Heidelberg reports improved profitability

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen has reported sales of 985 million EUR for the first half of the financial year 2025/2026, an 8 percent increase from 915 million EUR in the previous year, with Europe and Asia showing particularly positive developments.

The company's adjusted operating result doubled to 63 million EUR from 31 million EUR in the equivalent period of the previous year, corresponding to an EBITDA margin of 6.4 percent, up from 3.4 percent. Production costs and total working costs improved compared to the corresponding period of the previous year.

Incoming orders after six months remained stable at 1,111 million EUR, following the previous financial year's strong first half-year driven by drupa. The company achieved notable success at Labelexpo in September, with orders running into double-digit millions of euros, underlining the strategic importance and growth potential of its label printing business.

'Heidelberg is holding up better than the competition in a very challenging market environment and is once again demonstrating that our strategy is working and bearing fruit,' noted Jürgen Otto, CEO at Heidelberg. 'The significant improvement in our profitability is particularly encouraging: a clear sign that our measures are proving effective.'

In the print and packaging equipment segment, half-year sales rose to 463 million EUR from 395 million EUR in the previous year. The digital and lifecycle segment achieved sales of 493 million EUR, with an order from a customer in China for ten Jetfire 50 digital printing systems and several digital Gallus label machines. The Technology Solutions segment totaled 29 million EUR in sales.

Free cash flow after six months was negative 63 million EUR, improved from negative 102 million EUR in the first half of the previous financial year. The net result after taxes reached break-even, compared to a negative 35 million EUR in the previous year.

The company confirmed its forecast for the financial year 2025/2026, expecting sales of around 2,350 million EUR and an adjusted EBITDA margin of up to 8 percent.