According to preliminary figures, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) continued the positive trend in incoming orders in the first quarter of financial year 2010/11. This was due to the continued rise in demand in a number of regions (particularly China), positive exchange rate movements, and, above all, the trade shows IPEX in the United Kingdom and ExpoPrint in Brazil during the reporting period (April 1 - June 30, 2010).

At EUR 786 million - thereof approx. EUR 45 million account for exchange rate movements - preliminary incoming orders in the first quarter were up significantly on the same quarter of the previous year (EUR 550 million), and also above the previous quarter (EUR 678 million). However, the order situation worldwide remains unsettled. It is shaped by the continuing weakness of the markets in the U.S. and Japan. In contrast, some European markets and regions in Asia, especially China, and South America are showing considerable improvement.

In the first quarter, the preliminary free cash flow will be in the region between EUR 50 million and EUR 60 million and thus far in excess of the same period of the previous year (EUR -29 million). The positive development in free cash flow is largely due to an improved working capital management, including higher customer prepayments and optimized payment flow for capital expenditure. Though, the previously stated information does not point to any continuation or substantial improvements of this development in the remainder of the financial year compared to earlier forecasts of the free cash flow for financial year 2010/11.  

Thanks also to exchange rate movements, preliminary sales in the first quarter are slightly above the figure for the same period of the previous year at approximately EUR 560 million (compared to EUR 514 million the previous year). Thereof about EUR 35 million account for exchange rate movements. The preliminary operating result (excluding special items) in the first quarter will improve as planned compared to the same quarter of the previous year (EUR -63 million).