Heidelberg gets out of scanner manufacturing
The market for all types of scanners has experienced a dramatic downturn over recent years – up to 20 per cent in 2001 alone, depending on market and product, according to a Heidelberg press satement.This downturn is even more pronounced for computer-to-film imagesetters, with falls of up to 30 per cent in some cases. This technology is being rapidly replaced by computer-to-plate (CTP).
The scanner products set to disappear from the Heidelberg portfolio include all DTP scanners (the entire Linoscan range), the Nexscan and the Primescan. In the computer-to-film sector, manufacture of the Duosetter, Quicksetter 460 and Quicksetter 46 will all be discontinued.
"This move is a timely response to the changing needs and trends on these markets," explained Bernhard Schreier, CEO of Heidelberg. "We will be focusing our prepress business on workflow software and plate imaging."
The changes have prompted Heidelberg to reorganise the production mix at its Kiel plant (previously the Linotype-Hell factory) in Germany. In the medium term, the site is to become a center of operations for the development and production of the NexPress digital colour press. To date Heidelberg has sold more than 170 of these units worldwide. "Service and support will be continued for all products", said Bernhard Schreier.
As a result of the reduction in the product portfolio necessitated by these market trends, the company plans to cut the workforce in Kiel by around 200 over the next few months. At the same time around 60 extra employees will be needed in the site's digital printing sector for producing the Nexpress digital color press. Kiel currently has a payroll of just under 1,500.
"The structural changes will have a lasting positive effect on Heidelberg's results and contribute to securing the site's future," said Bernhard Schreier.