Heidelberg has reported improved profitability in its results for the first half of its financial year (April 1 to September 30, 2025), with activity in the packaging and label printing sectors described as “driving” its core business.
The company’s adjusted operating result (EBITDA) has doubled year-on-year to €63 million (£54.2 million), with the previous year being €31 million (£26.7 million), achieving an EBITDA margin of 6.4%, driven, it said, by strict cost discipline and efficiency measures.
This follows half-year sales figures that increased to €985 million (£847 million), up around 8% on the previous year’s figure of €915 million (£787 million). Within this, half-year sales in the print and packaging equipment segment rose to €463 million (£398 million), from the previous year of €395 million (£340 million), stated Heidelberg. Heidelberg said playing a leading role as a systems integrator for packaging and digital printing with hybrid printing solutions can offer potential in its core business, as can the company’s software and service business in a digital ecosystem.
“Our strategy is working, with packaging and label printing driving our core business,” said Dr David Schmedding, chief technology and sales officer at Heidelberg. “At Labelexpo in Barcelona, our digital innovations for the growth market of label printing proved a particular draw for customers, and we struck numerous deals. Our portfolio for industrial digital printing based on the Jetfire systems is also gradually becoming established in the relevant markets.”
Looking at individual quarterly results, Heidelberg said the second quarter contributed sales of €519 million (£446 million), far higher than the figure for the first quarter which was €466 million (£401 million) – despite negative exchange rate effects. It also stated that Europe and Asia in particular saw positive developments during this time. The company expects sales in the second half of the current financial year to be higher than in the first half-year.
Looking ahead, Heidelberg is expecting sales of around €2.35 billion (£2.02 billion) in the financial year 2025/2026, which would be an increase from the €2.28 billion (£1.96 billion) in the financial year of 2024/2025.
“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,” said CEO Jürgen Otto. “The positive developments in our core segments confirm we are headed in the right direction. The significant improvement in our profitability is particularly encouraging – a clear sign that our measures are proving effective.”
