Heidelberg Breaks the Ground for New Assembly Hall 11 at the Wiesloch Site
05/15/2006
- Company develops new assembly capacity for new format class
- Approx. 45 million Euro investment is largest at production site in ten years
Joined by Baden-Württemberg state leader Günther H.
Oettinger and prominent guests, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
(Heidelberg) today (May 15, 2006) broke the ground for its new
assembly hall - hall 11 - at the Wiesloch site. The hall measures
35,000 square meters (375,000 square feet) - equivalent to almost
five soccer fields - and will be used to assemble a new generation
of large-format presses. Heidelberg is investing around 45 million
Euro for this, which is the largest input of funds into the
Wiesloch site for the last ten years. "We can only build these
high-precision presses in Wiesloch, using the best-trained staff
and innovative production processes," said Heidelberg CEO,
Bernhard Schreier. "This new project sees us confirming our
position as world market leader in sheetfed offset," added
Schreier.
Construction of Hall 11 is due to be concluded by June 2007 and
assembly work is scheduled to start in September 2007 to coincide
with the 50th anniversary of the Wiesloch site. Currently the
world's largest and most advanced printing press factory, it
was officially opened in 1957.
Around six months ago, Heidelberg announced it was adding to the top end of its existing product portfolio with the large-format Speedmaster XL 142 and Speedmaster XL 162 presses. The new presses will support sheets twice the format of existing Heidelberg presses and can produce 40 A4 pages on the front and reverse sides of a sheet. "With the new format classes, we are looking to tap into new markets and, in particular, reinforce our commitment to packaging printing," explained Dr. Jürgen Rautert, Director for Engineering and Manufacturing at Heidelberg. Heidelberg plans to unveil the new format classes at drupa 2008 in Dusseldorf. The new presses are being developed in Heidelberg and will then be assembled in the new Hall 11 in Wiesloch.
Around six months ago, Heidelberg announced it was adding to the top end of its existing product portfolio with the large-format Speedmaster XL 142 and Speedmaster XL 162 presses. The new presses will support sheets twice the format of existing Heidelberg presses and can produce 40 A4 pages on the front and reverse sides of a sheet. "With the new format classes, we are looking to tap into new markets and, in particular, reinforce our commitment to packaging printing," explained Dr. Jürgen Rautert, Director for Engineering and Manufacturing at Heidelberg. Heidelberg plans to unveil the new format classes at drupa 2008 in Dusseldorf. The new presses are being developed in Heidelberg and will then be assembled in the new Hall 11 in Wiesloch.
The future assembly hall will boast state-of-the-art series
production and logistics for presses. The architecture of Hall 11
matches the products manufactured in Wiesloch, the entire hall
being designed like a press, with paper feeder, printing units, and
paper delivery. Heidelberg's image will be reflected in Hall
11, emphasizing the quality of the presses produced there and the
company's commitment to innovation.
Image 1: Heidelberg breaks the ground
Heidelberg breaks the ground for new assembly hall 11 at the Wiesloch site. Left to right: Stephan Plenz, Wiesloch site manager; Dr. Martin Schönheit, factory planning; Bernhard Schreier, CEO, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, Günther H. Oettinger, Baden-Württemberg state leader; Franz Schaidhammer, Lord Mayor of Wiesloch; Dr. Jürgen Rautert, Director for Engineering and Manufacturing at Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG.
Image 2: Aerial shot of Wiesloch with shaded area
Here (shaded) construction is underway for Heidelberg's new Hall 11 in Wiesloch. The hall measures 35,000 square meters (375,000 square feet) - equivalent to almost five soccer fields - and will be used to assemble a new generation of large-format presses.
Image 3: 3D graphic of Hall 11
Cutting-edge concepts in logistics and press production will be implemented in Hall 11. The architecture of Hall 11 matches the products manufactured in Wiesloch, the entire hall being designed like a press, with paper feeder, printing units, and paper delivery.
Wiesloch plant:
Largest printing press factory in the world
The opening of the Wiesloch site in 1957 represented an important milestone in Heidelberg's history. The main factory in Heidelberg had become too small to produce large presses. Today, the Wiesloch factory has a workforce of around 6,000 and covers an area of 860,000 square meters (9,250,000 square feet), making it the world's largest printing press production facility. Once the various outsourced parts have been supplied and all other parts have been produced in-house in Amstetten, Brandenburg and Wiesloch, all Heidelberg sheetfed offset presses are assembled in the Wiesloch plant. Over 400,000 Heidelberg presses are in use worldwide in over 240,000 print shops.
Facts and figures for the new Hall 11 in Wiesloch:
Area: 35,000 m² (375,000 sq ft)
Hall dimensions: Length 260 m (853 ft), width 135 m (443 ft), height 17 m (56 ft)
Crane lifting capacity: 63 metric tons
Floor: 50 cm (19.69 in) thick reinforced concrete floor
History of sheetfed offset format classes from Heidelberg. These are undergoing constant further development and adaptation to market needs:
Small format: 30 x 50 cm (11.81 x 19.69 in), since 1962
Medium format: 50 x 70 cm (19.69 x 27.56 in), since 1974
Large format: 70 x 100 cm (27.56 x 39.37 in), since 1975, 75 x 105 cm (29.53 x 41.34 in), since 2004
Large format 6: 102 x 142 cm (40.16 x 55.91 in), planned from 2008
Large format 7b: 120 x 162 cm (47.24 x 63.78 in), planned from 2008
Key milestones at Wiesloch:
1957: Opening of the world's largest and most modern printing press factory, with an area of 860,000 square meters (9,250,000 square feet) and approx. 6,000 employees. Since production started, over 400,000 printing units have been built.
1990: Construction of the new administration building with a new canteen in Wiesloch
1991: Construction of Hall 12 in Wiesloch for production of cams and gears. Construction of a computer center in Wiesloch
1995: Opening of the new training center in Wiesloch with approx. 400 trainees; 12 different career paths, and five vocational college courses
1998: New generation of processing centers for side frame production
1999: Opening of the World Logistics Center in Wiesloch, the print media industry's largest spare parts center with a storage area of approx. 20,000 square meters (215,000 square feet). Some 240,000 service parts can be ordered, of which approx. 110,000 are in stock. More than 1,100 deliveries each day.
2003: The "High Performance Production HPP 2006" project gets underway in production (Wiesloch, Brandenburg, and Amstetten)
2006: Launch of the Heidelberg Production System HPS based on HPP 2006. Aim is to keep unit labor costs competitive, boost productivity and product quality, and safeguard jobs at the site. Construction begins on Hall 11, where the new large format classes are to be assembled.
For further information:
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Corporate Communications
Hans-Dieter Siegfried
Tel.: +49 (0)6221 92 50 63
Fax: +49 (0)6221 92 50 46
E-mail: hans-dieter.siegfried@heidelberg.com
Image 1: Heidelberg breaks the ground
Heidelberg breaks the ground for new assembly hall 11 at the Wiesloch site. Left to right: Stephan Plenz, Wiesloch site manager; Dr. Martin Schönheit, factory planning; Bernhard Schreier, CEO, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, Günther H. Oettinger, Baden-Württemberg state leader; Franz Schaidhammer, Lord Mayor of Wiesloch; Dr. Jürgen Rautert, Director for Engineering and Manufacturing at Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG.
Image 2: Aerial shot of Wiesloch with shaded area
Here (shaded) construction is underway for Heidelberg's new Hall 11 in Wiesloch. The hall measures 35,000 square meters (375,000 square feet) - equivalent to almost five soccer fields - and will be used to assemble a new generation of large-format presses.
Image 3: 3D graphic of Hall 11
Cutting-edge concepts in logistics and press production will be implemented in Hall 11. The architecture of Hall 11 matches the products manufactured in Wiesloch, the entire hall being designed like a press, with paper feeder, printing units, and paper delivery.
Wiesloch plant:
Largest printing press factory in the world
The opening of the Wiesloch site in 1957 represented an important milestone in Heidelberg's history. The main factory in Heidelberg had become too small to produce large presses. Today, the Wiesloch factory has a workforce of around 6,000 and covers an area of 860,000 square meters (9,250,000 square feet), making it the world's largest printing press production facility. Once the various outsourced parts have been supplied and all other parts have been produced in-house in Amstetten, Brandenburg and Wiesloch, all Heidelberg sheetfed offset presses are assembled in the Wiesloch plant. Over 400,000 Heidelberg presses are in use worldwide in over 240,000 print shops.
Facts and figures for the new Hall 11 in Wiesloch:
Area: 35,000 m² (375,000 sq ft)
Hall dimensions: Length 260 m (853 ft), width 135 m (443 ft), height 17 m (56 ft)
Crane lifting capacity: 63 metric tons
Floor: 50 cm (19.69 in) thick reinforced concrete floor
History of sheetfed offset format classes from Heidelberg. These are undergoing constant further development and adaptation to market needs:
Small format: 30 x 50 cm (11.81 x 19.69 in), since 1962
Medium format: 50 x 70 cm (19.69 x 27.56 in), since 1974
Large format: 70 x 100 cm (27.56 x 39.37 in), since 1975, 75 x 105 cm (29.53 x 41.34 in), since 2004
Large format 6: 102 x 142 cm (40.16 x 55.91 in), planned from 2008
Large format 7b: 120 x 162 cm (47.24 x 63.78 in), planned from 2008
Key milestones at Wiesloch:
1957: Opening of the world's largest and most modern printing press factory, with an area of 860,000 square meters (9,250,000 square feet) and approx. 6,000 employees. Since production started, over 400,000 printing units have been built.
1990: Construction of the new administration building with a new canteen in Wiesloch
1991: Construction of Hall 12 in Wiesloch for production of cams and gears. Construction of a computer center in Wiesloch
1995: Opening of the new training center in Wiesloch with approx. 400 trainees; 12 different career paths, and five vocational college courses
1998: New generation of processing centers for side frame production
1999: Opening of the World Logistics Center in Wiesloch, the print media industry's largest spare parts center with a storage area of approx. 20,000 square meters (215,000 square feet). Some 240,000 service parts can be ordered, of which approx. 110,000 are in stock. More than 1,100 deliveries each day.
2003: The "High Performance Production HPP 2006" project gets underway in production (Wiesloch, Brandenburg, and Amstetten)
2006: Launch of the Heidelberg Production System HPS based on HPP 2006. Aim is to keep unit labor costs competitive, boost productivity and product quality, and safeguard jobs at the site. Construction begins on Hall 11, where the new large format classes are to be assembled.
For further information:
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Corporate Communications
Hans-Dieter Siegfried
Tel.: +49 (0)6221 92 50 63
Fax: +49 (0)6221 92 50 46
E-mail: hans-dieter.siegfried@heidelberg.com
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