03/11/2025
On March 11, 1850 – exactly 175 years ago – the Hemmer, Hamm & Co. bell foundry and machine shop opened in Frankenthal. Besides bells, it also made printing presses, which laid the foundations for the company now called Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HEIDELBERG). Precision, quality, and innovation were the success factors that transformed HEIDELBERG from a workshop based in the Palatinate region of Germany to a global player in the printing industry. “A company that can sustain its success over such a long period, become a world leader in its industry, and continue to shape the entire sector right up to the present day has strong credentials that are testament to its innovative capabilities. The defining feature of HEIDELBERG is the company’s understanding of markets, customers, and exceptional product quality,” says Jürgen Otto, CEO of HEIDELBERG. “We also intend to maintain and build on this leading position in the future,” he adds.
HEIDELBERG heads into the future with a strategy for growth
To achieve this, HEIDELBERG is tapping into growth potential in its traditional core business – from packaging and digital printing to software and lifecycle products. Recently, for example, the company has significantly expanded its portfolio in the growth market of industrial digital printing, including service and consumables. Global incoming orders confirm that sales of digital printing solutions will already start increasing substantially from the coming financial year. According to market assessments, the global digital printing market that is accessible to HEIDELBERG will grow from its current level of around 5 billion euros to 7.5 billion euros in 2029.
As for lifecycle business, HEIDELBERG boasts the industry’s most comprehensive service network, with a presence in approximately 170 countries.
Packaging printing enjoying strong growth worldwide
The end-customer market for packaging has grown by more than 60 percent over the past ten years. HEIDELBERG, too, is benefiting from this development. The packaging segment accounts for more than 50 percent of the company’s sales, a figure that is set to increase further still. One market driver is the global trend toward replacing plastics, films, and foils with recyclable fiber-based packaging.
Hybrid print production boosts competitiveness
Autonomous printing processes that make printing businesses more efficient and save on resources used to be regarded as a futuristic vision, but that changed some time ago. HEIDELBERG introduced its Push to Stop concept for a printing process with minimal operator intervention back in 2016. The AI-assisted Prinect Touch Free workflow showcased at drupa 2024 assigns print jobs to the most efficient production method and output system on an automated basis. Besides offset and digital systems from
HEIDELBERG and third-party suppliers, it also covers postpress operations, all the way through to the finished final product. Controlling hybrid print production in this way makes print shops much more competitive.
Growth in industrial business and with green technologies
“In addition to this, we will be further expanding our portfolio for industrial business and the growing green technologies market. This includes key sectors such as high-precision mechanical engineering, the automotive industry, charging infrastructure, software, and new hydrogen technologies,” reveals Otto. Taking into account all strategic initiatives in the period to financial year 2028/2029, and in conjunction with enhanced performance and efficiency at both staff and organizational levels, HEIDELBERG sees overall growth potential amounting to over 300 million euros. “The achievements of HEIDELBERG over the past 175 years are impressive. We have every reason to be confident that our current market position, the expertise of our staff, and our global customer relationships will deliver further growth in the coming years,” emphasizes Otto.
2025 is all about the company’s anniversary
HEIDELBERG will be organizing numerous events to celebrate its anniversary year with customers, partners, politicians, and representatives of civil society. The highlight will be a week of celebrations in June, including an international ceremony at the company’s largest production site, in Wiesloch-Walldorf. The HEIDELBERG customer demonstration center has been redesigned as the “Home of Print” for this purpose.
The company is organizing family days for staff at various sites. HEIDELBERG is also publishing an anniversary magazine providing insights into the company’s past, present, and future. “The loyalty of HEIDELBERG customers, partners, and staff is a mainstay of the company’s success. The numerous anniversary activities throughout the year are our way of saying thank you to everyone. At the same time, we want to encourage a shared commitment to shaping the future,” says Dr. David Schmedding, Chief Technology & Sales Officer at HEIDELBERG.
Milestones in the history of HEIDELBERG
You can read more about 175 years of HEIDELBERG and history on our anniversary website www.heidelberg.com/175, on the current Wikipedia page of the company, in the yearbook „150 years of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG“ and „A Press Is Born“.
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HEIDELBERG) is a leading technology company that has been standing for innovation, quality and reliability in mechanical engineering worldwide for 175 years. With a clear focus on growth, HEIDELBERG as a total solution provider is driving further development in the core areas of packaging and digital printing, software solutions and the lifecycle business with service and consumables so that customers can achieve maximum productivity and efficiency. The company is also focusing on expanding into new business areas such as high-precision plant engineering with integrated control, automation technology and robotics as well as the growing green technologies. With a strong international presence in approximately 170 countries, the creative power and expertise of its around 9,500 employees, its own production facilities in Europe, China and the USA and one of the largest global sales and service networks, the company is well-positioned for future growth.
Figure 1: Happy Birthday Heidelberger Druckmaschinen! March 11, 2025 marks the company’s 175th anniversary.
Figure 2: It was on March 11, 1850 that the Hemmer, Hamm & Co. bell foundry and machine shop opened in Frankenthal, laying the foundations for the company now called Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG.
Figure 3: By 1896, the company had its headquarters and production site in the city of Heidelberg.
Figure 4: 1921 saw the launch of the legendary Heidelberger Tiegel that was to make the company a world leader …
Figure 5: ... and also led to HEIDELBERG introducing assembly line production in 1926.
Figure 6: A key figure over the next 45 years was Hubert H.A. Sternberg, who was a board member from his initial appointment in 1926 until 1972 and really made his mark on HEIDELBERG.
Figure 7: Hubert H.A. Sternberg proved to be a marketing genius, introducing demonstration vehicles to take HEIDELBERG presses to customers for presentations from 1930 onward.
Figure 8: In 1957, HEIDELBERG opened its Wiesloch plant, which remains the company’s largest production site to date.
Figure 9: 1975 saw the market launch of the Speedmaster series, which built on the success of the Tiegel …
Figure 10: … and which, for many, remains the industry benchmark to this day, including the new Peak Performance generation.
Figure 11: In 2005, HEIDELBERG opened its Chinese production site in the Qingpu district of Shanghai – now a cornerstone of the production network.
Figure 12: Production of the Wallbox from HEIDELBERG started in Wiesloch-Walldorf in 2018. The company subsequently founded a subsidiary called Amperfied that successfully tapped into a new area of business – the electromobility market.
Figure 13: HEIDELBERG moved into robotics in 2020 and is gradually expanding its portfolio as it heads toward autonomous production.
Figure 14: The Boardmaster from HEIDELBERG for high-volume folding carton production in the growth market of packaging printing.
Figure 15: At drupa 2024, HEIDELBERG showcased the Jetfire 50 for industrial digital printing, making the company a total service provider for all relevant technologies in the printing industry.
Figure 16: From high-quality commercial products to packaging – HEIDELBERG has lived and breathed printing for 175 years.
Figure 17: Welcome to HEIDELBERG in the here and now – in 2025, its anniversary year, the company is opening its redesigned customer demonstration center as the “Home of Print”.
Image material, and further information about the company are available in the Investor Relations and Press Lounge of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG at www.heidelberg.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements based on assumptions and estimations by the Management Board of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft. Even though the Management Board is of the opinion that those assumptions and estimations are realistic, the actual future development and results may deviate substantially from these forward-looking statements due to various factors, such as changes in the macroeconomic situation, in the exchange rates, in the interest rates, and in the print media industry. Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft gives no warranty and does not assume liability for any damages in case the future development and the projected results do not correspond with the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.
Matthias Hartung
Press Officer – Print Systems and Technology
Tel.: +49 (0)6222 82 67174
Email: matthias.hartung@heidelberg.com
03/11/2025
On March 11, 1850 – exactly 175 years ago – the Hemmer, Hamm & Co. bell foundry and machine shop opened in Frankenthal. Besides bells, it also made printing presses, which laid the foundations for the company now called Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HEIDELBERG). Precision, quality, and innovation were the success factors that transformed HEIDELBERG from a workshop based in the Palatinate region of Germany to a global player in the printing industry. “A company that can sustain its success over such a long period, become a world leader in its industry, and continue to shape the entire sector right up to the present day has strong credentials that are testament to its innovative capabilities. The defining feature of HEIDELBERG is the company’s understanding of markets, customers, and exceptional product quality,” says Jürgen Otto, CEO of HEIDELBERG. “We also intend to maintain and build on this leading position in the future,” he adds.
HEIDELBERG heads into the future with a strategy for growth
To achieve this, HEIDELBERG is tapping into growth potential in its traditional core business – from packaging and digital printing to software and lifecycle products. Recently, for example, the company has significantly expanded its portfolio in the growth market of industrial digital printing, including service and consumables. Global incoming orders confirm that sales of digital printing solutions will already start increasing substantially from the coming financial year. According to market assessments, the global digital printing market that is accessible to HEIDELBERG will grow from its current level of around 5 billion euros to 7.5 billion euros in 2029.
As for lifecycle business, HEIDELBERG boasts the industry’s most comprehensive service network, with a presence in approximately 170 countries.
Packaging printing enjoying strong growth worldwide
The end-customer market for packaging has grown by more than 60 percent over the past ten years. HEIDELBERG, too, is benefiting from this development. The packaging segment accounts for more than 50 percent of the company’s sales, a figure that is set to increase further still. One market driver is the global trend toward replacing plastics, films, and foils with recyclable fiber-based packaging.
Hybrid print production boosts competitiveness
Autonomous printing processes that make printing businesses more efficient and save on resources used to be regarded as a futuristic vision, but that changed some time ago. HEIDELBERG introduced its Push to Stop concept for a printing process with minimal operator intervention back in 2016. The AI-assisted Prinect Touch Free workflow showcased at drupa 2024 assigns print jobs to the most efficient production method and output system on an automated basis. Besides offset and digital systems from
HEIDELBERG and third-party suppliers, it also covers postpress operations, all the way through to the finished final product. Controlling hybrid print production in this way makes print shops much more competitive.
Growth in industrial business and with green technologies
“In addition to this, we will be further expanding our portfolio for industrial business and the growing green technologies market. This includes key sectors such as high-precision mechanical engineering, the automotive industry, charging infrastructure, software, and new hydrogen technologies,” reveals Otto. Taking into account all strategic initiatives in the period to financial year 2028/2029, and in conjunction with enhanced performance and efficiency at both staff and organizational levels, HEIDELBERG sees overall growth potential amounting to over 300 million euros. “The achievements of HEIDELBERG over the past 175 years are impressive. We have every reason to be confident that our current market position, the expertise of our staff, and our global customer relationships will deliver further growth in the coming years,” emphasizes Otto.
2025 is all about the company’s anniversary
HEIDELBERG will be organizing numerous events to celebrate its anniversary year with customers, partners, politicians, and representatives of civil society. The highlight will be a week of celebrations in June, including an international ceremony at the company’s largest production site, in Wiesloch-Walldorf. The HEIDELBERG customer demonstration center has been redesigned as the “Home of Print” for this purpose.
The company is organizing family days for staff at various sites. HEIDELBERG is also publishing an anniversary magazine providing insights into the company’s past, present, and future. “The loyalty of HEIDELBERG customers, partners, and staff is a mainstay of the company’s success. The numerous anniversary activities throughout the year are our way of saying thank you to everyone. At the same time, we want to encourage a shared commitment to shaping the future,” says Dr. David Schmedding, Chief Technology & Sales Officer at HEIDELBERG.
Milestones in the history of HEIDELBERG
You can read more about 175 years of HEIDELBERG and history on our anniversary website www.heidelberg.com/175, on the current Wikipedia page of the company, in the yearbook „150 years of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG“ and „A Press Is Born“.
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HEIDELBERG) is a leading technology company that has been standing for innovation, quality and reliability in mechanical engineering worldwide for 175 years. With a clear focus on growth, HEIDELBERG as a total solution provider is driving further development in the core areas of packaging and digital printing, software solutions and the lifecycle business with service and consumables so that customers can achieve maximum productivity and efficiency. The company is also focusing on expanding into new business areas such as high-precision plant engineering with integrated control, automation technology and robotics as well as the growing green technologies. With a strong international presence in approximately 170 countries, the creative power and expertise of its around 9,500 employees, its own production facilities in Europe, China and the USA and one of the largest global sales and service networks, the company is well-positioned for future growth.
Figure 1: Happy Birthday Heidelberger Druckmaschinen! March 11, 2025 marks the company’s 175th anniversary.
Figure 2: It was on March 11, 1850 that the Hemmer, Hamm & Co. bell foundry and machine shop opened in Frankenthal, laying the foundations for the company now called Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG.
Figure 3: By 1896, the company had its headquarters and production site in the city of Heidelberg.
Figure 4: 1921 saw the launch of the legendary Heidelberger Tiegel that was to make the company a world leader …
Figure 5: ... and also led to HEIDELBERG introducing assembly line production in 1926.
Figure 6: A key figure over the next 45 years was Hubert H.A. Sternberg, who was a board member from his initial appointment in 1926 until 1972 and really made his mark on HEIDELBERG.
Figure 7: Hubert H.A. Sternberg proved to be a marketing genius, introducing demonstration vehicles to take HEIDELBERG presses to customers for presentations from 1930 onward.
Figure 8: In 1957, HEIDELBERG opened its Wiesloch plant, which remains the company’s largest production site to date.
Figure 9: 1975 saw the market launch of the Speedmaster series, which built on the success of the Tiegel …
Figure 10: … and which, for many, remains the industry benchmark to this day, including the new Peak Performance generation.
Figure 11: In 2005, HEIDELBERG opened its Chinese production site in the Qingpu district of Shanghai – now a cornerstone of the production network.
Figure 12: Production of the Wallbox from HEIDELBERG started in Wiesloch-Walldorf in 2018. The company subsequently founded a subsidiary called Amperfied that successfully tapped into a new area of business – the electromobility market.
Figure 13: HEIDELBERG moved into robotics in 2020 and is gradually expanding its portfolio as it heads toward autonomous production.
Figure 14: The Boardmaster from HEIDELBERG for high-volume folding carton production in the growth market of packaging printing.
Figure 15: At drupa 2024, HEIDELBERG showcased the Jetfire 50 for industrial digital printing, making the company a total service provider for all relevant technologies in the printing industry.
Figure 16: From high-quality commercial products to packaging – HEIDELBERG has lived and breathed printing for 175 years.
Figure 17: Welcome to HEIDELBERG in the here and now – in 2025, its anniversary year, the company is opening its redesigned customer demonstration center as the “Home of Print”.
Image material, and further information about the company are available in the Investor Relations and Press Lounge of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG at www.heidelberg.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements based on assumptions and estimations by the Management Board of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft. Even though the Management Board is of the opinion that those assumptions and estimations are realistic, the actual future development and results may deviate substantially from these forward-looking statements due to various factors, such as changes in the macroeconomic situation, in the exchange rates, in the interest rates, and in the print media industry. Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft gives no warranty and does not assume liability for any damages in case the future development and the projected results do not correspond with the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.
Press Officer – Print Systems and Technology
Tel.: +49 (0)6222 82 67174
