The Wilo Group looks back at a successful year in 2016. This is how the world market leader from Dortmund grew profitably once again. With sales turnovers of 1.33 billion euros, the record value of the previous year was once again exceeded. This resulted in an increase in revenue for the seventh consecutive year. On a currency-neutral basis, sales rose by 3.9 percent. Profitability was high at an EBIT margin of 8.1 percent. “We have invested heavily in the future. With almost 110 million euros, investments reached a new all-time high,” explained Wilo CEO Oliver Hermes at the company’s annual press conference in Düsseldorf. We have also consistently substantiated our claim of setting new standards as an innovation leader and digital pioneer,” continued the 46-year-old. In total, 65 million euros were invested in research and development which is more than ever before.
The regional diversification, which is an expression of an intensified globalisation strategy at Wilo, was also a key success factor for the Wilo Group’s positive economic development in 2016. Substantial growth was achieved in China, Korea and also in Russia, as well as in some emerging economies of Africa and in the Gulf States. In Europe, business activity has been expanded in a sustainable manner in the German-speaking countries, Scandinavia and the Mediterranean region. “Overall, the heterogeneous developments in individual countries have mutually counterbalanced. Furthermore, we were able to compensate significantly negative currency effects,” said the CEO. Important investments into future sustainability of the Wilo Group were carried out consistently and as planned. In June last year, the tradition-steeped company opened a new plant and office building in the Moscow region in the presence of Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. The new plant allows the Wilo Group to localise its business activities in Russia more intensively and to increase its added value.
The Wilo Group is implementing the biggest site development project in the company’s history at its headquarters in Dortmund. The groundbreaking ceremony for the official start of construction on the new smart factory took place in October 2016. At the beginning of this year, the foundation stone was laid in the presence of Ms Hannelore Kraft, Prime Minister of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia. “Dortmund will become the Wilo Group’s number 1 digital location, and it is our goal that it will set new standards in the Wilo world and the pump industry as a whole,” declared Oliver Hermes.
There is already a special highlight in 2017 for the Wilo Group: The acquisition of the pump manufacturers Weil Pump Company, Inc. and Scot Pump Company as well as the Karak Machine Corporation. Within the scope of an asset deal, WILO USA LLC, a subsidiary of WILO SE, took over the operative business of the three companies with altogether approximately 140 employees in March. With the acquired production capacities, Wilo can meet customer requirements on the US market in a timely and appropriate manner and offer a wider range of high-quality products “made in USA”. “The target of this company acquisition is to increase regional presence and to accelerate our market development in North America. With this transaction, we are implementing an important part of our intensified globalisation strategy,” explains Oliver Hermes.
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