INKISH.NEWS -

I simply can't imagine that Komori bounces on their strategy and their partnership with Landa and Konica-Minolta. It's not in their DNA, and it wouldn't make sense since almost all investments in printing technology have a long term perspective. I can't imagine either, that Koenig & Bauer bail from their deal with Durst. It's not in their DNA, and it wouldn't make sense since almost all investments in printing technology have a long term perspective. Neither can I imagine, that Komori or Koenig & Bauer, bail on their customers by sending messages that must be so damaging to their customers like the one Heidelberg sent this week. Imagine you have recently invested in a 162 or 205 format machine, and then you are told that your supplier won't focus on this market anymore?

Imagine that your main supplier decides to focus on their "core" business which for the past 20+ years has been B1 machines and then dismiss a platform like the PrimeFire. What doesn't that say about loyalty and commitment? Even the partners supporting Heidelberg, like Ricoh and Fujifilm, must feel they chose the wrong horse. They decided for the "brewer horse", the one that can carry massive weight but isn't fast, isn't agile and isn't smart. Think of the customers who decided to trust Heidelberg in technology that was delivered with blows and whistles at the latest (and who knows maybe last) drupa 2016 show. How can they have faith in a company that now publicly has announced that their future is based on dying technology? Have they lost it completely?

Where is the leadership in technology and market? Where, and how will the future shape Heidelberg? In contrast to everything announced, that, in my opinion, is counterproductive, Heidelberg is the company that develop and deliver excellence in workflow. I even believe that Heidelberg was awarded public points for the acquisition of the software darling Crispy Mountain. So on one side, smart. On the other side, plain stupid.

I have, of course, no idea whats going on in the heads of the Heidelberg management, and their extremely reduced board of directors, but let's assume they have a plan. The global print market is still mainly depending on reliable sheetfed printing hardware such as the Speedmasters delivered by Heidelberg. And. Of course, it takes some time before this market is replaced with digital equipment. Of course, there is money to be made on legacy technology, and in the meanwhile, new things CAN be invented. That aside, I interviewed Heidelbergs CEO Rainer Hundsdörfer just a few weeks ago, where he said "there is no reason to re-invent the wheel", saying there was no reason for Heidelberg to invent own printheads. I strongly disagree. Printheads and core-technology are exactly what I would expect from a company like Heidelberg. If they can't invent new core technologies, then who?

Everything is, of course, in even sharper contrast to the four competitors Komori, Man-Roland, Koenig & Bauer, and RGMT. All have a strong dedication to the segments they serve. Well, maybe Heidelberg will come out stronger of their decisions, though I believe nobody believes that. Maybe the old giant is simply tired and is getting ready to be acquired by some who want to serve the print market.

Could be interesting to consider options:

Heidelberg and Koenig & Bauer with Koenig & Bauer taking the lead?

Heidelberg and Carl Icahn - damn, that could be fun.

Heidelberg owned by Fujifilm - well, that venture could be exciting, since Fujifilm seems to have both the money and visions for the future.

Heidelberg owned by ... well, I was staring un-focused for ten minutes, and NO interesting combinations came to mind—such a shame when companies like Heidelberg seems to have lost it completely.

This is, of course, just an opinion. I hope I am 100% wrong, but so far, only history will be able to prove this.

Mar 19, 2020

Author: Morten B. Reitoft