A splash of color: Heidelberg Versafire CV digital printing system now also printing neon yellow

The operator can realize the applications quickly and confidently, and without the need for any other prior knowledge, through the interaction of the Prinect Digital Frontend developed by Heidelberg and the color tools from the PDF toolbox.

All customers need is the toner and an additional developer unit. Beside the low investment costs of the new toner, it can also be retrofitted to all Versafire CV and Linoprint CV systems already in the market; this is evidence of the high level of investment security that Heidelberg offers its customers, including for digital printing systems.

Bright party invitations, dazzling bills and posters, eye-catching advertising leaflets, even in short runs, with or without personalization, and still cost-effective – from now on, everything is possible! Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) is now offering an optional new neon yellow spot color for its Versafire CV digital printing system. The toner glows under UV light, enabling it to attract even more attention and add unexpected touches to printing applications.

The effect can also be used as a security feature, since the toner is almost impossible to copy. This makes it especially interesting for printing admission tickets or wristbands, for example, and other applications in the event industry that only light up under UV light.

In total, three additional toners can now be used in addition to CYMK: white, varnish, and neon yellow.

• New neon yellow toner provides an eye-catching splash of color• Function also retrofittable for older systems

Customers can add eye-catching touches to creative applications with the new neon yellow toner for Heidelberg Versafire CV digital printing systems.

New neon yellow toner for Heidelberg Versafire CV provides an eye-catching splash of color.

Heidelberg is now offering an optional new neon yellow spot color for its Versafire CV digital printing system. Existing systems could be retrofitted.

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NewsBRIEFHeidelberg Graphic Systems Southern Africa (Pty) LtdTel: +27 (0)86 142 4756www.heidelberg.com/za/enNovember/December 2016

The Industry 4.0 megatrend has also arrived in the printing sector. “Data is the new raw material for our industry,” stressed Michael Neugart, Chairman of the Board of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Vertrieb Deutschland GmbH, at a convention of the print and media associations (VDM) for the German states of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria in Wiesloch. Under the banner “This is the Future! Printing Industry 4.0”, around 150 experts explored the question of how the print media industry can use the digital age to its advantage. “As yet, there’s no conclusive definition of what Industry 4.0 actually means for the printingindustry,” explained Alexander Lägeler, Managing Director of the VDM in Baden-Württemberg. He said that companies were still finding this out.

Bernhard Niemela, Editor-in-Chief of the Deutscher Drucker trade journal, confirmed there were, in any case, “a whole host of excellent opportunities” on offer, including for SMEs. “The opportunities in our sector may well be even better than elsewhere, because we’ve been working with digital data for some time and don’t have to start from scratch,” he added. It will be virtually impossible for printers to do without an IT infrastructure in the future. For Professor Klaus Thaler from Stuttgart Media University, Printing 4.0 represents “nothing more and nothing less than a paradigm shift, breaking the old rules and defining completely new ones.”

The speakers agreed that digitization means far more than printing digitally or automating print processes. “It’s no longer sufficient to say we can print well,” said Thaler. He stressed that market players need to provide services “extending far beyond printing technology” and said that personalized print products were a good start. Torben Schanz from Star Corporation, a media logistics service provider in Stuttgart, underlined the importance of using web portals in the data interface to customers. “As simple printers and suppliers, we’re replaceable, but not if we control the interface to the customer,” he pointed out.

Steffen Setzer from Berlin-based online print shop Laserline went one step further. “We need to network all customer-related processes, especially when it comes to service,” he said, adding that intelligent use of data already makes it possible to take significant steps in the right direction. “Data means customers,” stressed Setzer. According to him, there is actually no longer any need for conventional web shops. “Why shouldn’t it be possible for a secretary to simply order moreletterheads at the touch of a button?” he asked, looking ahead to the digital future of customer relations.

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG already offers a range of components for automated printing and interface management – collecting, analyzing, and utilizing data – at what it calls a smart print shop. With the new Push to Stop operating philosophy, the software-controlled printing process runs largely autonomously. The printer only intervenes in the process if absolutely necessary. Another approach is to use several thousand sensors integrated into the press to predict expected faults and errors in the printing process and eliminate them before they actually occur. Heidelberg also boasts compre-hensive IT expertise for interface management between print service providers and their customers. “We are the driving force behind digitization in our industry. The digitized value chain will be indispensable for most printing companies simply to remain competitive and fit for the future,” said Neugart.

“Data means customers”• PrintingIndustry4.0conventionhighlightsprospectsforsector’sdigitalfuture• Cleartrendawayfromprinterstowardmodern-daycommunicationserviceproviders• IT-basedinterfacemanagementwithcustomersvital

Professor Klaus Thaler from Stuttgart Media University about Printing 4.0.

At Heidelberg, around 150 experts explored the question of how the print media industry can use the digital age to its advantage.

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NewHeidelbergdigitalprintingsystemprovidescolor,customandcost-effectiveprintingonsuitcases,motorcyclehelmetsandicehockey sticks

Automotive supplier Ritzi Lackiertechnik as pilot user of Heidelberg Omnifire 1000 (from the left: Frank Janssen, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen and Markus Ritzi, Ritzi Lackiertechnik).

Custom-printed and therefore distinctive suitcases, motor-cycle helmets, or ice hockey sticks, overhead luggage bins in airplanes designed with different motifs, and much more – Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) presents these applications in cooperation with well-known brand owners at InPrint 2016, which takes place from 15 to 17 November in Milan. The possibility of customizing high-quality, mass-produced items – and as a result addressing consumers and customers in a very personal way – opens up attractive, new and profitable business models for manufacturers of branded goods and industrial manufacturers.

This is made possible by Heidelberg’s so-called 4D printing technology and the new Omnifire 1000 for custom printing on three-dimensional objects of any shape and various materials. The company debuted the system at InPrint 2016, and in so doing significantly increased the spectrum of printable objects and surfaces. The new development comple-ments the Omnifire 250 range already established on the market, providing users with a cost-effective way of realizing sophisticated personalization concepts. “What we are pre-senting is the customized future. Consumers today expect personalized, one-of-a-kind products. Manufacturers need an efficient and flexible industrial production process for this. That is precisely what 4D technology from Heidelberg offers with its Omnifire 250 and 1000 digital systems,” says Jason Oliver, Head of Digital at Heidelberg.

Automotive supplier Ritzi Lackiertechnik as the pilot user of the Omnifire 1000Heidelberg has convinced automotive supplier Ritzi Lackiertechnik GmbH based in Germany (www.ritzi-lackiertechnik.de), the first pilot user, of the merits of the Heidelberg Omnifire 1000. Ritzi specializes in innovative surface finishes of high-quality constructionelements, such as trim strips, switches, dashboards and other finished components, for various automotive manufacturers. For this, the company uses different methods and technologies. Ritzi is planning to integrate the Omnifire 1000 into its industrial production process to custom print and thus enhance both series parts and after-sales parts with a variety of colored patterns.

First concrete projects with automotive manufacturers are already scheduled. “We spent a long time searching for a solution that would allow us to meet the exacting requirements of our customers for custom decoration of passenger compartment accessories in a cost-effective way in terms of quality, flexibility and cost. In Heidelberg we have found a partner that can supply us with an attractive overall package of innovative technology and matching service with the Omnifire 1000 ,” says Günter Ritzi, Managing Director of Ritzi Lackiertechnik.

The Heidelberg Omnifire1000 provides custom, flexible, cost-effective and high-quality printing on objects of any shape and different materials.This opens up attractivebusiness models centered around a personalizedcustomer approach for manu-facturers of branded goods and industrial companies.

• Heidelbergpresentsapplicationsofthefutureincooperationwithwell-knownbrandownersat InPrint2016• Presentationof4DprintingsystemOmnifire1000fordirectprintingonobjectsofdifferentsizes, shapes,andsubstrates• AutomotivesupplierRitziLackiertechnikaspilotuser• Furtherexpansionofthedigitalportfolio

Heidelberg driving digitization and further expanding its digital printing portfolioWith the presentation of the Heidelberg Omnifire 1000, the company is implementing its announced digital strategy and gradually expanding its portfolio. Heidelberg already made the digitization of the industry and digital printing the focus of its trade fair presence at drupa 2016 with the presentation of the Smart Print Shop. With the Heidelberg Primefire 106 shown there, the company presented the first digital printing system for customized production of printing applications in 70x100 format, in cooperation with its development partner, Fujifilm. “The digitization of the printing industry and the enhancement of digital printing are the clear trends and main growth drivers in ourindustry. We have systematically geared our strategy towards this and are driving digitization so that our customers can succeed in the market in the future also,” says Stephan Plenz, Member of the Management Board responsible for Equipment at Heidelberg.

Custom-designed suitcases add a touch of distinction to high-quality branded products.

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Heidelberg clearly increases net result in the second quarter• Operating result (EBITDA) excluding special items increased from €33 million to €44 million • Positive net result of €9 million (previous year: €–9 million)• Sales in Q2 at €586 million significantly up on Q1, but still slightly below the previous year• Order backlog of €765 million approximately one fifth higher than previous year• Outlook: Sights still set firmly on the targets for the year

During the second quarter (July 1 to September 30, 2016) of financial year 2016/2017, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) significantly increased its operating result com-pared to the previous year, as previously envisaged, and also achieved a clearly positive net result after taxes. After the first six months, the result was still below the previous year’s figures due to sales and the costs associated with the drupa trade show. However, as a result of drupa, incoming orders (up around 6 percent) and the order backlog (up 19 percent) were increased significantly. The Group has thus created a sound basis on which to achieve its targets for the year as a whole.

“The clear improvement in the result during the second quarter shows that our realignment is bearing fruit. In view of the solid order situation, we anticipate that the second half of the year will bring a considerable improvement in sales and the result compared to the first half of the year. The targets for the year as a whole therefore continue to apply,” said Dirk Kaliebe, the company’s CFO.

Heidelberg turns around its net result after taxes in the quarter under review to generate €9 million As announced, sales and the result in the second quarter were much better than in the previous quarter of the current financial year. Net sales thus rose by €100 million compared to the first quarter to €586 million (previous year: €599 mil-lion). Total sales up to the half-year point were €1.072 billion (previous year: €1.162 billion). Thanks to strong demand at drupa, incoming orders for the first six months were up around 6 percent on the previous year’s figure (€1.323 billion) at €1.408 billion, while the order backlog at €765 million was even some 19 percent higher (previous year €644 million). As a result, Heidelberg has a good starting base for achieving the anticipated significant sales growth in the second half of the year.

Both EBITDA and EBIT in the quarter under review were up on the figures for the previous year. After six months, these key indicators were still down on the previous year’s figures due to sales and a positive non-recurring effect of €19 million from the initial consolidation of PSG in the previous year as well as trade show costs of approximately €10 million. As a result, EBITDA excluding special items rose to €44 million in the second quarter (previous year: €33 million). The total figure for the first half year was €45 million (previous year: €79 million). At €–3 million, special items were lower in the quarter under review than in the previous year (€–6 million). The total figure up to the half-year point was €–6 million (previous year: €–22 million). Compared to the previous year, the financial result improved both in the second quarter and in the first half year. As a result, a positive net result after

taxes of €9 million was achieved (previous year: €–9 million). Looking at the half-year figures, the result was €–28 million compared to €–14 million for the same period of the previous year.

At €–7 million, free cash flow in the second quarter was slightly negative, but balanced out over the first six months taken as a whole (previous year: €–30 million). Compared to the financial year-end on March 31, 2016, the equity of the Heidelberg Group dropped to €126 million as at September 30, 2016. This was due primarily to the considerable reduction in the discount rate for pensions in Germany. Consequently, the equity ratio on the balance sheet date was around 6 percent. The net financial debt was €276 million (March 31, 2016: €281 million), and the leverage remains below the target value of 2 at 1.8.

Outlook: Sights still set firmly on the targets for the yearThanks to solid incoming orders and the increase in the order backlog, Heidelberg has its sights set firmly on its year-end targets for 2016/2017. The portfolio expansion in rapidly developing markets, possible acquisitions and the drupa industry trade show will substantially affect sales performance in the financial year 2016/2017 and the years ahead. The investment priorities in the areas of digitalization, digital printing and services are expected to contribute to an average sales growth of up to 4 percent per year. Despite the inputs associated with the accelerated expansion of the digital and service business, the EBITDA margin before special items is expected to remain at the level of the previous year. At the same time, the company is looking to improve the financial result by reducing the interest burden. With this, Heidelberg is aiming for a moderate increase in its net result after taxes against the previous year. In the medium term, the successful reorganization of Heidelberg is set to enable growth in Group sales of up to 4 percent per year, taking the total to some € 3 billion. This includes a high profitability level with an EBITDA margin in the range of 7 to 10 percent.

The interim report for the second quarter of financial year 2016/2017, image material, and additional information about the company are available in the Press Lounge of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG at www.heidelberg.com.

Next date on company calendar: The figures for the third quarter of financial year 2016/2017 are due to be published on February 9, 2017.

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Season’s Greetings from Heidelberg Southern Africa

Heidelberg Southern Africa would like to thank you, our valued customers, for your continuous support throughout 2016 and wish you and your loved ones a safe, joyous festive season and all the very best for the new year!

Please take note that our company will have key staff available during the festive season to assist you with spare parts,systemservice and consumable orders.

Often small changes have the largest impact in the long term. Efficiency with Prinect. http://bit.ly/Prinect_Efficiency

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