Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HEIDELBERG) is embarking on its 175th anniversary year with a clear growth strategy. The company, founded on March 11, 2025, has evolved from a small bell foundry in Frankenthal, Germany to a leading global technology company and total solutions provider for print shops and packaging applications. HEIDELBERG is poised for future success with its focus on expanding its core business in packaging, digital printing, software, and lifecycle business, as well as its growing presence in the green technologies market.
Jürgen Otto, CEO of HEIDELBERG, explains, “We are tapping into growth potential in our core business and expanding our offerings in the growing green technologies market. We see a medium-term sales potential of more than €300 million by the 2028/2029 financial year, while also increasing efficiency and consolidating performance.”
The company has already seen significant growth in the packaging market, which has expanded by more than 60% worldwide in the past ten years. To meet the increasing demand for sustainable packaging, HEIDELBERG has partnered with Solenis to offer printing solutions for recyclable packaging, particularly in the food industry. With over 50% of its turnover already coming from the packaging segment, HEIDELBERG is well-positioned to continue this upward trend.
In the digital printing market, HEIDELBERG is seizing opportunities for growth by expanding its offerings through partnerships, such as with Canon. The company expects significant increases in sales from its digital printing solutions, with incoming orders already confirming this prediction for the next financial year. The global digital printing market, including service and consumables, is expected to grow from around €5 billion to €7.5 billion by 2029.
HEIDELBERG’s strong international presence in around 170 countries is another key driver of growth. The company plans to continue expanding its international reach, particularly in growth markets such as Asia, the USA, and emerging markets. With more than 85% of its business conducted outside of Germany, HEIDELBERG is a true global player and world market leader.
In addition to its core business, HEIDELBERG is also focusing on expanding its industrial business to open up new product areas, markets, and industries. The company has extensive skills, expertise, and resources to support this growth, particularly in high-precision mechanical engineering, the automotive industry, electromobility, and hydrogen technologies. HEIDELBERG is also offering its expertise and installed capacities to other companies to efficiently industrialize or manufacture their products.
As the company celebrates its 175th anniversary, HEIDELBERG reflects on its history of shaping the printing industry with technological innovations, top quality, and maximum reliability. “Thanks to its impressive achievements over the past 175 years, the company is looking forward to further growth in the coming years with its current market position, the expertise of its employees, and global customer relationships,” says Jürgen Otto.
To celebrate this milestone, HEIDELBERG is hosting numerous events and activities throughout the year, including a week of celebrations at its Wiesloch-Walldorf headquarters in the newly designed demonstration center – the Home of Print. The company will also release an anniversary magazine showcasing its history and future direction.
With a workforce of around 9,500 employees, production facilities in several countries, and the densest sales and service network in the industry, HEIDELBERG is a true global player and world market leader from Germany. CEO Jürgen Otto concludes, “Our history demonstrates how entrepreneurship, technical expertise, and the genuine creative power of our employees can have a lasting impact on a company and an entire industry, even after 175 years.”
