Heidelberg Takes Over Swiss Sales Partner |
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| 11/01/2000 |
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Customers in Switzerland and Liechtenstein now served directly
With effect from November 1, 2000, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) will take over the shares of its previous Swiss sales partner Lüscher, Leber + Cie AG. At the start of the new fiscal year on April 1, 2001, the merger will then take place under the umbrella of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Schweiz AG. Heidelberg plans to take over the workforce and the infrastructure currently in place at Lüscher, Leber + Cie AG.
Consequently, the world market leader will be directly responsible for the key Swiss and Liechtenstein markets. "This is a further step towards realigning our international sales structure", says Holger Reichardt, Marketing Director at Heidelberg. The direct contact will ensure that customers get comprehensive and personal advice and receive all their needs from a single source.
This development means that Heidelberg is now also able to offer its complete portfolio of solutions - covering prepress, press and postpress - directly to the Swiss market. Heidelberg is able to offer a complete range of products in the printing sector, including web, sheetfed and digital printing presses. This portfolio is augmented by a full range of services, consultancy and consumables. The network of the Heidelberg Print Media Academy - the center for knowledge, education and training in the print media industry - is also freely accessible to all Swiss and Liechtenstein customers.
The future Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Schweiz AG will have a workforce of 190. Sales are anticipated of over 125 million Swiss Francs. Heidelberg will cater to some 6,000 customers from its two sites in Bern and Wallisellen. The Bern site focuses on printing presses and finishing equipment. Wallisellen concentrates on prepress and digital solutions.
Reginald Rettig will lead the new Swiss team in his capacity as Chairman of the Management Board. As of November 1, 2000, he will be in charge of Lüscher, Leber + Cie AG and, following the merger, will be at the head of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Schweiz AG. He was previously in charge of Heidelberg's Frankfurt branch. He will be supported in his work by Urs Saner who will occupy the position of deputy chairman and will be responsible for sales and marketing. Rolf Gisler will take over management responsibilities for personnel, while Ernst Schmocker will be in charge of the Digital section following the merger. Ernst Schmocker is already Managing Director of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Schweiz AG, which has been created from the former Swiss sales organization of Linotype-Hell AG.
Heidelberg - never far away from the customer
Since 1995, Heidelberg has taken over 50 trading partners and now earns around 85 percent of its sales through its own sales companies. Satisfied customers and higher than average growth in sales reaffirm the correctness of this restructuring.
Successful examples can be found worldwide, for example in France, Mexico and Asia where, in May 1998, Heidelberg took over the companies operated by the Danish trading company East Asiatic Company in eighteen different countries.
Heidelberg has a workforce worldwide of over 25,000 employees (as at October 2000). In the 1999/2000 fiscal year (March 30, 1999 to April 1, 2000) the company achieved sales worldwide of 4.602 billion Euro. The annual profit was 251 million Euro.
Central Europe - which includes Switzerland - accounts for 41.5 percent of sales, thereby making it Heidelberg’s largest sales region. It is followed by the Nafta region (North America, Canada, Mexico) with 33.7 percent and Asia/Pacific with 16 percent. With 250 branches in 170 countries, Heidelberg has the densest sales and service network in the industry. In April 2000, to mark the company’s 150th anniversary, the Print Media Academy opened its doors in Heidelberg. Heidelberg’s solutions portfolio is therefore all-embracing - and includes not only hardware and software, but also “brainware”.
For further information:
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Investor Relations
Dirk Kaliebe
Tel: +49 (0)6221 92 60 20
Fax: +49 (0)6221 92 60 61
e-mail:
dirk.kaliebe@heidelberg.com
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Company Profile
Over the course of its more than 150-year history, Heidelberg has grown from a traditional printing press manufacturer to become the world's largest solutions provider for the print media industry. With its seamlessly integrated hardware and software solutions, it has established a commanding lead over other market players. Heidelberg is a one-stop supplier of everything from prepress solutions to a wide range of products for printing and finishing processes, relevant training and accompanying services.
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