Plansee Group reports sales of more than €1.5 billion
The Plansee Group has announced sales of more than €1.5 billion in the last fiscal year. “Despite the global uncertainties caused by government debts, euro and banking crisis we were able to successfully continue our worldwide expansion during 2011”, Plansee Group’s executive chairman, Dr. Michael Schwarzkopf, said at the annual press conference in Reutte.
Consolidated Group sales increased by 22% in the last fiscal year (ended February 29, 2012) to reach €1.52 billion. According to Schwarzkopf, “business developed satisfactorily in all divisions and in all important regions for Plansee. Increased sales volumes and raw material prices, acquisitions and changes within the group portfolio had a significant impact on sales growth.”
At the regional level, the Plansee Group benefited from the robust US economy and Germany’s export strength. Strong growth was also achieved in China and India. Sales outside of Europe slightly increased to 52% of the Group total (America 32%, Asia 20% and Europe 48%). More than half of Group sales were achieved in three market sectors mechanical engineering, automotive and consumer electronics.
Focus on high-technology materials molybdenum and tungsten
With the acquisition of a 10% share in the Chilean company Molibdenos y Metales (Molymet) in March of last year and the sale of the sintered parts manufacturer PMG at the end of 2011, the Plansee Group is now focused on the two key-materials molybdenum and tungsten. As a vertically integrated supplier Plansee Group covers all the expertise from ore processing to the production of customer-specific components. “We will continue expanding our global market position in this business field,” explained Schwarzkopf.
Due to the sale of PMG which employed 1,150 people worldwide, the Group’s workforce was down from 6,730 to 6,120 employees at year-end.
Total investments of more than €300 million
During the last fiscal year, the Plansee Group made investments of well over €300 million. These included investments in new production capacities (€95 million) and improvements to the Group’s global market position through acquisitions such as the shareholding in Molymet (approximately €200 million), the closing of the joint venture with CB Carbide in Taiwan/China and the takeover of the Korean company TCB. €31 million was spent on product and process innovations.
“During the fiscal year 2012/13 we will continue to expand in the targeted areas. We are planning significant expansions to our production capabilities at a number of sites including Austria, Luxembourg, China and India”, explained Schwarzkopf. A new plant of the Plansee High Performance Materials division is scheduled to come on stream in the greater area of Shanghai in late 2012.
