Heidelberg’s figures for the first quarter of this financial year show an increase in sales and earnings with the order books for the new B1 digital Primefire press said to be full for the next two years.
Rainer Hundsdörfer, CEO of Heidelberg, says the business is in the process of transforming itself into a digital company, noting: “We have already had our initial successes in the first quarter, thanks to our new digital presses and two constructive acquisitions. We want to become even faster and more efficient in the future and are continuing to reconfigure company structures to that end.”
These acquisitions include the software company Docufy, which Heidelberg is using to support its digital platforms business area and expand its Industry 4.0 portfolio. Heidelberg also acquired Fujifilm’s European coatings and pressroom chemicals business, which has helped grow its consumables segment. Heidelberg says it has also seen benefits from the capital markets, including a convertible bond being converted to equity almost in its entirety, which will see interest costs drop by approximately €5 million a year.
Overall, Heidelberg reported sales of €495 million, up from €486m the previous year. However, incoming orders fell from €804m to €629m though last year’s figures were boosted by Drupa. The company reported a profit of €14m, up from €1m last year, according to EBITDA (Earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization) or a loss of €3m, up from a loss of €16m, according to EBIT (Earnings before Interest and Taxes). Including income taxes, the net result was a loss of €16m, which is still an improvement on the previous year of €37m.
Heidelberg says that it is confident of achieving its targets and reaching the same sales as last year for the rest of this year though it notes that “net profit after taxes is set to show a moderate increase”. The results for the second quarter should be available by mid-November.
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