Heidelberg reports healthy first half results

Sales worth AED25 million were secured at the four-day printing and packaging showcase Gulf Print and Pack, held at Dubai Airport Expo in September, and, with an eye on more lucrative contracts, Heidelberg Middle East has confirmed its attendance at the Saudi Arabia version of the exhibition, Saudi Print and Pack, in March 2005.

Zeid Al-Jehni, General Manager, Heidelberg Middle East FZCO, said: "Heidelberg's recent market performance reflects the loyal customer base it has built up in the region over the years, and the success of the brand in attracting new business thanks to the strength of the Heidelberg name."

Al-Jehni added: "Local customers are demanding the newest equipment, faster delivery times, greater production quality, and the flexibility to meet specialised job orders. Saudi Print and Pack in Riyadh from 6-10 March, 2005, will be another important opportunity for Heidelberg to demonstrate its leadership in customer service in the region, and to unveil state-of-the-art products tailor-made for doing business in the Middle East."

The fiscal year starting April 2004 began in earnest in May with the industry's flagship exhibition, Drupa, in Dusseldorf. Heidelberg was one of the largest exhibitors at the show, which attracted nearly 400,000 visitors, and won orders worth 800 million euros; the company's Middle East office sent a 40-strong delegation.

September saw Heidelberg take part in Dubai's Gulf Print and Pack exhibition, the region's premier packaging and printing event. Investing more than AED3 million in the event, Heidelberg unveiled its latest breakthroughs in Pre-Press and Press printing technology - the new Suprasetter S105 CtP and the Printmaster PM52 - and staged special demonstrations of the products.

Dr. Joachim Englisch, Managing Director, Heidelberg Gulf Establishment, said: "Heidelberg's participation in Gulf Print and Pack for the first time helped boost the exhibition's profile, credibility and value to the industry as a whole.

"It also showed the optimism for industry growth here in the Gulf and in nearby developing markets. The Suprasetter S105 and the PM52 are ideal for the GCC market due to increasing demand for faster short runs and high-quality A3 prints at competitive prices."

Gulf Print and Pack 2004 welcomed more than 270 companies from 25 countries. An estimated 1,000 business partners and customers from across the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the Sub-continent visited the Heidelberg Middle East stand.

The announcement of impressive Middle East sales figures coincides with more good news for Heidelberg on the international stage. The Heidelberg group secured net sales of 1.37 billion euros for the period April to September 2004, up from 1.26 billion euros for the same period last year. In 2003, total sales worldwide were more than 3.6 billion euros.

Saudi Arabia-based customers account for more than half of the business generated in the Middle East region so far this year, but top Heidelberg officials say major deals have been struck with customers across the GCC, and even Iraq.

Heidelberg Middle East is now looking forward to Saudi Print and Pack in Riyadh next year. The event will be held at Riyadh Exhibition Centre, and Heidelberg has booked a 72 square-metre stand, one of the largest stands at the exhibition, inside the centre's International Pavilion.

Heidelberg Middle East FZCO has nine branch offices in the Middle East and around 140 staff. The company provides a full portfolio of solutions, including Pre-Press, Press, Post-Press, workflow support, training, and parts and service support.

With 250 branches in 170 countries, Heidelberg (Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG) has one of the largest sales and service networks in the industry. Around 7,700 staff provide customers with on-site support covering the entire print process chain.