In the last few months we have seen the pioneers of digital printing, Xeikon and Indigo, show that they are not able to establish themselves independently. Adast is also having difficulties. There are signs that consolidation will go on in pre-press, printing and finishing. We are not afraid, and Heidelberg will drive this process, he stated at the firms Ipex press briefing.

At the end of last year Schreier spoke of his desire for Heidelberg to achieve mar-ket leadership in the finishing sector, but the company has yet to announce anything more specific. We want to be a global player whatever is needed in the professional print market should be offered by Heidelberg. That could be by a partnership, acquisition or OEM deal, Schreier told the PrintWeek, but he would not be drawn on which area topped his list of must-haves.

I dont want to name just one because that would be too much of a clue. There are various segments where Heidelberg does not have a presence, including mailing, die-cutting and book binding. And we are not as present in the newspaper mailroom as we could be, either.

But we are not in a hurry and not under pressure, Schreier added.

He described the pre-press sector as dangerous and shaking between the creatives and the printer. Heidelberg appears poised to cull its scanner range (see separate story).

After meeting with UK customers at Heidelbergs first breakfast briefing at Ipex, he said that overcapacity remained the main topic of conversation.

Schreier was also sanguine about RWEs plans to offload its 51% stake in Heidelberg, a move that has been expected for the past two years. Its not because we are not performing well we are and we are delivering our dividend every year. They have to clean up their portfolio, and to have a free float of more than 50% in Heidelberg has been the wish for us ever since we went public.

Its possible they sell to one investor or make a public offering. The second is the most logical, but its not our decision. If it goes in the right direction it will be heaven on earth for us.

Two days after Schreier made these comments the German newspaper Handelsblatt reported that the stake would be sold to a trio of investors, but at a discount to the current share price.

As the first day of Ipex drew to a close, Schreier said he thought large trade shows such as Ipex and Drupa did have a healthy future. Yes, they will continue. Drupa 2000 was exceptional because it was the anniversary year. A show like Ipex is about providing confidence, to instil something that gives people confidence that they are in the right business and dealing with the right supplier. We need to spend money on that its about investing in confidence.


Story by Jo Francis