Heidelberg to open academy in Chennai

Heidelberg India, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Germany-based Heidelberg Druckmaschinen AG, plans to open an academy for print media in India at Chennai.

The academy aims to educate and initiate the level of skills to international standards. Addressing a press conference on the completion of 50 years in India, Bernhard Schreier, chief executive officer Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, said, "The training institute on printing will be located in the premises of the company's current location. The company is expected to be relocated at a different place."

He said that the growing sectors like pharmaceuticals and food processing will give an impetus to the packaging and labelling industries.

The company, which is headquartered at Chennai, has its presence in Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata. The end-to-end solution provider in printing has an employee-base of 70.

Talking about the competition from the electronic media, he said that there was a mutual benefit leading to co-existence. Printing copies of the contents available on the electronic media were also widely prevalent, he said.

Schreier ruled out any plans of setting up a manufacturing plant in India. He, however, said that the company has plans to set up a new equipment installation plant in China.

"The domestic demand in China accounts for about two to five per cent. Of the emerging markets like eastern Europe, Latin American countries and Asia, the fastest growing market was definitely Asia," Schreier said.

China was a larger market compared to India as it has snatched the leading position from Japan in the Asia-Pacific region. Heidelberg sells about 1,000 units in China annually as compared to 100 units in India, he added.