China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation (CBPM), the
world's largest banknote printer, recently entered into a
contract to purchase 12 Speedmaster CD 102 presses from
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg). This is the largest
order during the past four years for Heidelberg China, involving
some 60 printing units and six Prinect Image Control color
measuring systems.
At its six printing plants - located in Beijing, Shanghai,
Chengdu, Xi'an, Shijiazhuang and Nanchang - CBPM prints
banknotes, invoices and securities. Two Speedmaster CD 102 presses
are to go to each printing plant, one of them four-color and the
other half six-color. Installation of the first few presses will
start late this year and all the presses are scheduled to be in
place by spring 2007. "We took a close look at all the various
press manufacturers," stated Ao Huicheng, Chairman of the
Board of CBPM. "Ultimately, we are delighted to see Heidelberg
won the bid. And we are looking forward to a close partnership with
the world market leader for sheetfed offset presses," he
continued. The highly automated, top-quality Speedmaster CD 102
presses will be supplied with a special rainbow printing device for
securities, allowing simultaneous processing of different inks in a
single ink fountain.
"The high-quality and technically sophisticated
processes involved in the printing of banknotes fascinates
me," enthused Bernhard Schreier, Chairman of the Board of
Heidelberg. "We take great pride in the trust placed in us and
are looking forward to a good working relationship that will no
doubt involve many more technical developments," he continued.
CBPM is under the direct leadership of the state-owned
People's Bank of China and employs 30,000 staff at 18
enterprises and a technical center. The company's assets amount
to 11.4 billion yuan, equivalent to over 1.4 billion US-Dollars. It
specializes in producing Chinese currency and is involved in
everything from making paper for banknotes and designing and
printing them to minting coins, manufacturing credit cards and
refining gold and silver.
The growth market of China
Heidelberg has been established in China for over 40
years. Direct sales in the Asia-Pacific region, including China,
started in 1998. Heidelberg China covers the full solution
portfolio - from prepress, press and postpress to consumables,
service and training. Over 550 employees provide local support to
approximately 9,000 customers and prospective buyers. The
company's headquarters in China are situated in Beijing. Four
further key centers - Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Shenzhen -
boost sales and service operations in the region.
In 2006, Heidelberg became the first German equipment
manufacturer in the print media industry to set up an assembly
plant in China - in the Qingpu industrial zone of Shanghai. This
plant produces basic folders and small-format sheetfed offset
presses for the Chinese market.
China is Asia's most important growth market and the
company is committed to expanding its presence in the region. In
terms of sales, China is Heidelberg's fourth largest market,
behind the USA, Germany and the UK. The demand for print media in
China is high. The average Chinese consumer spends the equivalent
of ten US-Dollars a year on print products while the average West
European spends 400 US-Dollars and the average Japanese consumer
600 US-Dollars.
The print media industry in China encompasses over 180,000
businesses and around three million employees. There are more than
2,053 newspapers and in excess of 8,135 magazines.
Further information for journalists:
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Corporate Communications
Hilde Weisser
Tel.: +49 (0)6221 92 50 66
Fax: +49 (0)6221 92 50 46
E-mail:
hilde.weisser@heidelberg.com