Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG: World's most advanced printing industry research center opens - Heidelberg a pioneer of digitization in mechanical engineering

Dow Jones received a payment from EQS/DGAP to publish this press release.

DGAP-Media / 2018-12-13 / 13:30 
 
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) is setting new competitive 
standards in the global printing industry. By opening its new Innovation 
Center (IVC) at the Wiesloch-Walldorf headquarters in Baden-Württemberg, the 
company is stepping up its efforts to maintain its technology leadership and 
shape the digital transformation process in the printing sector. 
 
In addition to securing numerous jobs, the new Innovation Center also 
substantiates a recent analysis published in October by the World Economic 
Forum (WEF) in Geneva, which concluded that the innovative capability of 
Germany is superior to any other country in the world, including the United 
States. Only by investing over 100 million euros in research and development 
every year has Heidelberg succeeded in emerging stronger from years of 
structural change in the industry in these times of digital transformation. 
 
"With its Innovation Center, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG is demonstrating 
how a company can use the signs of the times to shape its future. Throughout 
its history, the company has always combined a traditional engineering culture 
with innovative technologies. This dovetailing is a vital factor in today's 
opening of the printing industry's most advanced research facility," said 
Minister President Winfried Kretschmann, who went on to call the newly opened 
Innovation Center a leading light of mechanical engineering in 
Baden-Württemberg. 
 
Over 1,000 staff will immediately start working on the digital future of 
Heidelberg and the printing industry at the new center. Newspaper and magazine 
printing is in decline due to structural factors, but that is not the core 
business of Heidelberg. Due primarily to packaging and label printing, the 
industry as a whole is growing and generates annual sales exceeding 400 
billion euros. Heidelberg is also increasingly unlocking new market segments 
outside the graphic arts industry, such as electric mobility. 
 
"Germany's mechanical engineering prowess is highly rated worldwide and we are 
still the number one in this field. The purpose of our new think tank is to 
ensure we continue to build on our technology leadership in the future - and 
that includes the digitization of the print media industry," said Heidelberg 
CEO Rainer Hundsdörfer. 
 
By investing some 50 million euros in the new Innovation Center, Heidelberg is 
aiming to gain a clear edge over its competitors around the globe in the 
future. It has also helped Germany overtake Switzerland as Europe's most 
competitive national economy and become the third most competitive country in 
the world. 
 
"Digitization in particular requires totally new forms of collaboration. With 
its Innovation Center, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG is responding to the 
challenges posed by a transformation process that is currently sweeping 
through every sector. Here in Baden-Württemberg, where cutting-edge 
technology, precision, and absolute reliability are an integral part of our 
history and culture, the Heidelberg IVC is a shining example of how digital 
transformation can succeed. By systematically networking various working 
levels, the center is setting new standards in communication and agility," 
emphasized Kretschmann. 
 
*Innovation Center offers staff a new working environment - entire development 
process under one roof* 
The new Innovation Center also marks the beginning of a new era for staff in 
terms of their working environment. It uses ultra-modern, innovative 
practices, with teamwork, communication, work at different locations, and a 
combination of personal workstations and communication zones ensuring a 
pleasant, creative atmosphere. "The IVC is now 'Open for Innovation' and marks 
the start of a new approach to work at Heidelberg," explains Head of Research 
& Development Frank Kropp. From developing an idea, securing a patent, and 
creating a digital twin all the way through to approving individual components 
and the product as a whole, the entire development process takes place within 
the same four walls. 
 
The building concept aims to make communication/teamwork between employees as 
easy as possible. In addition to personal workstations, for example, there are 
also office environments without any fixed assignment, relaxed seating areas, 
and even options for working outdoors to encourage teamwork. What's more, 
digital reviews are possible thanks to interactive monitors. A bistro, various 
break areas, and kitchens for making coffee are available to employees and 
guests alike. There are also numerous zones where people can take themselves 
off to work in peace and quiet. 
 
*Globally unique development environment* 
The project to convert a former production hall where around 500 staff worked 
into an Innovation Center for over 1,000 employees is a world first. A total 
gross area of around 40,000 square meters at the Wiesloch-Walldorf site now 
includes a state-of-the-art office area totaling some 26,000 square meters and 
approximately 14,000 square meters for laboratories and testing. The office 
area comprises 13 sections, each accommodating 80 staff, and a space of around 
3,700 square meters has been set aside for the 43 laboratories alone. "The new 
center is an innovation platform geared to communication and transparency, 
which makes it the key to a change in culture at Heidelberg and also a symbol 
of this change," concludes Stephan Plenz, member of the Heidelberg Management 
Board responsible for Technology. 
 
Images of the event: 
 
https://www.heidelberg.com/global/en/company/press_1/press_kits/opening_innova 
tion_center_wiesloch_2018/opening_innovation_center_wiesloch.jsp [1] 
 
For additional details about the company and image material, please visit the 
Press Lounge of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG at www.heidelberg.com [2]. 
 
*Heidelberg IR now on Twitter:* 
Link to the IR Twitter channel: https://twitter.com/Heidelberg_IR [3] 
On Twitter under the name: @Heidelberg_IR 
 
Contact: 
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG 
 
Corporate Public Relations 
Thomas Fichtl 
Phone: [phone] 
Fax: [phone] 
E-mail: [e-mail] 
 
Investor Relations 
Robin Karpp 
Phone: [phone] 
Fax: [phone] 67120 
E-Mail: [e-mail] 
 
*Important note:* 
 
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 macro-economic 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. 
 
End of Media Release 
 
Issuer: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG 
 
2018-12-13 Dissemination of a Press Release, transmitted by DGAP - a service 
of EQS Group AG. 
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. 
 
The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, 
Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. 
Archive at www.dgap.de 
Language: English 
Company:  Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG 
          Kurfürsten-Anlage 52-60 
          69115 Heidelberg 
          Germany 
Phone:    [phone] 
Fax:      [phone] 
E-mail:   [e-mail] 
Internet: www.heidelberg.com 
ISIN:     DE0007314007 
WKN:      731400 
Indices:  SDAX 
Listed:   Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Regulated 
          Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Hanover, Munich, 
          Stuttgart, Tradegate Exchange 
 
End of News DGAP Media 
 
757653 2018-12-13 
 
 
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3: https://link.cockpit.eqs.com/cgi-bin/fncls.ssp?fn=redirect&url=df7df9f75e519b1d421606f060937c9e&application_id=757653&site_id=vwd&application_name=news 
 

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

December 13, 2018 07:30 ET (12:30 GMT)