Heidelberg is Securing the Future of Print Media!
07/26/2000
Production Technology Symposium: Strategic focus post-drupa
The state-of-the-art production technology and flexible, efficient technology management procedures adopted by Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG provide a strong backbone for the highly successful strategy which the company is following in developing from a "one-product company" to a "solutions provider". This was the conclusion drawn by Bernhard Schreier, Chairman of the Management Board, at Heidelberg's Third Production Technology Symposium held in Wiesloch in July. "Heidelberg is securing the future of print media," was how he defined the chosen strategy in front of some 200 participants from Heidelberg's global organization, and added, "Our products must also become increasingly competitive in price terms!"
At the same time, the new growth markets of 'digital printing' and 'web systems' (newspaper printing) must be targeted with cost-effective press solutions such as the Mainstream 80 and the Nexpress 2100 presented at drupa 2000. The Manufacturing Business Unit (BU) - for a number of years an independent unit - must prepare itself for the challenges ahead, he stated.
Technology management in mechanical engineering and plant construction has the role of implementing and safeguarding customer-focussed business concepts. In future, it will not be enough simply to produce high-quality parts, stated Dieter Stempnewicz, Head of the Manufacturing BU, explaining the strategy. It will also become increasingly important to organize production processes intelligently. The core expertise of the Manufacturing BU - which combines the production of mechanical and electronic components - involves taking an overall view of the production processes. The BU has increasingly targeted the external market since the 1999 Hanover trade fair. It sees itself as a production service provider which forms "production networks with out internal and external customers".
Bernhard Schreier believes that Heidelberg, a solution provider for the international printing and publishing industry, is facing a new scenario. The core Sheetfed (offset presses) market is changing into a mature market, i.e. the competition is catching up in terms of product quality and Heidelberg is no longer able to emphasize its technology leadership to the extent that it has been possible in the past.
Heidelberg has set itself the goal of raising production flexibility in order to respond effectively to market charges. The Manufacturing BU believes that the production of mechanical and electronic components will be closely interlinked in future due to a growing trend towards modular product design.
Heidelberg's annual Production Technology Symposium has the goal of communicating the Manufacturing BU's production strategy and reinforcing communication with customers. Heidelberg has also organized a further series of events entitled "Production in Dialog" which is designed to strengthen external communication with the market. "Communication with our customers is an integral part of our production policy - a policy that we are continuously monitoring in close dialog with users."
The state-of-the-art production technology and flexible, efficient technology management procedures adopted by Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG provide a strong backbone for the highly successful strategy which the company is following in developing from a "one-product company" to a "solutions provider". This was the conclusion drawn by Bernhard Schreier, Chairman of the Management Board, at Heidelberg's Third Production Technology Symposium held in Wiesloch in July. "Heidelberg is securing the future of print media," was how he defined the chosen strategy in front of some 200 participants from Heidelberg's global organization, and added, "Our products must also become increasingly competitive in price terms!"
At the same time, the new growth markets of 'digital printing' and 'web systems' (newspaper printing) must be targeted with cost-effective press solutions such as the Mainstream 80 and the Nexpress 2100 presented at drupa 2000. The Manufacturing Business Unit (BU) - for a number of years an independent unit - must prepare itself for the challenges ahead, he stated.
Technology management in mechanical engineering and plant construction has the role of implementing and safeguarding customer-focussed business concepts. In future, it will not be enough simply to produce high-quality parts, stated Dieter Stempnewicz, Head of the Manufacturing BU, explaining the strategy. It will also become increasingly important to organize production processes intelligently. The core expertise of the Manufacturing BU - which combines the production of mechanical and electronic components - involves taking an overall view of the production processes. The BU has increasingly targeted the external market since the 1999 Hanover trade fair. It sees itself as a production service provider which forms "production networks with out internal and external customers".
Bernhard Schreier believes that Heidelberg, a solution provider for the international printing and publishing industry, is facing a new scenario. The core Sheetfed (offset presses) market is changing into a mature market, i.e. the competition is catching up in terms of product quality and Heidelberg is no longer able to emphasize its technology leadership to the extent that it has been possible in the past.
Heidelberg has set itself the goal of raising production flexibility in order to respond effectively to market charges. The Manufacturing BU believes that the production of mechanical and electronic components will be closely interlinked in future due to a growing trend towards modular product design.
Heidelberg's annual Production Technology Symposium has the goal of communicating the Manufacturing BU's production strategy and reinforcing communication with customers. Heidelberg has also organized a further series of events entitled "Production in Dialog" which is designed to strengthen external communication with the market. "Communication with our customers is an integral part of our production policy - a policy that we are continuously monitoring in close dialog with users."
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