HEIDELBERG Moves to Integrate manroland Sheetfed and POLAR
11 July 2026: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HEIDELBERG) has completed the transaction to integrate the lifecycle business and global sales and service companies of manroland sheetfed Group, while also signing an agreement to take over future production of POLAR machines and systems.
The two moves strengthen HEIDELBERG’s role as a systems integrator for the printing and packaging industry, with a sharper focus on service, post-press automation, packaging and labels.
At a Glance ….
– Company: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
– Key move: Completion of manroland sheetfed lifecycle, sales and service integration
– Additional step: Agreement to take over future POLAR machine and system production
– Focus areas: Service, spare parts, automation, workflow integration, packaging and labels
– Date: July 1, 2026 announcement
The manroland sheetfed transaction covers service and spare parts, intellectual property, around 35 market organisations and about 600 employees. HEIDELBERG had announced the plan on June 24 and said the transaction was completed at the beginning of July. The integration is intended to maintain support for manroland users while expanding HEIDELBERG’s lifecycle offering.
In a separate step, HEIDELBERG said it has reached an agreement for the full acquisition of POLAR. The company will take over future production of POLAR machines and systems, and development will be integrated into HEIDELBERG’s organisation. Technology, brand, sales and service for POLAR had already been integrated earlier.
“By integrating the businesses of manroland sheetfed and POLAR, HEIDELBERG is strengthening its leading position in the printing and packaging industry,” said Jürgen Otto, CEO of HEIDELBERG. “We are consistently expanding our value chain and thereby creating added value for our customers.”
POLAR systems are used across post-press processes including loading, jogging, cutting, die-cutting, unloading and banding. HEIDELBERG said the acquisition will help accelerate new solutions in automation and workflow integration, particularly for packaging and label production.
The transition of POLAR production will take place in stages. HEIDELBERG said the present Hofheim production site will not be available in the long term because of its sale, giving the company time to prepare integration into its wider production network.
The collaboration between HEIDELBERG and POLAR dates back to the 1950s. With development, production, sales and service now set to come under one structure, HEIDELBERG is aiming to offer customers a more connected post-press portfolio while maintaining familiar service, support and sales processes.
https://www.heidelberg.com/global/en/
