The team

Experienced und innovative

The Linoprint team combines in-depth knowledge of the packaging industry with technology expertise and many years of experience in research and development.

The Linoprint system was developed on the principles of modularity and variability. It is a powerful, digital printing system characterized by supreme adaptability. We are 100% behind the Linoprint principle and use it in all areas: from technology through sales to on-site service – cooperative, committed and reliable.

Are you looking to optimize your production, storage and logistics systems and streamline processes – in other words, boost the efficiency of your packaging line? Linoprint offers that critical edge in flexibility. Why not contact us? Working closely and in consultation with you, together we’ll find the optimum technical solution.

The Linoprint team:



Karl-Heinz Walther
Senior Vice President Special Applications

Karl-Heinz Walther joined Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG in March 2005 as Senior Vice President Special Applications. He is responsible for the Inkjet and Security Printing business units. In this capacity Karl-Heinz Walther initiated the new beginning of Linoprint Inkjet activities in Kiel and established the Security Printing department at Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, of which he is also the director.
Prior to this Walther worked for KBA Metronic AG, initially as Head of the R&D Division and later as Head of the Sales Division. His last position there was as a Member of the Board and Chief Operating Officer for Sales and Marketing. Walther has over 30 years’ experience in the packaging industry.
Karl-Heinz Walther holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the DAA Technikum in Regensburg in Germany.

Hans-Jürgen Ratjen
Vice President Research and Development

Hans-Jürgen Ratjen has been Head of R&D Imaging Systems at Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG in Kiel, Germany, which covers the Computer-to-Plate and Inkjet Systems. He had previously held responsibility for several Computer-to-Plate projects for nine years. Ratjen’s career in the management of the R&D department for scanner systems began in 1991 at Linotype-Hell AG, which was then taken over by Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG.
From 1984 to 1991 Ratjen worked as a design engineer for Philips Semiconductors in Hamburg, where he obtained experienced with electronic applications and, in particular, with the design of analogue integrated circuits.
Hans-Jürgen Ratjen holds a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Hanover in Germany.

Sven Michael
Business Management Consumables

For two years Sven Michael has been Business Manager for Consumables at Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG; since mid-2007 also for the Linoprint business unit. Before that he was Head of Controlling for R&D for five years and for several years was Controlling Manager for a variety product lines.
For several years before joining Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG Michael held different positions for the DG-Bank in Frankfurt and for Knoll AG, a former BASF pharmaceuticals business unit.
Michael holds a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Dresden, Germany, and has completed postgraduate studies in business administration in Mannheim.