Dr David Schmedding, chief technology and sales officer at Heidelberg, visited India in late January 2026, underlining the country’s growing strategic importance for the German press major, particularly in the fast-expanding packaging and printing segments.

Calling India one of the world’s most dynamic print markets, Heidelberg sees the country as a cornerstone of its long-term growth strategy in Asia-Pacific. With a rapidly expanding economy, rising population and increasing prosperity, India is witnessing strong growth in demand for printed packaging across consumer and industrial segments. The company is now positioning itself as a one-stop, end-to-end solutions provider for Indian print and packaging customers.

“India is one of the most important growth markets for Heidelberg globally, and our long-term commitment here is very strong. The pace at which packaging demand is growing in this country is unlike anything we see in most mature markets,” said Schmedding.

According to industry estimates shared by Heidelberg, the Indian packaging market is projected to grow from around USD 12 billion to USD 20 billion by 2030, supported by an expected GDP growth rate of about 6.5% annually. The highest growth is being driven by pharmaceutical, food, beverage and eCommerce sectors, aided by urbanisation, a fast-growing middle class and rising demand for branded products.

“India is no longer just a high-potential market; it is already a growth engine for the global packaging industry,” Schmedding noted, adding that Heidelberg’s focus is firmly on helping customers scale efficiently and sustainably as volumes rise.

Building a full packaging ecosystem

Heidelberg sees major opportunity in packaging and label printing and is strengthening its position as a systems integrator in the country. The company is expanding its sales and service teams, demo installations and partner ecosystem to ensure faster response times, localised support and deeper customer engagement.

“Our goal is to become a true one-stop partner for Indian printers and converters. From the pressroom to postpress, from software to service, we want customers to see Heidelberg as a complete production ecosystem, not just a machine supplier,” he said.

Today, Heidelberg offers Indian customers a complete production ecosystem covering offset, flexo and digital printing, postpress solutions, software, consumables, service and training. This end-to-end approach, the company says, enables converters and printers to streamline operations, reduce waste and improve profitability.

One of the company’s strongest performers in India is the Speedmaster CX 104. Known for its price-performance ratio and flexible configuration options, the press is in high demand for both packaging and commercial printing. Recently, Noble Printing Press invested in two Speedmaster CX 104 presses, reflecting growing confidence in Heidelberg’s packaging portfolio.

In the flexographic segment, the Boardmaster web press is gaining traction, particularly in food and beverage packaging, where high volumes, consistency and sustainability are critical. Heidelberg also sees strong growth potential for its Gallus hybrid label printing systems, which combine digital and conventional technologies for short runs and fast changeovers.

India as a growth pillar

India is now a key pillar in Heidelberg’s Asia-Pacific growth strategy and is expected to contribute a larger share of the company’s global sales and profitability in the coming years. To support this, Heidelberg plans to further strengthen its already extensive global sales and service network in the country.

“We are investing heavily in people, partnerships and local capabilities in India. As volumes increase and applications become more complex, customers will need reliable technology and strong service support, and that is where Heidelberg intends to lead,” Schmedding added.

Looking ahead, Heidelberg is also optimistic about the impact of the proposed India–EU trade deal, which is expected to reduce long-term tariff barriers and support smoother technology and equipment movement between the two regions.