Dubai, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - December 19, 2005 - With on-site sales totaling Euro 5 million, Heidelberg concluded another successful participation in Gulf Print 2005 - the region's premier international print technology exhibition that took place at the Dubai International Airport Expo from December 11- 14.

The announcement was made at a gala dinner hosted by Zeid Al Jehni, General Manager, Heidelberg Middle East FZCO, and Dr. Joachim Englisch, Managing Director, Heidelberg Gulf at the Al Bustan Rotana Hotel in Dubai. More than 200 Heidelberg customers, suppliers and company senior management from the Middle East and Europe attended the event.

"Heidelberg is doing very well in this region, but our success at this prestigious event has tremendous implications for the future of the printing industry in this part of the world" explained Mr. Al Jehni.

Among the VIP guests attending the gala event was His Excellency, Walter Leuchs, Germany's Consul General in Dubai, and Ahmed Al Shaikh, Managing Director of Modern Printing Press and the Chairman of Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Representative Committee of the Printing and Publishing Business Group.

"In order to maintain a positive and stable growth, the industry must consist of quality-driven and standard-setting companies such as Heidelberg. Gulf Print 2005 gave us a platform to display our commitment to the growth and prosperity of the printing industry in the region," added Mr. Al Jehni.

Several other sales that took place included six Fidia finishing machines, three CTP's, Speedmaster SM 52 and one CD 102, three Stahl folders, two Polar cutters and one binding machine.

The exhibition was successful for both Heidelberg and those who partnered them this year, particularly Fidia, an Italian based company that has recently entered into a strategic partnership agreement with Heidelberg:  "It has been a great experience to come across such an attractive market, and we are happy with our choice to work with Heidelberg" described Mr. Giuseppe Panepinto, Managing Director of Fidia.

-Ends-

About Heidelberg
With the highest market share for sheet-fed printing, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) is the world's leading solutions provider for commercial and industrial customers in the print media industry. Established in 1850 in Heidelberg, Germany, the group's solutions focus on the whole chain for popular format classes in the sheet-fed offset and flexographic printing sectors. This includes prepress, post-press and their associated workflow components; the training and education programmes of the Print Media Academy; service, spare parts, and consumables; and the sale of used equipment. The company also supports its customers' investment plans with financing concepts. Heidelberg's business is increasingly investing in growth markets such as Asia and the Middle East. There are 14 international development and production sites and around 250 sales branches providing support to customers worldwide. Heidelberg Middle East FZCO is a company that supports the printing industry in the region with sales support, after-sales service, training and marketing. Heidelberg Middle East has its headquarters in the Jebel Ali Free Zone area in Dubai. Branches have also been opened  in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and Lebanon. The company employs about 160 specialists throughout the Middle East.  Heidelberg Middle East Free Zone Company (FZCO) is a partnership between Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HEIDELBERG), the German parent company and E.A. Juffali and Brothers, a major Saudi industrial and commercial business group.

For further information, please contact:
Rami Halawani/Anosh Ahamath         
Partnership PR             
Tel : 04 228 0044
pr@partnershipme.com

© Press Release 2005