German industry leaders pivot strategies amid competition and market shifts

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen is accelerating its diversification strategy to reduce reliance on the traditional printing market. The company is expanding into new technological fields, specifically energy storage and unmanned systems. Through its subsidiary HD Advanced Technologies, the firm is collaborating with the Swiss company Phenogy to develop sodium-ion battery storage solutions.

In a leadership change, Christoph Burkhard is set to succeed Volker Herdin as Chief Financial Officer on October 1, 2026. This move comes as the company reported a decline in orders, revenue, and earnings in the first quarter of the 2026/27 fiscal year.

Separately, Bosch has issued warnings regarding increasing competition from Chinese manufacturers within the European commercial vehicle industry. Markus Heyn, head of Bosch Mobility, noted that both China and the US are actively promoting local value creation. Bosch is calling for the swift implementation of the EU's Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA) to strengthen European industry and ensure fair trade conditions through the preferential treatment of 'Made in Europe' goods in public procurement.