The company has also appointed Jason Oliver, formerly of EFI Jetrion, as the new manager of its digital division following the departure of Christian Compera.

The introduction of the business area structure has commenced since Gerold Linzbach become chief executive, replacing Bernhard Schreier.

Under this structure the businesses units have responsibility for the whole area under their control including research and development, production, marketing and sales.

Previously the VLF and packaging postpress operations were included in the sheetfed business unit headed up by Jurgen Grimm.

The increasing importance of packaging as a distinct market for Heidelberg and the large size of the sheetfed division were behind the decision to split the operations.

The division will include the Speedmaster XL 145 and XL 162 sheetfed presses and the die cutting and folding carton gluing product lines including the Dymatrix, Varymatrix and Diana product lines.

Hasenzahl was previously managing Heidelberg’s Chinese factory in Qinpu, where he has been succeeded by Achim Mergenthaler.