Heidelberg powers ahead with tech transformation plans

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) has made full use of financial year 2025/2026 to significantly accelerate its transformation into a more broadly based technology company, despite a challenging environment. Based on its strong industry and systems expertise, Heidelberg has adopted an approach centred on dual-use technologies to systematically tap into additional markets in the areas of defence, security, energy, charging infrastructure and industrial system solutions, now combining all relevant activities under the umbrella of HD Advanced Technologies GmbH.

One particular driver of this development is in Heidelberg’s digital print ramp-up in the inkjet market, steadily building on its position as a systems integrator and increasingly covering the entire packaging production value chain on an end-to-end basis. For example, Heidelberg has substantially extended its strategic post-press packaging partnership with the Chinese manufacturer Masterwork, moving beyond the previous sales and distribution collaboration. At the same time, the company is pressing ahead with the technological development of its core business portfolio and systematically expanding its activities in growth regions such as Latin America, Vietnam, and India. In addition to this, focused strategic M&A measures such as acquiring the brand rights of Polar are further strengthening the portfolio.

Dr. David Schmedding, Chief Technology & Sales Officer at Heidelberg, says: “The packaging market is a key growth engine for us, because it is being driven by global trends such as population growth, urbanisation, and the necessity for sustainable business practices. We are systematically extending our solutions to cover the entire manufacturing process in packaging production – from substrate selection, printing, post-press operations, and logistics all the way through to digital integration.”

Heidelberg has also focused on efficiency measures, such as completely relocating production of the Speedmaster CX104 to China and opening a new site in North Macedonia to reduce future manufacturing costs for individual product groups.

Whilst all this activity has seen EBITDA margin down on the previous financial year, sales and the net result after taxes have improved, keeping Heidelberg’s operational performance stable in spite of a challenging global economic environment.

Having also recently initiated a joint venture with US/Israeli technology company Ondas, focusing on the development of autonomous anti-drone defence and security systems, Jürgen Otto, CEO of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, confirms: “In recent months, we have significantly accelerated the strategic development of Heidelberg and further raised our profile as a technology-oriented high-tech business.”

“We are one of the world’s top companies when it comes to complex, high-precision mechanical engineering. With HD Advanced Technologies and our focus on dual-use technologies, we are now leveraging this expertise and capacity to create additional, attractive areas of business alongside our core business in printing and packaging. Thanks to our broad technology base, we are successfully establishing partnerships in attractive growth areas, including service and software. Our goal is clear: to position Heidelberg as a high-performance, high-tech company with sustainable growth in profitability.”

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