Heidelberg Acquires High-Performance Coating Manufacturer

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.