VIPs and CEOs were
thick on the ground. John Brumby, Premier of Victoria, wielded the ceremonial
scissors under the watchful eyes of Bernhard Schreier, CEO of Heidelberger
Druckmaschinen AG, who arrived just hours before from Germany; Bent Mortensen,
CEO of Heidelberg Asia Pacific who jetted in from Singapore, and Andy Vels
Jensen, CEO of Heidelberg Australia and New Zealand. Good friend of Heidelberg,
Michael Neugart, one-time Heidelberg Australia and Heidelberg NZ staffer and
now CEO of Polar-Mohr, also flew in from Germany for the event.

The new
facility brings the company's national sales and service operation, Victorian
office, national showroom and demonstration facility under one roof, and sees
the company's renowned Print Media Academy, relocated from Sydney to Melbourne
– a decision Vels Jensen says was 'an easy choice'.

Premier
Brumby, who met Schreier at the government's bi-annual business meetings in
Frankfurt, was clearly delighted at the vote of confidence, and to be opening
the facility for a company he described as a 'market leader'.

"Heidelberg
started its life in this country as Schnellpressenfabrik which, if I'm correct,
means 'fast printing' or something similar," Brumby says, to nods of approval
from the German contingent.

"This press
over here," he says, indicating the impressive large format Speedmaster VLF
already on the showroom floor, "does just that. It represents the best, the
newest and, I might add, the most environmentally sound technology available
today."

"It is this
kind of technology that drives productivity and allows us to compete on the
world stage."

For Schreier,
the investment is a sign of his company's ongoing commitment to the market in
this part of the world, and its determination to remain the leading supplier to
the industry here.

"We have been
in Australia for more than 80 years, and we intend to be here for at least
another 80," he said.

"This new building
delivers customers outstanding facilities and the Print Media Academy which
will be a centre of excellence for training and learning. It is our wish that
the new facilities provide a valuable resource not only for Heidelberg and its
customers, but for the industry as a whole."

Comment below to have your say on this story.

If you have a news story or tip-off, get in touch at editorial@sprinter.com.au.  

Sign up to the Sprinter newsletter