The company had success at the trade show in Moscow, where it had more than 80 signed purchase orders. Under the HEI Performance – HEI Value banner, the 1 000sqm booth run by Heidelberg CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) demonstrated how print shops can achieve cost-effective and eco-friendly print production using state-of-the-art technologies and services.
The show attracted 15 000 visitors who showed great interest in the Heidelberg CIS booth and the launch of the Speedmaster CX 102 in the Russian market. This industrial offset printing press has been designed for production speeds of 16 500 sheets per hour.
Another show highlight was the announcement of the intended digital print collaboration between Heidelberg CIS and Ricoh RUS in Russia. Heidelberg CIS plans to start supplying digital printing systems in Russia at the end of 2011, enabling it to offer customers an even broader portfolio.
The trend towards short-runs and increased flexibility in print production is also taking hold in Russia. That is why we are complementing our range of tried-and-tested, cost-effective, and high-quality offset printing solutions with digital printing, giving printshops the opportunity to implement variable data printing and produce in very short-run sizes, said Bernhard Schreier, CEO of Heidelberg.
Heidelberg launched its digital printing collaboration with Ricoh in Germany and the UK in spring this year. The sales agreement has already been rolled out successfully in a number of countries and is to be in place worldwide by the time of the drupa trade show in May 2012.
Russian customers appreciated the comprehensive solution strategy that the company has adopted in its product portfolio. As a result, sales of prepress equipment and presses were accompanied by an above-average volume of postpress sales. There was also huge demand for consumables and service contracts from the company. Heidelberg CIS had a very successful trade show and we are extremely pleased with the results that were achieved over the five days of the exhibition. This shows that customers worldwide still have confidence in the print media industry and that we have been able to extend our market leadership in Russia, said Katie Rocaries, head of Heidelberg CIS.
Visitors to the companys booth were shown how they can incorporate important market trends such as efficient packaging production, differentiation through creative print applications, and ecological printing into their own businesses. Comprehensive workflow integration with Prinect, the benefits offered by the Saphira range of consumables from Heidelberg, and a wide variety of training and consultancy services rounded off the portfolio. Of particular interest was Heidelberg Systemservice, which used the trade show to showcase how print shops can further improve their availability and performance using original service parts, Remote Service, process analysis, environmental certification, and employee training.
The workshops that the company staged on ecological printing and financing options were also well attended. Sustainable printing is a global trend and will also attract ever-greater levels of demand in Russia. Fascinated audiences also attended presentations about Saphira, chemical-free plates, waste reduction, and energy savings in printing presses.
