Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) and its sales partner Tetterode-Nederland bv have opened a new Print Media Academy (PMA) in Amsterdam. The celebrations took the form of a "Power of Print" event attended by more than 80 guests from the print media industry. Heidelberg now has 19 Print Media Academies in 16 countries.

"The new Print Media Academy at Tetterode expands and professionalizes our training program in cooperation with Heidelberg, and allows us to benefit from the close cooperation within the PMA network," explains Wouter van Dijk, CEO of Tetterode. "This new development generates added value for our customers and for the entire print media industry in the Netherlands," he continues. Print shops in the Netherlands are also feeling the effects of weak incoming orders as a result of the economic crisis. Particularly in difficult economic times like these, it is important for companies to invest in additional staff training in order to leverage their full potential.

"The new PMA in Amsterdam also has an international dimension, operating beyond the borders of the Netherlands," underlines Bernd Schopp, Manager of the PMA in Heidelberg. For example, there are plans to offer the "Lean Printing" seminar to print shops around the world in Amsterdam in the fall of 2009. Thanks to its excellent transportation links and central location, Amsterdam is easy to reach from virtually anywhere in the world. The international focus will enable participating print shops to share know-how across borders and to learn from and with one another.

Arnold van der Zee is the Manager of the PMA in Amsterdam and he is supported by a team of 20 certified trainers with years of industry experience. The training program will feature product training on prepress, press and postpress, application training, and seminars and workshops on issues affecting the industry. The courses run by the PMA are geared towards print shops, creative professionals, print buyers, schools, and universities.

Lean printing seminar in fall 2009
The first international seminar for print shops to be held in the PMA in Amsterdam is a three-day workshop on the topic of lean printing. The aim of this event is to identify untapped potential in the production process. Seminar participants will learn how lean methods and tools used in other industries can be applied in print shops to increase productivity and establish a successful corporate structure in the long term. Synchronizing workflows and generating a higher standard of service for customers will be two of the main areas of focus. Examples from print shops across the globe will demonstrate how lean printing can be applied successfully to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage.

Global network and knowledge forum for the print media industry
The Print Media Academy was founded back in 2000 in Heidelberg and offers technical and management staff in the print media industry a comprehensive range of training courses tailored to the specific needs of the industry. High-profile speakers and trainers from the print media industry and business world impart information on the use of Heidelberg products, technological innovations, and successful management. The Print Media Academy portfolio includes one-off seminars, international management programs, advanced training, specialist congresses, and a range of publications.

The network is growing all the time and today comprises 19 PMA sites in 16 countries around the world. The Print Media Academy is represented in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Japan, China, India, Egypt, Afghanistan, Malaysia, and Australia. In Europe, there are PMA sites in Germany, the Czech Republic, Russia, Belgium, and now in the Netherlands. All the sites communicate regularly and share information on the latest trends in the print media industry. This makes it possible to develop the training program in close cooperation with one another and to tailor it to the specific regional requirements. In 2008, more than 21,000 participants took part in almost 2,500 training courses staged by the PMA network.