1850

From Bells to Presses

On March 11, 1850, Andreas Hamm and his three partners establish the Hemmer, Hamm & Co. bell foundry and machine factory in Frankenthal. This event marks the birth of HEIDELBERG, as they also manufacture printing presses.

1890s

Heidelberg, here we come!

In 1894, Wilhelm Müller takes over the Hamm family’s Schnellpressenfabrik and moves production to Heidelberg, the renowned university city on the Neckar River. Despite economic challenges around 1900, innovation drives the future—the versatile Heureka rotary press provides fresh momentum, propelling the company forward.

1921

Birth of an icon

In 1921, the very first Schnellpressenfabrik Heidelberg windmill press goes into series production. Manufactured on an assembly line from 1926, the iconic Tiegel prints up to 3,000 sheets per hour. The machine quickly becomes a best- and long-seller and is the epitome of precision, performance and reliability.

1950

Our first 100 years

In October 1950, Schnellpressenfabrik Heidelberg celebrates its 100th anniversary. The ceremony, held in the cylinder production hall, attracts more than 200 guests. The day before the event, HEIDELBERG employees work tirelessly on the preparations...

1951

Co-founding drupa

In 1951, visionary HEIDELBERG CEO Hubert H.A. Sternberg co-founds drupa, which has since become the world's largest printing industry trade show and one of Europe's premier exhibitions. Highlight of the first edition: the latest version of the Tiegel which prints at the dazzling speed of 5,000 sheets per hour.

1957

From Wiesloch to the world

The “economic miracle” is in full swing: in July 1957, Schnellpressenfabrik Heidelberg opens its new factory in Wiesloch. The first phase of construction includes the two first production halls, an administrative building and an office wing. Three other halls are built up until 1968.

1975

The game changing press

A product of meticulous development work: introduced as a prototype in Chicago in 1974, the Speedmaster prints 11,000 sheets per hour. A year later, the sheetfed offset press for multicolor printing comes onto the market – and is still a bestseller today.

1999

Investment in Gallus

HEIDELBERG acquires a 30 percent stake in the Swiss printing press manufacturer Gallus, one of the market leaders in label printing. The company is fully taken over in 2014. Ferdinand Rüesch, the former owner of Gallus, becomes an anchor shareholder at HEIDELBERG.

2000

Pioneering digital transformation

In a year both feared and eagerly anticipated, HEIDELBERG leads the printing industry into the digital era with Prinect. This innovative workflow software streamlines prepress and printing operations, seamlessly integrating production steps for a flawless data flow.

2005

Expansion to China

In Qingpu, on the outskirts of Shanghai, HEIDELBERG is building an assembly hall. The production of folding machines starts in 2006. From 2007, sheetfed offset presses for the Chinese market are assembled in a second hall, followed by a third hall in 2010. Qingpu is a success story for the group.

2016

Welcome to the Smart Print Shop

HEIDELBERG is driving digitalization: Push to Stop enables fully automated production from prepress to press, with operators guided by intelligent assistance systems—an important step toward the autonomous pressroom. Plus, the HEIDELBERG eShop now enables customers to buy consumables and parts online.

2018

Powering eMobility

In 2018, HEIDELBERG leverages its expertise in electrical engineering to enter the e-mobility business. The company develops high-performance charging stations for electric cars, supplying around 20,000 units to a premium carmaker while also selling directly to private customers. In just a few years, over 100,000 HEIDELBERG wallboxes are sold, with sales now expanding beyond Germany.

2020

Hello, Robot

In 2020, HEIDELBERG introduces its first post-press robot, the StackStar P, to ease the heavy lifting for post-press operators—who can handle up to seven tons of paper per shift! (Psst... that’s more than the world’s largest elephant!) And in 2024, the new StackStar C takes print shop automation to the next level.

2023

The next big thing in packaging

Flexo printing is becoming one of the leading technologies in the packaging market. In 2023, HEIDELBERG presents the Boardmaster, a groundbreaking machine for high-quality folding carton printing. Developed in collaboration with international customers, the Boardmaster addresses their biggest challenges: cost efficiency, productivity, skills shortages, and sustainability.

2024

The drupa comeback

drupa is back again after an eight-year break – and it is a success for HEIDELBERG. The new Jetfire 50 press, developed in partnership with Canon, offers digital printing with inkjet technology and, thanks to Prinect, works in conjunction with offset machines. HEIDELBERG offers all the major printing technologies.

2025

HEIDELBERG, Home of Print

The Print Media Center (PMC) in Wiesloch-Walldorf gets a makeover and reopens as the “Home of Print”. On more than 10,000 square meters, guests can experience and test state-of-the-art printing solutions.

"We look to the future with a deep respect for our heritage and the determination to embrace new opportunities with courage"

This year, we proudly celebrate the 175th anniversary of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG. With a rich and eventful history, our company has always been defined by our commitment to listening to our customers, our spirit of innovation, the excellence of our engineers, and the quality of our products. Since 1850, HEIDELBERG has been synonymous with pioneering printing solutions valued around the world.

Our strength has always been our ability to develop and implement forward-thinking technologies—driven by the creativity and dedication of our employees—for the benefit of our customers. This efficiency has been the foundation of our lasting leadership in the printing industry.

As we mark this milestone, we look to the future with a deep respect for our heritage and the determination to embrace new opportunities with courage.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to our employees, customers, partners, and shareholders for their loyalty and trust. Together, we are shaping a future built on shared values and innovation.

From left to right: Dr. David Schmedding (Chief Technology & Sales Officer), Tania von der Goltz (Chief Financial Officer), and Jürgen Otto (Chief Executive Officer).

175 years of partnership and trust

Mumbai, India

Temple Packaging Pvt. Ltd.

“The precision, reliability and durability of the HEIDELBERG machines, including our Speedmaster XL 106, are key to meeting the high standards of the pharmaceutical packaging industry. The exceptional service and support make this partnership invaluable.”

Deer Park, NY, USA

All Color Printers

“HEIDELBERG has been part of our family since 1998, supporting our growth. Our Speedmaster presses, especially the new Speedmaster XL 106, continue to exceed our expectations. They provide the flexibility and quality we need to quickly meet the diverse needs of our customers.”

Lublin, Poland

Intrograf

“We work with HEIDELBERG not only in the printing sector, but also in technological development. We have nine machines, but for me they are more than that – they represent advanced technology. For me, what counts most is how a company supports its customers after the purchase. HEIDELBERG is outstanding in this respect.”

Allschwil, Switzerland

Rondo AG/Körber Pharma GmbH

"For around ten years now, we’ve mainly been printing on Peak Performance Class presses from HEIDELBERG. They’re the best at meeting our exceedingly high expectations in terms of quality and productivity, which makes them a vital competitive factor for us.”

Bangpakong, Thailand

Thung Hua Sinn Group

“Our success is based on innovation, automation and sustainability. Our partnership with HEIDELBERG is more than just a supplier relationship – it is a collaboration that drives our success.”

Milan region, Italy

Gpack

“We focus 80 percent of our efforts on luxury packaging, but we also offer standard packaging for food and beverages. For us, HEIDELBERG stands for reliability and quality, in keeping with the German tradition of engineering and mechanical engineering.”

Valencia, Spain

3Graphic

"The trusted relationship with HEIDELBERG helps us make the right decision when considering a new investment. For us, each piece of equipment must fit perfectly into the balance of our ecosystem. The business advice provided by our HEIDELBERG partners, their professional technical service and their training programs have been instrumental each time we have started the process of considering a new investment.”

Couches, France

B.Pack/Wauters Group

“We are very satisfied with HEIDELBERG as a partner for the packaging industry. We see HEIDELBERG as a competent partner who has listened to us and configured and delivered exactly the machines we need for luxury packaging.”

Tokyo, Japan

Smart Graphics Co, Ltd.

“With HEIDELBERG, we have made great strides in automating our production to become a smart printing company.”

Bradford, United Kingdom

Bahson Colour

“In 1995, our only HEIDELBERG machine was a five-color machine in B1 format. Over the years, our profile has shifted towards higher-quality and shorter-term projects. Today, 99 percent of our systems, from prepress to finishing, are from HEIDELBERG – a testament to the trust we have in the brand.”

Saint-Just-la-Pendue, France

Imprimerie Chirat

Founded in 1911, Chirat can draw on over a hundred years of family know-how and is one of the most dynamic printing companies in France. In 1996, Chirat was the first French printing company to install an eight-color offset press from HEIDELBERG. In 2019, it received the state EPV label for industrial excellence.

175 years of excellence in printing technology

1863: Toggle Press

Between 1861 and 1873, the Hamm-Albert partnership manufactures mechanical platen presses, as well as this toggle press, at their factory in Frankenthal.

1885: Pro Patria

In 1885, Andreas Hamm brings the new rapid-printing press Pro Patria onto the market. It can also be motorized and is a success: By 1892, more than 500 units have been sold.

1910: Heureka

The “Heureka”, a flatbed rotary press first built in 1908, is well received by the market and fills the order books of the “Schnellpressenfabrik Aktiengesellschaft Heidelberg”.

1921: Tiegel (aka "Platen press"or "the Windmill")

In 1921, the HEIDELBERG automatic platen press goes into series production. Manufactured on the assembly line from 1926, the iconic “Tiegel” prints up to 3,000 sheets per hour.

1962: The KOR (Kleine Offset Rotation)

Introduced at drupa 1962, the first HEIDELBERG offset web press, the KOR (Kleine Offset Rotation), prints in a format of 40 × 57 cm (15 3/4 × 22 1/2”).

1965: Rotaspeed

The Rotaspeed 71 x 102 cm (27.95 x 40.16 inches), a “large format” sheetfed offset machine, is presented at the Paris trade show in 1965. The series includes one, two, four and five color Rotaspeed offset machines and is manufactured until 1976.

1972: GTO (Großer Tiegel Offset)

The GTO series, which gave its name to an entire format category, is manufactured from 1972 and is the subject of continuous development over the years. It is perhaps the most successful series of offset presses of all time.

1975: Speedmaster

Presented for the first time in 1974 in Chicago in prototype form, the Speedmaster prints 11,000 sheets per hour. A year later, the sheet-fed offset press for multicolor printing was launched on the market.

2024: Speedmaster new generation

With the Speedmaster XL 106 unveiled at drupa 2024 and its impressive printing speed of 21,000 sheets per hour, the 100 million mark for annual prints is now within reach.

The Evolution of an Icon: 50 Years of Speedmaster Innovation

From the Tiegel to Speedmaster

The Speedmaster is more than just a printing press—it’s a symbol of our commitment to durability, innovation, and customer focus. From the legendary Original Heidelberg Tiegel to today’s state-of-the-art presses, our machines have shaped the industry for generations. Explore the fascinating journey of the Speedmaster family, from its groundbreaking debut in the 1970s to the cutting-edge 2025 generation, and see how we continue to set new standards in printing excellence.

The Evolution of an Icon: 50 Years of Speedmaster Innovation

Our employees: our strength

AT HEIDELBERG SINCE: 1979

Kevin Ramsbotham, UK

Head of SystemService UK
"What keeps me motivated? Solving customers' problems. There's nothing like a face-to-face conversation to understand the customer's needs."

AT HEIDELBERG SINCE: 2007

Ye Sun, China

IPQ and ISO System Manager Qingpu
“German quality made in Qingpu.” This is how Ye Sun describes the expertise at the production site in China. ”Everyone here respects each other – regardless of gender, nationality or skin color. Everyone contributes something from which others can learn."

AT HEIDELBERG SINCE: 2012

Christoph Naber, Germany

Specialist in machine adjustment for gear manufacturing
“I really identify with the company. We don't make mass-produced or mass-produced parts, so every day brings a new challenge.”

AT HEIDELBERG SINCE: 1999

Silvia Montes, Brazil

Territory Head, HEIDELBERG do Brasil
From trainee to general manager: more than 25 years ago, Silvia Montes began her career at HEIDELBERG Brazil in the finance department. Today, she heads the service and sales location in Santana de Parnaíba in the state of São Paulo. For her, it's the people that make the difference: ”The work and forward-looking attitude of each individual helps the company achieve its goals.”

AT HEIDELBERG SINCE: 2016

Toshinori Tsuno, Japan

Lifecycle operations engineer, field service
Tsuno points out that customers give him a warm welcome when they see the HEIDELBERG logo on his clothing because HEIDELBERG employees enjoy a high level of trust. “We don't just repair the machine – we also take care of the customer.”

AT HEIDELBERG SINCE: 2009

Nina Koch, Germany

Team Lead Marketing & Sales Support, E-mobility
“Doors always open up - especially when you have been trained and are employed by a large company like HEIDELBERG and have the opportunity to get to know very different areas.”

AT HEIDELBERG SINCE: 2010

Dwi Buntoro, Indonesia

Service Engineer
“Young people play a key role at HEIDELBERG – it’s a company that feels like family. More and more customers recognize the value of our services and see that we achieve growth together. Because at HEIDELBERG, it’s about more than just machines."

AT HEIDELBERG SINCE: 1983

Ben Nerstheimer, Germany

Electronics technician
“Even after 40 years, I still enjoy working at HEIDELBERG. But what I find particularly great is to feel how enthusiastic my son is about his vocational training and the company. I'm also in contact with other parents whose children work at HEIDELBERG, and you hear the same thing everywhere. The kids just love it here.”

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