As well as the sale of the Brentford site to a housing developer, Heidelberg also sold the Docufy business for around €22m during the period. 

The group also reported “booming demand” at its Wallbox electromobility charging unit division. 

Incoming orders in the three months to 31 December 2021 were up 16% on the prior year to €643m, while for the first nine months of the financial year the overall figure was up 33% to €1.89bn.

“The higher order backlog of €951m at the end of the quarter even exceeded the pre-pandemic level,” Heidelberg stated, and said net debt had been “almost completely eliminated”.

EBITDA in Q3 was up 36% at €57m. 

The manufacturer said the operating improvement was primarily due to an increase in business volumes and better margins as a result of its large-scale transformation programme. 

However, Heidelberg also warned on ongoing supply chain issues, and stated: “These successes are particularly impressive in view of the fact that the availability of parts is creating big challenges across the industry. Heidelberg has, however, largely managed to overcome these challenges by approving alternative components and coordinating closely with suppliers on a day-to-day basis. 

“The company’s large vertical range of manufacture is a further advantage in this regard. With the supply chain situation still critical, the focus remains on ensuring the availability of parts.”

Chief executive Rainer Hundsdörfer, who will hand over to successor Dr Ludwin Monz at the end of the financial year, said the success of efforts to transform the group were “becoming ever clearer”. 

“Our core business is doing well thanks to our high level of innovation and our focus on customer benefits, and our digital business models are making a key contribution, too,” he stated.

“What’s more, the dynamic growth in demand for electromobility solutions continues unabated. In this sector, we are systematically pressing ahead with our expansion outside Germany and, in the future, we will continue the strategic development of our business model through acquisitions and collaboration.

“Overall, we are well positioned for the future. Moreover, the healthy order backlog creates a sound basis as we look toward the start of financial year 2022/2023.”

Looking to the future, Heidelberg is focused on profitable growth in the areas of packaging printing and digital business models, the Chinese market,  electromobility and printed electronics.

Heidelberg’s share price jumped by nearly 11% to €2.86 on the news. (52-week high: €3.14, low: €1.06). 

Heidelberg UK moved into new premises at Stockley Park at the beginning of the year.