Defense Secretary Dr. Nils Schmid visits HEIDELBERG
Earlier today, Dr. Nils Schmid from Nürtingen, who is Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister of Defense, and SPD Members of the Bundestag Prof. Lars Castellucci and Bettina Lugk visited the HEIDELBERG Wiesloch-Walldorf site. As the Member of the Bundestag for the Rhine-Neckar electoral district, Castellucci had invited along his colleague Lugk from the Defense Committee and the State Secretary, who comes from Baden-Württemberg, to support the company’s fast-growing involvement in the security and defense sector. HEIDELBERG is in the process of pooling its activities in this area in a dedicated business in the new “Advanced Industries” segment (security, energy, and automation).
During the visit, the CEO of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, Jürgen Otto, said the following: “We are very pleased to welcome State Secretary Dr. Nils Schmid and his colleagues. If we are to expand the capabilities of the German armed forces, other NATO states, and civilian security agencies, then the worlds of industry and politics must work in close partnership. We build the most complex machines in the world and want to contribute this know-how, the expertise of our workforce, our technologies, and our capacities. We spoke in detail about these matters. We look forward to being supported in Berlin as we seek to continue networking with the authorities and other companies so we can ramp up the projects and activities we have initiated.”
HEIDELBERG aims to establish itself as a reliable supplier to Germany’s Bundeswehr, the armed forces of other NATO states, civilian security agencies and organizations, and private operators of critical infrastructure – and to successively expand this role. As one of the world’s most innovative mechanical engineering companies, HEIDELBERG and its technologies can play an important part in helping to meet the crucial capability requirements of authorities and armed forces. That includes hardware and software development, electronic component manufacture, machining, foundry technology, and the assembly of highly complex plant and system solutions in the heavy engineering sector. This comprehensive portfolio is further bolstered by the experience HEIDELBERG has gained as an end-to-end system partner that covers the supply of spare parts and service operations. One area where the company can bring particular added value for the essential and rapid improvement of defense capabilities is the option to rapidly scale-up production by leveraging existing infrastructure and capacities.
In recent months, the company has already established a partnership with VINCORION, a specialist in decentralized energy systems for security-critical applications. During a visit to Israel by German Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Katherina Reiche, an agreement was also signed to enter into a partnership with US-Israeli counter-drone specialist Ondas. HEIDELBERG and Ondas will work together on projects and orders related to the protection of critical infrastructure in Europe. HEIDELBERG is also holding discussions with other companies in the defense sector.
State Secretary Dr. Nils Schmid said the following: “If we are to be able to defend ourselves as a state and society, we need to equip the Bundeswehr better – and fast. We can’t lose any more time. That is why we will also utilize tried-and-tested industrial know-how and the capabilities of German companies from other sectors of industry.”
Prof. Castellucci added: “As the Member of the Bundestag for the Rhine-Neckar electoral district, I champion interests here on the ground every day. That includes supporting businesses from our region. In speaking to staff and trainees, it has become clear that the move HEIDELBERG has made into the security and defense sector represents a major opportunity for the whole region, first and foremost for workers. That is why I am very happy to support the company’s efforts in Berlin, too.”