Page 23 - PWM_NOVEMBER2021 EBook

GLOBAL NEWS

Heidelberg recovery Sign and graphics specialist
IN BRIEF

continues Brand Consortia has
installed a SwissQprint
Nyala 3 flatbed hybrid as it
looks to target growth with
Heidelberg has stated that the “The highly positive new applications and an
year-on-year market recovery developments in our growth expansion into indoor
has continued in “virtually all areas and our improved cost- graphics and POS branding.
regions” across the first half of efficiency underline that Installed in June, the circa £320,000 206sqm/hr LED device is
the year as it sticks to its Heidelberg is doing very well. the Oldham-based company’s first SwissQprint machine. “We
financial outlook for the year We also see great potential for felt it was time to bring more advanced flatbed printing
in spite of “growing supply the future thanks to our in-house,” said managing director Brad Tupman. “It has
chain challenges”. leading position in China and since taken price completely out of the conversation when
talking with customers. Their priorities are to obtain the
Sales in the six months to in the areas of digital business
30 September grew 22% year models, e-mobility and highest quality products, with minimal environmental
impact, and then price – in that order.” The firm opted for a
on year to €983m (£840m) packaging printing,” said CMYK plus white and varnish set-up on its 3.2x2m flatbed
from €805m. EBITDA rose Heidelberg CEO Rainer machine and also configured it with roll-to-roll and dual roll
slightly from €67m to €75m, Hundsdörfer: We are doing well Hundsdörfer, who is stepping options for ultimately flexibility.
although the business
highlighted that last year’s and although it slowed down next April. Webmart has become the
figure was massaged by a slightly in Q2, the business He is being replaced by latest of a small pool of
restructuring of the pension still notched up a respectable Ludwin Monz, who is joining industry names to be B
scheme, which delivered a 44% increase on last year at from Zeiss Group. Corporation certified.
€73m uplift and the €8m the halfway mark, logging In a video address, CFO Following the likes of
sale of MIS subsidiary CERM €1.2bn. Marcus Wassenberg said: Oxford-based Seacourt, and
and short-time work as a Pre-tax profit for Q2 was “We have successfully Beccles and Norwich-based
result of the pandemic. €31.1m compared with a loss completed the first half of this Anglia Print as well as
In Q2 the business of €6.2m in Q2 2019/20, year and the positive trend of brands like Ben & Jerry’s, Innocent Smoothies and Gousto,
benefited from the €20m sale with profits at the halfway the first quarter continues, the integrated marketing agency received its certification on
of Docufy in September. point standing at €20m we achieved significant 10 November. Becoming B Corp certified is one of the highest
Incoming order growth in compared with breakeven improvement on our key certifications a business can receive for their sustainability, as
Q1 jumped 89% year on year, last year. financial figures.” organisations who achieve the certification must meet
excellent standards of social and environmental performance
RRD to be acquired by LSC owner and ensure a beneficial and inclusive working environment.
They are considered global leaders in the cultural shift to
sustainable business. All B Corps must carefully consider the
RR Donnelley & Sons (RRD) business services group’s and RRD will become a impact of their operations across their entire ecosystem and
is set to be acquired by board of directors. private company. use their business and profits for good.
affiliates of Atlas Holdings It is expected to close in RRD also reported its Q3
and go private in an all-cash the first half of 2022, subject financial results today, which More than 20 exhibitors
deal worth around $2.1bn to customary closing showed net sales up by 6.4% have confirmed their
(£1.54bn). conditions, including on Q3 2020 to $1.27bn. participation at the IPIA’s
The definitive merger appr ov al by RRD T he compan y Recognising Excellence Gala
agreement, which was stockholders and receipt of spokesperson said it is and Expo in Stratford-
announced on 3rd November regulatory approvals. withdrawing the previous Upon-Avon next month.
has been unanimously Upon completion of the financial guidance and has The IPIA’s first physical
appr oved by the transaction, RRD’s shares suspended any further event in two years, it is
US -headquar ter ed will no longer trade on The updates as a result of the supported by the trade body’s sister association, the BAPC,
marketing solutions and New York Stock Exchange pending merger agreement. and will be held at the Warwickshire town’s Crowne Plaza on
Thursday 2 December. The Expo will run from 11am to 3pm,
Agfa’s sales up in Quarter three with a networking lunch taking place at 12.30pm, and will be
followed by the IPIA chairman’s address. Confirmed exhibitors
for the event include Antalis, Canon, Fujifilm, HP, Konica
Agfa achieved “decent top line In a call to investors held Minolta, Premier Paper, Route 1 Print, Xerox, Imprint MIS,
recovery” but a contrasted this afternoon (9 November) Tharstern, Vivid and Vpress, among others. Printweek will also
performance between its CEO Pascal Juery said: be present, on stand 14.
divisions in its Q3 results, with “Sequentially it’s a lower Print outsourcer named in leaked files. A Welsh print and
increasing inflationary quarter than Q2 and we’ve packaging outsourcing business has been drawn into the
pressure and supply chain seen margin pressure from current storm over lobbying by MPs and the controversial ‘VIP
issues reported. cost inflation but also lost lane’ for lucrative PPE deals. According to the Financial Times,
T he Belgium-HQ opportunities from supply Steve Brine the Conservative MP for Winchester and Chandler’s
manufacturer’s revenue for chain issues.” Ford is under investigation for possible undeclared lobbying
the three-month period to 30 Agfa receives strong growth The company said it has regarding a pharma firm for which he is a paid adviser.
September was €439m made good progress, including Separately, information about the government’s so-called
(£375m), up 7.2% on the Q3 adjusted EBITDA jumped by its recent announcement to ‘VIP lane’ of preferred suppliers has been leaked to the
2020 figure of €410m, 34.9% from €16m in Q3 2020 partner with Atos for its Politico website, which published the full list.
excluding currency, while to €21m. internal IT activities.
www.printweekmena.com November 2021 PrintWeek MENA 23