Latest news with #Newsaktuell
The Sun
an hour ago
- Business
- The Sun
cooldown°earth welcomes North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) funding for matterr
DÜSSELDORF/BERLIN - Newsaktuell - 15 August 2025 - The non-profit cooldown°earth foundation congratulates its portfolio company matterr on receiving funding confirmation from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia as part of the EFRE/JTF program ' Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Protection Mona Neubaur presented the funding approval on August 6 in Düsseldorf. To help end the export of waste from industrialised nations—a practice that currently places a disproportionate burden on the world's poorest countries—matterr has developed a globally patented solution capable of repeatedly transforming waste back into high-quality raw materials. With this funding, matterr can accelerate the construction of its second plant, now on a small industrial scale, in North Rhine-Westphalia. The core technology is the depolymerization of PET under mild conditions. This allows mixed waste such as multi-layer packaging or mixed textile fabrics to be broken down into their primary components and fossil raw materials to be replaced on a large scale. By returning the monomer-based process to primary material quality, it enables molecular upcycling: Polyester textiles, which previously could only be recycled for low-quality applications, are now being used to create products of the highest quality – not only new textiles, but even packaging that is approved for food contact. 'This is a unique partnership,' says Wolfgang K. Hoever, fo under of cooldown°earth. 'A charitable foundation takes the lead, the state follows – and the result is infrastructure that turns hard-to-recycle waste into a circular GreenTech product. This is great news for climate protection and for our region as a business location.' The funding commitment awarded to matterr is not only the first from this programme but also the maximum possible grant amount of €30 million. The planned NRW facility is scheduled to start operations in 2027 with an annual capacity of 10,000 tonnes. cooldown°earth is not the recipient of the funding, but an early investor and enabler. Any potential returns from its stake will, in accordance with its statutes, be reinvested in non-profit climate and environmental protection projects. Background The State of NRW and the EU support strategic technologies under the (EFRE/JTF 2021–2027) programme to ensure they remain in NRW/Europe. The first grants went to, among others, matterr ('revolPET plant') and Greenlyte. Minister Neubaur highlighted the triple benefit for climate, jobs and innovation. (Pressrelease NRW) matterr's own statement details the funding amount, schedule and process; the plant will replace fossil-based PET feedstock with primary-quality recycled material. (Pressrelease matterr)
Arabian Post
3 days ago
- Business
- Arabian Post
cooldown°earth welcomes North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) funding for matterr
– Public funds and public welfare capital accelerate circular technology – DÜSSELDORF/BERLIN – Newsaktuell – 15 August 2025 – The non-profit cooldown°earth foundation congratulates its portfolio company matterr on receiving funding confirmation from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia as part of the EFRE/JTF program ' Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Protection Mona Neubaur presented the funding approval on August 6 in Düsseldorf. Pictured (from left to right): Thomas Tochtermann (Chairman of the Board, matterr), Benjamin Rump (COO, matterr), Wolfgang K. Hoever (Founder/Board, cooldown°earth), Mona Neubaur (Minister for Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia), Melanie Hackler (CEO, matterr), Jan Rückold (Head of Finance, matterr) Credit: © MWIKE NRW / Bowinkelmann To help end the export of waste from industrialised nations—a practice that currently places a disproportionate burden on the world's poorest countries—matterr has developed a globally patented solution capable of repeatedly transforming waste back into high-quality raw materials. ADVERTISEMENT With this funding, matterr can accelerate the construction of its second plant, now on a small industrial scale, in North Rhine-Westphalia. The core technology is the depolymerization of PET under mild conditions. This allows mixed waste such as multi-layer packaging or mixed textile fabrics to be broken down into their primary components and fossil raw materials to be replaced on a large scale. By returning the monomer-based process to primary material quality, it enables molecular upcycling: Polyester textiles, which previously could only be recycled for low-quality applications, are now being used to create products of the highest quality – not only new textiles, but even packaging that is approved for food contact. 'This is a unique partnership,' says Wolfgang K. Hoever, founder of cooldown°earth. 'A charitable foundation takes the lead, the state follows – and the result is infrastructure that turns hard-to-recycle waste into a circular GreenTech product. This is great news for climate protection and for our region as a business location.' The funding commitment awarded to matterr is not only the first from this programme but also the maximum possible grant amount of €30 million. The planned NRW facility is scheduled to start operations in 2027 with an annual capacity of 10,000 tonnes. cooldown°earth is not the recipient of the funding, but an early investor and enabler. Any potential returns from its stake will, in accordance with its statutes, be reinvested in non-profit climate and environmental protection projects. Background The State of NRW and the EU support strategic technologies under the (EFRE/JTF 2021–2027) programme to ensure they remain in NRW/Europe. The first grants went to, among others, matterr ('revolPET plant') and Greenlyte . Minister Neubaur highlighted the triple benefit for climate, jobs and innovation. (Pressrelease NRW) programme to ensure they remain in NRW/Europe. The first grants went to, among others, ('revolPET plant') and . Minister Neubaur highlighted the triple benefit for climate, jobs and innovation. (Pressrelease NRW) matterr's own statement details the funding amount, schedule and process; the plant will replace fossil-based PET feedstock with primary-quality recycled material. (Pressrelease matterr) Hashtag: #cooldown°earth The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About cooldown°earth: The cooldown°earth foundation is a private, non-profit foundation based in Krefeld, Germany. Founded in 2013 by Dr. Annekathrin Edelmann and Wolfgang K. Hoever, it works to promote social cohesion and climate protection. Projects include the Digital Climate School, which helps schools integrate education for sustainable development into their curricula. The foundation fosters skills in using new technologies for sustainability and strengthens motivation for the responsible use of the planet's natural resources.
The Sun
31-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
HEIDELBERG gets off to positive start in new financial year – forecast for 2025/26 confirmed
Sales and adjusted EBITDA margin for Q1 well up on corresponding quarter of previous year Solid incoming orders lay foundations for positive business development Free cash flow still negative but much improved compared with equivalent period of previous year MoU agreed on system partnership with defense specialist VINCORION Full-year forecast confirmed HEIDELBERG, GERMANY - Newsaktuell - 31 July 2025 - Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HEIDELBERG) has made a positive start to financial year 2025/26. Thanks to the healthy order backlog from the previous year, sales in the first quarter were well up on the previous year's figure (€ 403 million) at € 466 million. Business in Europe and Asia developed particularly positively during this period. In the case of Asia, this demonstrates that HEIDELBERG is further strengthening its position in such future markets. The adjusted operating result (EBITDA) also improved significantly, to € 20 million (corresponding quarter of previous year: € –9 million). The adjusted EBITDA margin, which did not include any special items during the reporting period, rose accordingly to 4.4 percent after three months (equivalent quarter of previous year: –2.3 percent). Besides the growing sales volume and improved production capacity utilization, the cost-cutting measures introduced by the company also had an impact in this regard. Systematically implementing both the plan for the future and efficiency improvements is having a positive effect on profitability in the current financial year. A full year after drupa, incoming orders of € 559 million in the first quarter (previous year's figure: € 701 million) continued to create a solid basis for positive business development, with the company's successful participation in the China Print trade show also playing a role. 'Thanks to our global market position and an improved cost basis, we have made a good start to the new financial year,' said Jürgen Otto, CEO of HEIDELBERG. 'Strategic measures in our core business, together with new options in the Technology segment and our move into the defense sector, give us cause to feel very confident about the prospects for the year as a whole.' he added. Although the free cash flow after three months was negative, as expected, it was much improved compared with the corresponding period of the previous year. Thanks to the initiation of staffing and efficiency measures, the figure of € –68 million (previous year: € –103 million) was better than envisaged. The net result after taxes in the first quarter amounted to € –11 million, which was a big improvement on the equivalent period of the previous year (€ –42 million). As of April 1, 2025, HEIDELBERG started basing its reporting on the Print & Packaging Equipment, Digital Solutions & Lifecycle, and HEIDELBERG Technology segments. The Print & Packaging Equipment segment includes offset and flexo solutions, as well as prepress and postpress solutions for packaging and commercial printing. The Digital Solutions & Lifecycle segment covers products and activities relating to software, service, consumables, and digital printing. The HEIDELBERG Technology segment primarily comprises activities outside the company's core business, such as electromobility (Amperfied) and industry operations (production and technology solutions for third-party businesses). In the Print & Packaging Equipment segment, sales in the first quarter increased by some 42 percent to € 211 million. Digital Solutions & Lifecycle sales matched the previous year's level, totaling € 241 million. Sales after three months in the Technology Solutions segment were also at the same level as in the corresponding period of the previous year. Adjusted EBITDA improved in all the segments. 'Packaging printing remained a growth driver for our business in the first quarter,' said David Schmedding, Chief Technology & Sales Officer at HEIDELBERG. 'This development reaffirms our growth strategy – the continuous and targeted expansion of our portfolio as a systems integrator for this key market segment. Our acquisition of Polar Mohr brand rights and technology to boost the productivity of value chains in packaging and label production is a further example of this approach.' he explained. As HEIDELBERG sees it, playing a leading role as a systems integrator for packaging and digital printing with hybrid printing solutions and the company's software and service business in a digital ecosystem can offer growth potential in its core business. In the Technology segment, the focus is on expanding the operation of charging infrastructure, including DC technology, and on unlocking new market segments. MoU agreed on system partnership with defense specialist VINCORION HEIDELBERG has embarked on its first project in the defense sector and agreed a MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) on a system partnership with VINCORION Advanced Systems GmbH. This cooperation will see HEIDELBERG move into the defense market by developing, industrializing, and building power control and distribution systems for VINCORION. HEIDELBERG is aiming to become established as a reliable partner for high-quality products and gradually expand this role within the defense sector. Full-year forecast confirmed Following a positive start, the forecast for financial year 2025/26 is confirmed. In view of macroeconomic developments, taking into account the various opportunities and risks, and assuming the global economy does not see weaker growth than predicted by the relevant institutions, the company is expecting sales of around € 2,350 million in financial year 2025/26 (2024/25: € 2,280 million). The EBITDA margin adjusted for special items is predicted to rise to as much as 8 percent (previous year: 7.1 percent). Image material and further information about the company are available in the Investor Relations portal and Press Lounge of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG at Important note: This release contains forward-looking statements based on assumptions and estimates by the management of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft. Even though the management is of the opinion that these assumptions and estimates are accurate, the actual future development and results may deviate substantially from these forward-looking statements due to various factors, such as changes in the overall economic situation, in exchange and interest rates, and within the print media industry. Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft provides no guarantee and assumes no liability for future developments and results deviating from the assumptions and estimates made in this press release.
The Sun
10-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Generative AI accelerates homologation: FEV simplifies country-specific type approval processes
AACHEN, GERMANY – Newsaktuell – 10 July 2025 – Vehicle development doesn't end with technical readiness: The road to global market launches is only complete once homologation has been successfully achieved. The increasing complexity of national regulations poses growing challenges to OEMs and suppliers. FEV addresses these with an innovative, AI-based approach: The company-wide used 'FEV GenAI Hub' significantly simplifies and accelerates the analysis of regulatory requirements across different global markets, offering time and cost savings that can provide customers with a decisive competitive edge. 'In the case of type-approval, we use our in-house AI platform, the 'FEV GenAI Hub', to extract, enrich, and analyze legal texts from standards and laws in a fully automated process,' said Dr. Thomas Hülshorst, Group Vice President Intelligent Mobility & Software at FEV. 'This enables precise comparisons of regional requirements and identifies any deviations. The platform immediately generates recommendations to ensure legal compliance.' Significant efficiency gains In practice, FEV has reduced the time required for comprehensive regulatory analysis from several months to just a few weeks. The AI supports engineers with semantic searches, automated classification, and gap analysis—saving time and reducing the risk of human error. Customers benefit from: · Time savings: Reduces analysis time by up to 60% · Cost savings: Cuts resource requirements by up to 50% · Scalability: Enables comparison of regulatory requirements across global markets · Safety: Identifies homologation risks early and provides actionable recommendations Future-oriented use of AI FEV's GenAI Hub serves as a central platform for generative AI in vehicle development. Starting with homologation today, future platform generations will enable additional automation in system development, test management, and project controlling. The goal: Streamline development processes, enhance safety, and increase market orientation to give customers a decisive competitive edge.
The Sun
05-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
HEIDELBERG focuses on economic efficiency in FY 2025/26 – operating margin set to rise further
• Targets for financial year 2024/25 achieved – sales and adjusted EBITDA margin match previous year's figure • Significantly positive free cash flow of € 51 million • China Print trade show's positive impact on orders creates basis for good start to FY 2025/26 • Areas with growth potential range from packaging and digital printing to software and lifecycle products • Outlook for FY 2025/26 – slight increase in sales expected and adjusted EBITDA margin set to rise to as much as around 8 percent HEIDELBERG, GERMANY – Newsaktuell – 5 June 2025 - Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HEIDELBERG) is starting financial year 2025/26 on a strong note. Based on its global market position, its portfolio expansion in strategic growth markets, and a much-improved cost basis, and despite a difficult economic climate, the company is expecting a slight increase in sales to around € 2,350 million in the new financial year and an adjusted operating margin of up to 8 percent. It sees growth potential in a number of areas. These include playing a leading role as a systems integrator for packaging and digital printing with hybrid printing solutions, combining software and service business in a digital ecosystem, and expanding the operation of charging infrastructure, including DC technology. HEIDELBERG is also expecting a big boost from the Asia/Pacific region. Healthy incoming orders at May's China Print trade show confirmed this and created the basis for a successful start to the new financial year. 'Significant strategic and operational improvements have paved the way for further profitable growth,' said Jürgen Otto, CEO of HEIDELBERG. 'Our measures will make a substantial contribution to the expected increase in sales. Enhanced efficiency and performance will further boost our profitability. Encouragingly, the capital market is also increasingly acknowledging our focus on economic efficiency and liquidity,' he added. Targets for financial year 2024/25 achieved – sales and adjusted EBITDA margin match previous year's figure In financial year 2024/25, HEIDELBERG held its own in a difficult market environment and met its targets. The adjusted EBITDA margin remained stable at 7.1 percent, for example, ending the financial year on a successful note. The cost-cutting and efficiency measures initiated by the company successfully compensated for a slightly lower volume of sales than in the previous year, rising wage costs, and expenses relating to the drupa trade show. In the fourth quarter alone, the adjusted EBITDA margin doubled compared with the previous year and reached around 10 percent. At € 2,280 million, sales were slightly down on the previous year's figure (€ 2,395 million). Following a weak first quarter due to purchasing restraint ahead of the drupa industry trade show, sales during the financial year increased quarter by quarter and were particularly strong in the fourth quarter. The free cash flow was once again significantly positive at € 51 million (previous year: € 56 million). China Print trade show's positive impact on orders creates basis for good start to FY 2025/26 HEIDELBERG ended financial year 2024/25 with a high level of incoming orders. In the fourth quarter, the figure of € 611 million for incoming orders was up on the previous quarters of the financial year. One reason for this is the company's global and diversified setup, which enables HEIDELBERG to benefit from the different growth dynamics in the individual regions. This is emphasized by the high level of incoming orders at May's China Print trade show, which will have a positive impact in the new financial year. During financial year 2024/25 as a whole, HEIDELBERG generated incoming orders of around € 2,433 million, which was 6 percent up on the previous year's level (€ 2,288 million). This also resulted in a corresponding big increase in the order backlog as at March 31, 2025 – from € 652 million on the same reference date the previous year to € 722 million. The Packaging Solutions and Print Solutions segments benefited from the product innovations presented at drupa. Their incoming orders for financial year 2024/25 both increased – by around 7 percent to € 1,272 million for the Packaging Solutions segment and by about 6 percent to € 1,155 million for the Print Solutions segment. 'Thanks to the improving order situation and the positive momentum from the China Print trade show, we are expecting a better start to the new financial year than we had the previous year,' said Dr. David Schmedding, Chief Technology & Sales Officer at HEIDELBERG. 'Our new portfolio of very large format presses for packaging reaffirms our approach of gradually further expanding our portfolio in growth segments. By also incorporating automation, robotics, and software, we now offer customers integrated end-to-end solutions for the entire production process. Our aim as a system provider is to tap into the sizable potential in the growing packaging segment. All in all, we are therefore embarking on the new financial year full of confidence,' he continued. Outlook for FY 2025/26 – slight increase in sales expected and adjusted EBITDA margin set to rise to as much as around 8 percent In view of macroeconomic developments, taking into account the various opportunities and risks, and assuming the global economy does not see weaker growth than predicted by the relevant institutions, the company is expecting sales of around € 2,350 million in financial year 2025/26 (2024/25: € 2,280 million). The EBITDA margin adjusted for special items is predicted to rise to as much as 8 percent (previous year: 7.1 percent). The changed segment structure at HEIDELBERG from April 1, 2025 means the company will, in the future, report figures for the Print & Packaging Equipment, Digital Solutions & Lifecycle, and HEIDELBERG Technology segments. The purpose of this new segment structure is to strengthen the focus on product-oriented management in line with market and customer needs, and also on systematically taking responsibility for results.
