07/04/2007 -- The official opening of the new "Educ@te Center" of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) takes place today in Eppelheim. The training center, part of the Print Media Academy, offers customers and staff throughout the world extensive practical and theoretical training activities in offset printing. The latest developments in printing technology will be communicated in a clear and practical manner. Training courses on presses and seminars for "Prinect" prepress software will be held in line with the latest standards. "Thanks to the concentration of know-how and the state-of-the-art technology, the "Educ@te" training center is unique in the global printing industry. It is our way of helping our customers tap the full potential of their Heidelberg presses," says Chief Executive Officer Bernhard Schreier.
Each year, 7,300 participants will be trained in some 700 courses in Eppelheim. The courses are scheduled to last five to ten days, which means that between 12 and 15 courses are held simultaneously each week. Heidelberg employs 140 trainers, all of them experienced experts with comprehensive practical know-how. The eight-week basic training course "Educ@te", which provides essential know-how for Heidelberg service staff, will also be held in the Eppelheim training center. This training program is part of a high-quality, long-term training concept at Heidelberg. ""Educ@te" is a genuine seal of quality in training and our customer training courses will also meet its high standards. That is why it was chosen as the name of the training center," says Bernd Schopp, Head of the Print Media Academy in Heidelberg.
The training center is set to span some 8,500 square meters. Including neighboring areas, the site extends to 10,000 square meters in total. 34 rooms have been set up for press and software training. More than 20 presses have now been installed in three halls, each equipped with the latest technology. It is the largest collection of Heidelberg presses for training purposes anywhere in the world. The range of machines extends from a simple press for printing letterheads to a ten-color press that can be used for example to print high-finish perfume packaging or artwork. Heidelberg staff are quickly trained in the use of new presses, including those that will not be unveiled until the drupa trade show next year. The former print shop meets the high construction standards required to accommodate several tons of presses, i.e. in terms of static, installed service lifts or supply lines.
Customers, representatives of industry associations, universities in the printing sector, and course participants have been invited to the official opening ceremony. Guests will be welcomed by Bernhard Schreier, Bernd Schopp, and Dieter Mörlein, the Mayor of Eppelheim. "Any town in which a company with the reputation of Heidelberger Druck chooses to set up a worldwide training center can consider itself fortunate. Eppelheim looks forward to working together with the company and extends it a warm welcome."
Print Media Academy
The Print Media Academy of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG offers technical and management staff in the printing and media industry a comprehensive range of training courses tailored to meet industry requirements. The Print Media Academy portfolio comprises not only one-off seminars but also international management programs, advanced training, specialist congresses, and publications.
The Print Media Academy in Heidelberg is also the hub of a global network extending across 16 locations in 14 countries. The network is growing continuously. The 17th Print Media Academy is opening its doors in Prague in the fall of 2007. Each year, around 17,000 technical and management staff from the printing and media industry take part in courses offered by the worldwide Print Media Academy. In total, the Heidelberg know-how center can boast more than 50,000 visitors each year.