With expected growth in the commercial, book publishing and packaging business in Nigeria, industry leaders – Heidelberg Nigeria Limited and Muller Martini, Switzerland have entered into strategic partnership to further service and support the finishing section of print business.
At media parley to announce the strategic partnership, Heidelberg Nigeria Limited MD/ CEO – Mr. Jakob Bejer informed that as Nigeria grows, ‘there has been an increasing focus on Finishing, or Bindery as it is called, due to high demands to consistent quality, speed and reliability’ therefore necessitating alliance with Muller Martini for top-of-the-range automated finishing equipment.
He disclosed further that with Muller Martini’s flexible, cost-effective and fully integrated first-class technology and Heidelberg Nigeria experienced Technical Service Team, clients all over Nigeria would experience greatly improved service and best finishing products available anywhere.
According to Muller Martini Regional Sales Director – Mr. Jules Dietz, partnership with Heidelberg Nigeria with good reputation and extensive experience in print product marketing in Nigeria, Muller Martini will now have the strongest possible presence in the Nigerian print and graphics market.
Also speaking, Heidelberg Print Manager – Mr. John Onuegbulem noted that with the growth expected in the industry, it is no longer high yield book printers who needed automation in their Finishing Line, but also magazine printers and general commercial printers would also have need for automated finishing for quality, fast turnaround of printed matter.
While dispelling the myth that automation cut off jobs in the industry, Heidelberg Nigeria Chief Financial Controller – Mr. Godwin Ogwilo said though in the short run, fewer operators would be required to man automated finishing equipment but as a result of the expected growth in the print business that invests in automation, the company will have more customers to service as it may also diversify to other lines of print business consequently creating more jobs in the industry with attendant multiplier effect on the overall economy of Nigeria.
‘With Muller Martini’s range of finishing equipment, Heidelberg Nigeria will be equipped with the strongest and best finishing equipment in the world today. Heidelberg Nigeria Limited is now responsible for all after-sales service of present and future Muller Martini equipment including installed base of Heidelberg finishing equipment in Nigeria’ expressed Bejer while highlighting the extensive range of Muller Martini’s extensive product portfolio that ranges from saddle stitchers, perfect binders, hardcover systems, and newspaper mail room systems to state-of-the-art technology for manufacturing digitally printed products in saddle stitching, perfect binding or hardcover production.
It will be recalled that Heidelberg Nigeria Limited and Muller Martini, Switzerland worked together in the past when Heidelberg was represented by R.T. Briscoe – thus confirming that with their new strategic partnership, challenges of the past would be better managed thereby making their customers kings for a comprehensive range of Finishing/ Bindery Services for equipment, spare parts, training and maintenance.
