(September 11, 2008) Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) recently opened its first Print Media Academy (PMA) in India, in the city of Chennai. As a result, the company has a knowledge platform for the print media industry that now spans all four of the BRIC countries - the key global growth regions of Brazil, Russia, India, and China. Heidelberg now runs a total of more than 18 PMA sites in 15 different countries.
 
Sections of the Indian print media industry have recorded annual growth rates that run into double figures, with packaging printing achieving particularly strong growth. Many companies are looking to match the production standards of their counterparts in industrialized countries and are therefore investing heavily in cutting-edge printing technologies. However, if they are to be successful in implementing market demands in day-to-day print production, operators and technical management teams in India will also need to further expand their know-how.

"Given the current situation, it was only a matter of time before a PMA was opened in India. The PMA focuses on training prepress, press and postpress personnel in the use of state-of-the-art technology from Heidelberg. As a result, Heidelberg is helping the print media industry in India to hone its technical know-how and is supporting companies as they seek to compete successfully on the global market," explained Bernhard Schreier, Chief Executive Officer of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, speaking in front of 200 guests at the opening ceremony.
 
The portfolio offered by the PMA in Chennai also supports existing initiatives in this growth region to deliver instructor training and provide particularly gifted students of printing technology with additional development opportunities.
 
"The demand for high-quality training is growing rapidly in the BRIC countries. By expanding the global PMA network further and extending the knowledge and training portfolio it offers, Heidelberg will continue to respond to this key trend in the print media industry," said Dirk Kaliebe, CFO at Heidelberg, during the opening ceremony.