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Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HEIDELBERG) is starting financial year
2025/26 on a strong note. Based on its global market position,
its portfolio expansion in strategic growth markets, and a much-improved
cost basis, and despite a difficult economic climate, the company is
expecting a slight increase in sales to around € 2,350 million in
the new financial year and an adjusted operating margin of up to 8
percent. It sees growth potential in a number of areas. These
include playing a leading role as a systems integrator for
packaging and digital printing with hybrid printing solutions, combining
software and service business in a digital ecosystem, and expanding the
operation of charging infrastructure, including DC technology.
HEIDELBERG is also expecting a big boost from the Asia/Pacific
region. Healthy incoming orders at May’s China Print trade show
confirmed this and created the basis for a successful start to the new
financial year.
“Significant strategic and operational improvements have paved the way
for further profitable growth,” said Jürgen Otto, CEO of HEIDELBERG.
“Our measures will make a substantial contribution to the expected
increase in sales. Enhanced efficiency and performance will further
boost our profitability. Encouragingly, the capital market is also
increasingly acknowledging our focus on economic efficiency and
liquidity,” he added.
Targets for financial year 2024/25 achieved – sales and adjusted
EBITDA margin match previous year’s figure
In financial year 2024/25, HEIDELBERG held its own in a difficult market
environment and met its targets. The adjusted EBITDA margin
remained stable at 7.1 percent, for example, ending the financial year
on a successful note. The cost-cutting and efficiency measures initiated
by the company successfully compensated for a slightly lower volume of
sales than in the previous year, rising wage costs, and expenses
relating to the drupa trade show. In the fourth quarter alone, the
adjusted EBITDA margin doubled compared with the previous year and
reached around 10 percent. At € 2,280 million, sales were
slightly down on the previous year’s figure (€ 2,395 million). Following
a weak first quarter due to purchasing restraint ahead of the drupa
industry trade show, sales during the financial year increased quarter
by quarter and were particularly strong in the fourth quarter. The free
cash flow was once again significantly positive at € 51 million
(previous year: € 56 million).
China Print trade show’s positive impact on orders creates basis for
good start to FY 2025/26
HEIDELBERG ended financial year 2024/25 with a high level of incoming
orders. In the fourth quarter, the figure of € 611 million for incoming
orders was up on the previous quarters of the financial year. One
reason for this is the company’s global and diversified setup, which
enables HEIDELBERG to benefit from the different growth dynamics in the
individual regions. This is emphasized by the high level of incoming
orders at May’s China Print trade show, which will have a positive
impact in the new financial year.
During financial year 2024/25 as a whole, HEIDELBERG generated incoming
orders of around € 2,433 million, which was 6 percent up on the previous
year’s level (€ 2,288 million). This also resulted in a corresponding
big increase in the order backlog as at March 31, 2025 – from €
652 million on the same reference date the previous year to € 722
million. The Packaging Solutions and Print Solutions
segments benefited from the product innovations presented at drupa.
Their incoming orders for financial year 2024/25 both increased – by
around 7 percent to € 1,272 million for the Packaging Solutions segment
and by about 6 percent to € 1,155 million for the Print Solutions
segment.
“Thanks to the improving order situation and the positive momentum from
the China Print trade show, we are expecting a better start to the new
financial year than we had the previous year,” said Dr. David
Schmedding, Chief Technology & Sales Officer at HEIDELBERG. “Our new
portfolio of very large format presses for packaging reaffirms our
approach of gradually further expanding our portfolio in growth
segments. By also incorporating automation, robotics, and software, we
now offer customers integrated end-to-end solutions for the entire
production process. Our aim as a system provider is to tap into the
sizable potential in the growing packaging segment. All in all, we are
therefore embarking on the new financial year full of confidence,” he
continued.
Outlook for FY 2025/26 – slight increase in sales expected and
adjusted EBITDA margin set to rise to as much as around 8 percent
In view of macroeconomic developments, taking into account the various
opportunities and risks, and assuming the global economy does not see
weaker growth than predicted by the relevant institutions, the company
is expecting sales of around € 2,350 million in financial year
2025/26 (2024/25: € 2,280 million). The EBITDA margin
adjusted for special items is predicted to rise to as much as 8 percent
(previous year: 7.1 percent).
The changed segment structure at HEIDELBERG from April 1, 2025
means the company will, in the future, report figures for the Print &
Packaging Equipment, Digital Solutions & Lifecycle, and HEIDELBERG
Technology segments. The purpose of this new segment structure is to
strengthen the focus on product-oriented management in line with market
and customer needs, and also on systematically taking responsibility for
results.
About HEIDELBERG
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HEIDELBERG) is a leading technology
company that has been standing for innovation, quality and reliability
in mechanical engineering worldwide for 175 years. With a clear focus on
growth, HEIDELBERG as a total solution provider is driving further
development in the core areas of packaging and digital printing,
software solutions and the lifecycle business with service and
consumables so that customers can achieve maximum productivity and
efficiency. The company is also focusing on expanding into new business
areas such as high-precision plant engineering with integrated control,
automation technology and robotics as well as the growing green
technologies. With a strong international presence in approximately 170
countries, the creative power and expertise of its around 9,500
employees, its own production facilities in Europe, China and the USA
and one of the largest global sales and service networks, the company is
well-positioned for future growth.
Figure 1: HEIDELBERG is optimistic about FY 2025/26 and is
opening the industry's largest customer demonstration center for its
175th anniversary with the redesigned Home of Print.
Figure 2: With the new Cartonmaster CX 145, HEIDELBERG is
expanding its range in the growing packaging sector with a large format
sheetfed offset press.
Figure 3: Jürgen Otto, CEO of HEIDELBERG, sees the course set for
further profitable growth.
Press
kit 175 Years of HEIDELBERG - Home of Print | HEIDELBERG
Image material and further information about the company are available
in the Investor
Relations portal and Press
Lounge of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG at www.heidelberg.com.
Important note:
This press release contains forward-looking statements based on
assumptions and estimates made by the management of Heidelberger
Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft. Even if the company management is of
the opinion that these assumptions and estimates are accurate, actual
future developments and future actual results may deviate considerably
from these assumptions and estimates due to a variety of factors. These
factors may include, for example, changes in the overall economic
situation, exchange rates and interest rates as well as changes within
the graphic arts industry. Heidelberger Druckmaschinen
Aktiengesellschaft provides no guarantee and assumes no liability that
future developments and the actual results achieved in the future will
correspond to the assumptions and estimates made in this press release.
Further information:
Corporate Communications
Thomas Fichtl
Phone: +49 6222 82-67123
E-mail: Thomas.Fichtl@heidelberg.com
Investor Relations
Maximilian Beyer
Phone: +49 6222 82-67120
E-mail: Maximilian.Beyer@heidelberg.com
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