HOW HEIDELBERG AND MULLER MARTINI’S PARTNERSHIP WILL IMPACT PRINTING BUSINESS
A new partnership between Heidelberg Nigeria Ltd. and Muller MartiniSwitzerland was birthedrecently with a view to harnessing the potential in finishing, bindery, and different areas in the Nigeria’s printing market.
In the past, Heidelberg, while it was represented by R.T. Briscoe, had partnered with Muller Martinibefore their separation in 1998. The two companies are optimistic that the strategic collaboration would be highly beneficial to their clients.
In a statement signed by Heidelberg Nigeria, the growth in Nigeria’s economy has necessitated the partnership as high yield book printers, magazine printers and general commercial printers’ demand for automation has also increased.
The statement further read: “Muller Martini has taken over Heidelberg’s activities in the finishing and bindery industry and is now responsible for spare parts, training and maintenance. It will not only cover not only the comprehensive range of Muller Martini finishing equipment, but also the previous Heidelberg finishing range of products, such as ST-100 Saddlestitchers, Eurobinders, and Eurotrimmers, etc.
“Heidelberg Nigeria is now responsible for all after-sales service of present and future Muller Martini equipment, including the installed base of Heidelberg finishing equipment in Nigeria. With Heidelberg’s experienced technical service team, clients will experience greatly improved service and the best products available anywhere.”
Meanwhile, the Managing Director of Heidelberg Nigeria, Mr. Jacob Bejer, and Regional Sales Director of Muller Matini, Mr. Jules Dietz could not conceal their excitement at the venue where the alliance between the two companies was announced in Lagos, Nigeria.
Mr. Bejersaid: “Heidelberg and Muller Matini have decided to come together again and that means two of the strongest players in the market want to use their common understanding in the market and technical knowhow in the best possible way. Nigerians buy products when they get technical support. We can hopefully promote the products of Muller Matini visibly in Nigeria.
“The commercial printing has a great future in Nigeria.We see printing increasing immediately when the Buhari’s administration starts putting the right investment in education,. Other growth areas I see is packaging. The opportunities in the area are huge because a lot of locally produced goods need to be taken to modern society and that requires packaging.”
Also speaking, Mr. Dietz said: “We are happy we could marry again because the challenging nature of the printing and finishing business today needs strong partnership. Muller Matini started making finishing products just after the second war. It is the biggest player today in the finishing market.
“We have been developing and producing saddle stitching system, perfect binding system for books and one of the biggest suppliers of finishing solutions for hardcover books. We can go together to have a good future together with Heidelberg Nigeria.”
Heidelberg Nigeria is the sole representative of Heidelberg Druckmaschinen AG in the country. The parent company headquartered in Germany is the world’s leading manufacturer and distributor of top of the line printing presses, prepress, packaging and finishing equipment. Its equipment is globally used in high-quality print products such as advertising materials, brochures, posters, stationary, folding cartons, scratch cards and labels.
The second partner, Muller Matini, is a big global player in the finishing industry. Its products and solutions range from saddle stitching, perfect binding hardcover systems, and newspaper mailroom systems, among others.