2009 had been a tough year for everyone and Endress + Hauser, with sales down 9.5 1Q6 (to 1.096 billion euros), was no exception. " However, unlike most of our competitors who are accountable to their shareholders, we have chosen to sacrifice our profitability in order to retain our workforce and maintain a high level of investment. It just goes to show that being a family-run business has its good points. explains Urs Endress, CEO ofEndress + Hauser France. This enabled the company to be immediately operational when the recovery came. In 2010, the Group increased its net sales by 19.8 1TP6Q to 1.31 billion euros. This not only offset the decline in sales in 2009, but also significantly exceeded the record set in 2008 (1.211 billion euros). The strongest growth was recorded in the Americas where, with an increase of 38.2 %, business developed even better than in Asia (28.5 %). In Europe, sales rose by 12.9 %, in Africa and the Near East by 10 %. " In the wake of the crisis, emerging markets have grown in importance faster than expected "explained Michael Ziesemer, Chief Operating Officer (COO).
All industrial sectors performed well (especially the agri-food industry, the most important sector for the Group). Endress+Hauser), with one notable exception: the paper and pulp industry.
Endress + Hauser is at the heart of today's environmental demands, particularly in terms of energy efficiency and drinking water supply, which are generating ever-increasing volumes of business.
Operating income rose by 123.2 % to 187.4 M€. Cash and cash equivalents rose sharply by 54.4 % to 377.3 M€, and are now more than 6 times greater than bank loans (50.5 M€, 24.8 % less than in 2009).
Group headcount rose by 175 to a total of 8594. In the Basel area, where 4251 people work for Endress+Hauser, 33 new jobs were created. While Endress + Hauser continues to invest in production sites in Europe (where it generates 56 % of its sales), it is also investing in the geographical areas where it sells its products, notably in China and the USA. It has just opened a production site for temperature sensors, data loggers and safety barriers in Greenwood, Indiana.
As for the outlook for this year, it's excellent. The 7-8 % growth announced a few months ago should be well exceeded...
Learn more: www.fr.endress.com/