Germany

SHERIDAN, WYOMING - December 2, 2025 - Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HEIDELBERG) is reporting a significantly more profitable first half of its 2025/2026 financial year, with revenue growth, a doubling of EBITDA and improving cash flow underscoring the impact of its restructuring program and strategic focus on packaging, label and digital print.

Stronger top line and sharply improved margins

In the six months from April 1 to September 30, 2025, HEIDELBERG grew revenue to €985 million, around 8% above the prior-year period's €915 million. Europe and Asia were the main regional growth engines, while the second quarter contributed €519 million, up from €466 million in the first quarter despite negative currency effects of roughly €12 million versus the prior-year quarter.

SHERIDAN, WYOMING - November 27, 2025 - The 26th BHB-Baumarktkongress in Bonn has brought together a record number of DIY retail leaders this week, as 509 executives from trade, industry and service providers gather under the former Bundestag's Federal Eagle to discuss how the home improvement sector can navigate prolonged consumer caution and reshape its future.

Full House in Bonn as the "Branchenfamilie" Regroups

The World Conference Center Bonn, long the favorite venue of the "Branchenfamilie", is more than full this year-an indicator of how urgent the need for strategic exchange has become. For the third year in a row, the long-awaited turnaround for the DIY and garden trade has not yet materialized, and the sector is collectively searching for new synergies and concepts to counter hesitant consumer spending.

SHERIDAN, WYOMING - November 27, 2025 - The home improvement and garden retail sector in Germany and the wider European market is still searching for a sustained upswing, as new figures from the Handelsverband Heimwerken, Bauen und Garten e.V. (BHB) reveal a modest decline in sales after the third quarter of 2025 despite a strong second quarter and pockets of category growth.

Cautious Consumers Slow DIY and Garden Spending

Across Germany, Austria and Switzerland, macroeconomic uncertainty and consumer caution continue to weigh on DIY spending. After nine months of 2025, German DIY and home improvement stores generated €16.08 billion in gross sales, down 1.4% year-on-year, or 1.2% on a like-for-like basis. Switzerland also reported a decline, while only Austria managed to end the period with a positive overall result.

SHERIDAN, WYOMING - November 25, 2025 - As Europe's leading trade fair for secure communications opens in Cologne, PMRExpo 2025 is positioning private 5G campus networks as a central driver of digital transformation across aviation, production, mobility, logistics and critical infrastructure. With a dedicated "5G-Hub for Private Networks", a curated conference program and live demonstrations, the event is turning secure, mission- and business-critical 5G into a concrete investment agenda for enterprises and public authorities.

SHERIDAN, WYOMING - November 15, 2025 - Germany's hospital sector is bracing for a turbulent year as financing uncertainty, staffing shortages, and sweeping regulatory changes collide. Ahead of the 48th Deutscher Krankenhaustag, which takes place November 17-20 in Düsseldorf during MEDICA, health-sector leaders are preparing to challenge the federal government on the consequences of the forthcoming Hospital Reform Adjustment Act and planned €1.8 billion in budget cuts.

Hospitals Sound the Alarm as Reform Pressures Intensify

SHERIDAN, WYOMING - November 15, 2025 - Germany's hospital sector is confronting a critical infrastructure challenge as climate risks intensify and regulatory expectations tighten. A new position paper from the German Hospital Federation (DKG) outlines the scale of the investment gap and calls for immediate, long-term funding mechanisms to accelerate energy-efficient modernization, climate adaptation, and resilience across the nation's healthcare facilities.

Strategic Infrastructure Priorities Demand Rapid Mobilization

SHERIDAN, WYOMING - November 15, 2025 - Germany's hospital sector is sounding an urgent alarm over the federal government's decision to implement €1.8 billion in cuts tied to the consolidation of statutory health insurance finances. The Association of Leading Hospital Physicians (VLK) argues the measure threatens the stability of acute-care operations nationwide and is calling for the legislation to be referred to the Mediation Committee before final adoption.

A Cost-Cut Attached to the BEEP Act Raises Systemwide Risks

SHERIDAN, WYOMING - November 14, 2025 - Koelnmesse has secured another major reputation milestone, earning first place in the "Most Desirable Employer 2025" ranking for German trade fair venues. The award, issued by the F.A.Z. Institute in cooperation with ServiceValue, highlights Koelnmesse's strong employer reputation based on workplace culture, career development, and long-term employee satisfaction.

Comprehensive Reputation Study Positions Koelnmesse as Industry Leader

The new ranking draws upon a wide-ranging analysis of public online data and structured employer surveys. For the category of "trade fair locations," Koelnmesse achieved the highest score in Germany, building on its previous achievements after being named "Company of the Year" twice in a row by FOCUS MONEY and DEUTSCHLAND TEST.

SHERIDAN, WYOMING - November 14, 2025 - Koelnmesse has once again secured its position as one of Germany's most trusted and best-performing trade fair operators, earning the 2025 "Company of the Year" award from FOCUS MONEY and DEUTSCHLAND TEST. The recognition, based on four AI-supported reputation studies conducted throughout 2024, reinforces Koelnmesse's standing as a benchmark within the country's competitive exhibition landscape.

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Reputation Analysis Confirms Strong Industry Position

SHERIDAN, WYOMING - November 13, 2025 - At the upcoming Deutscher Krankenhaustag in Düsseldorf, political leaders, healthcare executives, and hospital associations will converge under the banner "Neustart Krankenhauspolitik - Mut zur Veränderung" to debate the direction of Germany's hospital reform agenda. The opening day, held on November 17, 2025, will set the tone for a year of pivotal decisions on financing, structural modernization, and system resilience.

Political and Financial Renewal in Focus

The program begins with a high-profile policy session featuring statements from Federal Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) and North Rhine-Westphalia Health Minister Karl-Josef Laumann (CDU), joined by Bundestag and state representatives across party lines. The shared message: Germany's hospital landscape demands bold structural change to secure long-term care delivery and financial stability.