SHERIDAN, WYOMING – May 27, 2025 – Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HEIDELBERG) has successfully navigated a challenging economic landscape, achieving its fiscal year 2024/25 targets while laying the groundwork for further growth in 2025/26. The company maintained a stable adjusted EBITDA margin of 7.1 percent and generated a clearly positive free cash flow of around €50 million, despite rising wage costs, a slightly lower sales volume, and expenses related to the drupa trade fair.
Sales reached approximately €2.28 billion, just under the previous year’s €2.395 billion. The fourth quarter was a standout, with sales accelerating and the adjusted EBITDA margin doubling to around 10 percent compared to the prior year.
Resilient Financial Management and Profitability Focus
According to preliminary calculations, HEIDELBERG balanced market headwinds through stringent cost-cutting and efficiency initiatives. These measures enabled the company to meet its financial goals without relying on special items, such as the sale of non-operating assets.
“We were able to achieve our financial year targets in a difficult economic environment and uncertain geopolitical conditions,” said Jürgen Otto, CEO of HEIDELBERG. “With a clearly positive free cash flow for the second year in a row, we have confirmed our financially solid development. The measures initiated to reduce personnel costs will help us to further strengthen our profitability in the new financial year.”
Looking ahead, HEIDELBERG anticipates a further improvement in profitability, with the adjusted EBITDA margin expected to rise to around 8 percent in FY 2025/26.
Strong Order Intake Sets Up a Positive Start to 2025/26
Incoming orders surged above €600 million in Q4, driving total annual order intake to around €2.43 billion—approximately 6 percent higher than the prior year’s €2.288 billion. Growth was particularly strong in the EMEA region, with stable performance in the Americas and a temporary slowdown in Asia/Pacific due to pre-China Print investment hesitancy.
The Packaging Solutions segment led the charge, accounting for 52 percent of annual order intake and achieving absolute growth of around 7 percent. This reflects both regional diversification and robust global demand for HEIDELBERG’s offerings.
“Our global presence in over 170 countries around the world is paying off, especially in economically uncertain times,” said Dr. David Schmedding, Chief Technology & Sales Officer at HEIDELBERG. “Thanks to the rising order situation, we expect a better start to the new financial year compared to the previous year. The China Print trade fair in May should provide further impetus for orders. We are also keeping a close eye on the development of customs duties worldwide. However, there is no comparable manufacturer in the USA in our core business. In the global market environment, our competitors are likely to be affected by the US tariffs to the same extent, meaning that we will continue to maintain our leading position. Overall, we are therefore confident about the new financial year.”
China Print 2025 Expected to Drive Further Growth
Taking place from May 15 to 19 in Beijing, China Print 2025 is anticipated to be a major catalyst for HEIDELBERG’s next phase of growth. With over 100,000 visitors expected and strong international participation, the event holds strategic importance for the company.
China ranks among HEIDELBERG’s top three global markets by sales. At the trade fair, HEIDELBERG will present solutions aimed at:
- Increasing efficiency and productivity
- Enabling hybrid production through offset and digital printing
- Supporting digital transformation and business model innovation
- Delivering end-to-end systems via automation, robotics, and software
With packaging print volumes in China growing at approximately 4 percent annually, HEIDELBERG plans to deepen its presence and customer support in this expanding segment.
Positioned for Long-Term Global Success
Celebrating 175 years of engineering excellence, HEIDELBERG is advancing its footprint in automation, robotics, digitalization, and green technologies. The company’s strong manufacturing base in Europe, China, and the U.S., combined with a vast global sales and service network, reinforces its readiness for future industry leadership.
The publication of the audited financial figures for the 2024/25 financial year is scheduled for June 5.
Learn more at www.heidelberg.com.