Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HEIDELBERG) has accelerated its strategic transition into a full-scale systems integrator through a series of major market expansions. Following the successful integration of manroland sheetfed Group’s lifecycle business and the global sales and service networks earlier this month, the company has finalised a new agreement to acquire the future production rights of POLAR presses and systems.
Following the complete integration of its technology, brand, sales, and service, HEIDELBERG will take the next logical step to strengthen its position, particularly in the packaging and label markets. “By integrating the businesses of manroland sheetfed and POLAR, HEIDELBERG is strengthening its leading position in the printing and packaging industry,” says HEIDELBERG CEO Jürgen Otto. “We are consistently expanding our value chain and thereby creating added value for our customers.”
Full Acquisition of POLAR
For HEIDELBERG customers, the acquisition aims to ensure continued reliability in quality, availability, and innovation, with POLAR systems remaining an integral part of networked, highly productive post-press production environments. The acquired product portfolio includes components and systems that integrate and automate all processes—from loading, shaking, cutting, and die-cutting to unloading and banding. For customers, all familiar processes related to service, support, and sales remain unchanged following the transaction.
Gradual Integration into HEIDELBERG Production Network
HEIDELBERG has announced a multi-stage plan to integrate POLAR into its global production network. As part of the transition, the current production site in Hofheim will no longer be available in the long term due to its sale, with HEIDELBERG utilising the interim period to prepare for the company’s production network integration.
Availability and Quality of POLAR Systems Ensured
With customers at the heart of all its initiatives, HEIDELBERG maintains service reliability, high performance, and long-term customer partnerships as primary objectives, particularly amidst shifting market conditions. “With the complete acquisition of POLAR, we are further expanding our leading role as a systems integrator. For our customers, reliability and performance are always the top priorities. Especially during a period of noticeable market changes, we are sending a clear signal to the market that HEIDELBERG stands for stability, quality, and long-term partnership,” adds Otto.
The collaboration between HEIDELBERG and POLAR dates to the 1950s and has been continuously expanded over the decades. With the full integration of development, production, sales, and service, a consistently managed, high-performance offering is now being created cross the entire value chain, with a clear focus on productivity, efficiency, and futureproofing for customers worldwide.
The parties have agreed not to disclose the details of the agreement.
