Heidelberg predicts good business in 2013

“Development in the industry continues to be stable and demand for our products is robust,’ said Heidelberg's new chief executive officer, Gerold Linzbach. “Based on the current financial year to date, we are confident we will meet our targets. You have to study them, along with others published this week, and they will provide you with a pretty good idea of how the industry progressing, although still feeling the effects of the current financial situation and economic slowdown that is far from over,” stated the release issued by the company.

Asked why despite of slow recuperation rate from economic slowdown several leading players are hoping that 2013 might usher in better business conditions, Klaus Bach Nielsen, managing director, Heidelberg India said, “The economic slow-down in Europe has had an impact on the Indian market. However, since the domestic economy makes-up approximately 80% of the total GDP, it is local conditions including Government policies that have a greater impact on our business environment.”

“The domestic market is large, and there is scope for good business in 2013. However, a lot will depend on business and reform-friendly government policies. We may see a slowdown in the economy six-months prior to the elections scheduled to be held in 2014. As far as Heidelberg India is concerned, sales this year is slightly up compared to the last year. We are also witnessing a good improvement in the second-quarter as compared to the first-quarter of the current financial year, indicating a return of a positive business sentiment,” he added

Heidelberg India plans to cement its position on the Indian turf with the addition of new business segments. “With sales of our new businesses like consumables and digital equipment picking up tremendously, we assess that we are on the right track. Apart from providing superior equipment, on-site PMA courses, our after-sales service and spare-parts availability is a big advantage that we have over any other manufacturer,” added Nielsen.

In the recent years, a major thrust point for offset press manufacturers, owing to its impressive growth rate in the last couple of years, has been packaging. Heidelberg India plans to capitalise on its expertise in sheetfed offset technology to penetrate the packaging segment. “Being the worlds’ sheetfed technology leader, we have lots to offer to packaging printers who are focusing on printing at the lowest cost-per-sheet, highest quality and with minimal waste. We have strengthened our packaging solutions further, by offering the new Heidelberg CX 102 model, which was recently introduced at Drupa. This is besides the upgrade of our bestseller CD 102 with many XL 106 technological features,” said Peter Rego, general manager, equipment sales, Heidelberg India.

“Heidelberg is also making in-roads into packaging post-press solutions specially die-cutter and folder-gluer business,” he informed.