelve printing units of the Speedmaster CD 102 packaging press. A German customer ordered 14 Speedmaster 102 printing units, while another purchased seven Speedmaster 52 units. These successes were reinforced by several sales of the new Speedmaster CD74 packaging press.

There were also further successes in the black/white digital sector. A contract for the 1000th Digimaster was signed at the fair. The introduction of the Nexpress 2100 is one of the highlights of the exhibition. "Heidelberg is combining the quality of offset printing with the flexibility of digital printing in a single machine - the Nexpress 2100", explained Schreier. In addition, Heidelberg has been able to highlight its leading position in the digital offset sector of the market by concluding several new contracts. One Japanese prepress business bought two Speedmaster 74 DI presses alone.
 
In the web offset sector, Heidelberg received orders for around 90 million D-Mark in the first few days of the exhibition. Orders were received for a Sunday 2000, 3000 and 4000. The Mainstream 80 newspaper rotary press was also unveiled at drupa and found a warm response. One UK publisher announces intent to place an order for seven Mainstream presses.
 
Postpress
The success of Heidelberg's solution strategy is particularly evident in the postpress sector. Many customers have also opted for a finishing solution to go with their press. But specialist customers such as bookbinders are also buying products from Heidelberg's solution portfolio.
 
Mr. Schreier regards the situation in the services sector with great optimism. "The increased demand for services, consulting, remote service and maintenance shows that customers are putting their confidence in us as their partner for the future."

For further information:
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Corporate Communications
Thomas Fichtl 
Tel.: +49 (0)6221 92 47 47
Fax: +49 (0)6221 92 50 69
E-mail: thomas.fichtl@heidelberg.com