Heidelberg Acquires High-Performance Coating Manufacturer

Date: 20 May 2008

- Hi-Tech Coatings products expand Heidelberg consumables portfolio - Heidelberg consumables go under the name “Saphira” Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg)(FWB:HDD) is taking over the high-performance coating manufacturer Hi-Tech Coatings based in the U.K. and the Netherlands.

This move will enable Heidelberg to add the manufacture and sale of high-performance coatings for the production of printed materials and packaging to its solutions portfolio for consumables. Based in Aylesbury in the U.K. and Zwaag in the Netherlands, Hi-Tech Coatings develops and produces over 1,000 environmentally-friendly products and formulations for the print media industry, primarily water- and UV-based coatings.

“By acquiring Hi-Tech Coatings, Heidelberg is pursuing its consistent strategy of expanding the range of services available to our customers,” stated Heidelberg CEO Bernhard Schreier. “Using high-performance consumables on our machines makes customers more efficient and enables us to achieve margins that are not tied to economic cycles,” he added. Heidelberg has been successfully selling the print coatings of the newly-acquired company for a number of years in the U.K., China, and parts of Eastern Europe. The global Heidelberg sales network will in future provide Hi-Tech Coatings with an international platform for expanding its operations.

Hi-Tech Coatings was founded in 1993 and was owned by the management team. The company sells its products worldwide via dealers and licensees, focusing today most strongly on Britain and Eastern Europe. In 2007, Hi-Tech Coatings achieved sales of around EUR 25 million.

“We have long been aware of how important the link to presses and the printing process is. This makes it a logical step to merge Hi-Tech Coatings and Heidelberg,” stressed Hi-Tech Coatings Managing Director Paul Bass. “Coatings play a key role in the graphic arts industry. The enhanced durability of coated products and ongoing improvements in terms of esthetics make a major contribution to increasing printshop productivity,” he continued.

The acquisition is still subject to the scrutiny of the German anti-trust authority, but the deal will go through as soon as the necessary approval has been obtained. Both parties have agreed not to disclose the conditions of the acquisition.

Heidelberg consumables go under the name “Saphira”

The name “Saphira” represents a broad portfolio of high-quality consumables suitable for standard print jobs, special applications, and all production requirements in prepress, press, and postpress. All consumables bearing the name Saphira have been specifically optimized and tested for use in Heidelberg solutions. They help the user benefit from the full range of functions supported by the equipment and ensure first-class print results. Saphira products also meet all industry standards on environmental protection and make a real contribution to safeguarding the customer’s investment in his equipment. In addition to Saphira products, Heidelberg also offers consumables from other suppliers under their own brand names.

Heidelberg actively expands sale of consumables

At the end of 2007, Heidelberg took over the sales activities of consumables supplier Stielund & Taekker in Denmark and Sweden, together with around 35 employees.

Heidelberg is looking to become the number one company in the sale of consumables in the print media industry in the Nordic and Baltic countries.