Heidelberg, Germany — Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HEIDELBERG) has announced robust preliminary business figures for the financial year 2023/24, highlighting its stability and resilience amidst challenging market conditions. Despite economic and geopolitical headwinds, as well as rising costs for materials, energy, and personnel, the company maintained stable sales and an adjusted EBITDA margin, positioning itself well for the upcoming drupa trade fair.
HEIDELBERG reported sales of approximately €2.4 billion, nearly matching the previous year’s €2.435 billion. The adjusted EBITDA margin remained steady at 7.2 per cent. The company achieved the highest free cash flow in over a decade, reaching around €50 million, excluding special items. This achievement underscores the successful implementation of HEIDELBERG’s value creation program, designed to enhance financial resilience and operational efficiency.
The Chief Executive Officer of HEIDELBERG Dr. Ludwin Monz, expressed satisfaction with the company’s performance, stating, “We were able to achieve our financial year targets in a difficult economic environment. HEIDELBERG’s financial performance was solid. Our value creation program is an important building block in positioning HEIDELBERG for the future.”
The value creation program includes over 250 measures aimed at increasing productivity and strengthening the financial base. These measures have helped mitigate the negative impact of declining production volumes and rising costs. Efforts to optimize net working capital have also positively influenced free cash flow. Tania von der Goltz, CFO of HEIDELBERG, highlighted the program’s success, saying, “The resilient development of profitability and free cash flow are proof of our financial discipline and our ability to deliver reliable results even in a difficult environment.”
Incoming orders, although six per cent lower than the previous year, outperformed industry averages due to HEIDELBERG’s strong market position. After a weaker third quarter, the fourth quarter saw a significant recovery with nearly €600 million in incoming orders, driven by robust business in Asia, particularly China.
HEIDELBERG is gearing up for the drupa trade fair, set to take place from May 28 to June 7, 2024, with a focus on technological innovations. The company’s exhibits will showcase advancements in automation, digitalization, and resource-efficient production across offset, digital, and flexo printing. Collaborative robotics for post-processing print products will also be featured, underscoring HEIDELBERG’s commitment to forward-thinking solutions.
Dr. Monz emphasized the importance of these innovations, stating, “HEIDELBERG is preparing for a successful drupa trade fair with technological innovations that support print shops with their biggest challenges. We will rely even more heavily on our broad and established customer base and our globally organized, industry-leading sales and service.”
As HEIDELBERG continues to navigate a challenging economic landscape, the company remains focused on leveraging its strengths and innovations to drive future growth. The upcoming drupa trade fair will be a key platform for demonstrating HEIDELBERG’s leadership and vision in the print technology sector.
