Bernhard Schreier ceo Heidelberg worldwide, celebrating the event at Stationers' Hall, London in the company of Wolfgang Gorth and George Clarke, the former and current managing director of the UK operation respectively, indicated that packaging is going to be important in the company's future plans.
"Packaging will play a major role in the future. It is the most rapidly growing sector in the graphic arts industry. There is much to do. Our die cutters and folder gluers cannot be the end of the road," he said. "We have to extend our product portfolio and look at lower cost equipment."
"The board will sit" (this week) "to define strategic and fiscal investments." There are likely to be further announcements soon.
It is understood that UK packaging converters accounted for a third of the group visiting the company inforums on the XL 105 in January. Delegates visited the packaging beta test site in Germany. Feedback shows a 30 per cent productivity improvement over a CD 102, says the company.
The first diecutter, the Dymatrix 105, is being installed in the UK at Tipographic in February. A second folder gluer has also been sold in the UK, it is understood.
Today Heidelberg UK is fourth in the parent company's global league table with a turnover of £160M and a staff of 427.
Bernhard Schreier said: "During the 30 years that Heidelberg UK has been an SSU, and without adjusting for inflation, they have achieved sales of over £3.2billion in equipment, parts and service. That is not bad for a firstborn!"
| Contact |
| Heidelberg Graphic Equipment Ltd |
