Heidelberg set to acquire Polar IP, patents and brand rights

Heidelberg’s long-standing relationship with post-press manufacturer Polar Group is entering a new era, with Heidelberg set to acquire Polar Mohr’s intellectual property and brand rights.

The deal has been signed off by the two firms and is expected to be finalised in the next few weeks. 

It also includes patents and “further assets” such as parts and stock equipment.

Heidelberg was already responsible for sales and service of Polar Mohr products in many major markets worldwide, including the UK, with the manufacturers having a partnership that dates back to the 1950s.

Once the transaction is concluded, Heidelberg will have exclusive worldwide sales, service and marketing rights for Polar’s post-press products, which Heidelberg said would give it direct access to packaging markets in the growth regions of Asia, South America and the Middle East.

Commenting on the deal, Heidelberg CEO Jürgen Otto said the group was targeting growth through M&A activities “in attractive market segments”.

He stated: “This acquisition underscores our credentials as a full-range supplier for our customers in the packaging and label industry, including service, and gives us exclusivity in a growing market.

“As a systems integrator, we cover the entire value chain of a packaging print shop – on a fully integrated and networked basis – to ensure production is highly productive. Polar Mohr systems play a key role in this context.”

As well as the cutting systems that are Polar’s best-known products, the firm also makes pile turners, jogging systems, and post-press systems for the label industry.

This includes the LabelSystem DC-12 Rapid, an automated system for unmanned production of bundled die-cut and cut labels.

Mohr also has a range of nearline solutions targeted at the digital market and cutting on demand, sold via a dealer network. A Heidelberg spokesperson told Printweek the group would take over the dealer markets in its own distribution network.

The Polar Group of companies has been owned by SOL Capital Management since February 2023, when SOL acquired Polar out of bankruptcy protection, after the business was hit by supply chain delays for critical components in 2022.

Polar Group employs just under 250 at its Hofheim site. It will partner with Heidelberg on the future development, production and assembly of Polar Mohr systems.

Dr Paul Niederkofler, managing partner at SOL Capital Management, said the collaboration with Heidelberg had intensified since 2023, and described the deal as “the next logical step” in consolidating the relationship.

“We are delighted to be taking the next important step together with this sale of brand rights and technology and the full incorporation of sales and service activities into the Heidelberg organisation,” he said.

“This transaction will strengthen the market position of Heidelberg in the post-press, label, and packaging market on a long-term basis. It also leaves Polar Mohr to focus entirely on its core competences as a developer and manufacturer.”

Polar Group also has a Chinese manufacturing plant in Shanghai, making cutting machines and other equipment specifically for the Chinese and neighbouring markets.

Heidelberg’s shares rose by 3.14% to EUR 1.64 (GBP 1.42) following the announcement this morning (23 July), and are up 73% since the start of the year, hitting a 52-week high of EUR 1.70 earlier this month (52-week low: EUR 0.85).

This was originally published by PrintWeek.com