Heidelberg is further expanding its strategic position as a systems integrator. The transaction to integrate the lifecycle business and the global sales and service companies of the manroland sheetfed Group was completed at the beginning of July 2026. The integration of manroland sheetfed into the Heidelberg Group can thus proceed as planned.
In addition, Heidelberg has signed an agreement to take over the production of Polar presses and systems in the future. The development of these presses will be integrated into Heidelberg’s organization. Following the already completed integration of technology, brand, sales, and service, the company is thus taking the next logical step and strengthening its position, particularly in the packaging and label markets.
“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.”
Agreement reached on full acquisition of Polar
For customers from Heidelberg, this step mainly means continued high reliability in quality, availability, and innovation. Through the full acquisition, the company is accelerating the development of new solutions, particularly in the areas of automation and workflow integration. Polar systems remain an integral part of networked, highly productive production environments throughout the entire post-press process. The product portfolio includes components and systems that integrate and automate all processes – from loading, shaking, cutting, and die-cutting to unloading and banding. For customers, all familiar processes related to service, support, and sales remain unchanged.
Gradual integration into the Heidelberg production network
The transition will take place in stages: The current production site in Hofheim will no longer be available in the long term due to its sale. Heidelberg will use the time until then to prepare for integration into the company’s production network.
Availability and quality of Polar systems ensured
Heidelberg said it will continue to ensure delivery reliability and service quality while highlighting its long-term commitment to the market. “With the complete acquisition of Polar, we are further expanding our role as a systems integrator. For our customers, reliability and performance are always the top priorities. Especially during a period of noticeable market changes, we are sending a clear signal to the market: Heidelberg stands for stability, quality, and long-term partnership.”
The collaboration between Heidelberg and Polar dates to the 1950s and has been continuously expanded over the decades. With the full integration of development, production, sales, and service, the company said it is creating a consistently managed offering across the entire value chain, with a focus on productivity, efficiency, and future-proofing for customers worldwide.
The parties have agreed not to disclose the details of the agreement.
