Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft is pursuing a strategy to expand beyond its traditional print and packaging equipment business while maintaining its full-year guidance following a first quarter marked by lower sales and profitability. Speaking at an mwb conference, Head of Investor Relations Marc Schellenberger said the company's "Driving High-Tech" strategy aims to apply its existing capabilities in mechanics, electronics, software, automation, manufacturing, service and systems integration to areas including defense, energy storage and e-mobility alongside its established printing operations. In its core Print & Packaging Equipment business, Heidelberg recently completed the acquisition of manroland sheetfed, which adds more than 3,000 customers and is expected to contribute a stable annual sales contribution of more than €100 million and an annual EBIT contribution of roughly €10 million to €15 million after a two-year integration period. The company also completed the acquisition of POLAR, a post-press systems specialist, and plans to relocate POLAR production activities to North Macedonia as part of a broader cost-optimization effort. In defense, Heidelberg signed a memorandum of understanding with Vincorion in July 2025 to develop, industrialize and build energy control and distribution systems, and the partnership has generated its first revenues. The company also signed a memorandum of understanding with Ondas in December 2025 for autonomous counter-drone solutions targeting critical infrastructure, with Heidelberg holding a 49% stake in the ONBERG joint venture and Ondas holding 51%. In energy storage, Heidelberg partnered with PHENOGY to pursue a European industrial platform for sodium-ion battery technology, with the companies considering a 50/50 joint venture if a testing period concludes positively. For the first quarter of fiscal 2026/2027, Heidelberg reported a 4% decline in order intake to €537 million, reflecting the end of an Italian incentive program, while its order backlog rose to €762 million and the book-to-bill ratio was approximately 1.3. Net sales declined 30% to €404 million, adjusted EBITDA margin fell to 2.0% from 4.4% a year earlier, and free cash flow was negative €77 million. Heidelberg confirmed its full-year guidance, citing its order backlog, cost discipline and demand momentum in China and the U.S.

Cardbox Packaging has installed the upgraded MK Duopress Power press at its Wolfsberg plant in Austria to ease die-cutting bottlenecks and improve postpress output. The machine, developed through a collaboration between HEIDELBERG and MK Masterwork, integrates hot foil stamping and die-cutting into one line and can run at up to 7,000 sheets an hour. Cardbox was among the pilot users of the updated model, and the investment was linked to its long-running relationship with Heidelberg and the service support provided. The Wolfsberg site already runs two Speedmaster XL 106 presses, one at 21,000 sheets an hour, alongside three MK Mastermatrix 106 CSB die-cutters. Heidelberg said it is continuing to bring MK Masterwork finishing equipment, including the MK Duopress Power, into the Prinect workflow.