Record earnings in sales and operating EBIT
According to preliminary figures, the Homag Group increased its sales by 6.5 percent to EUR 1,298 million (previous year: EUR 1,219 million). As of December 31, 2018, the order backlog stood at EUR 602 million (December 31, 2017: EUR 561 million) and incoming orders reached EUR 1,337 million, the second-highest figure in the company's history. It fell slightly compared with the previous year (EUR 1,366 million), when the Homag Group recorded an exceptionally strong 17 percent increase in incoming orders. As of December 31, 2018, the company employed 6,593 people (December 31, 2017: 6,371).
The Homag Group achieved a record operating EBIT of Euro 94.9 million (previous year: Euro 91.7 million), although it was influenced by negative exchange rate effects and, for the first time, by group allocations to Dürr. "In addition, we mastered numerous challenges in 2018," emphasizes Pekka Paasivaara, Chairman of the Board of Management. "These include, for example, the SAP-based modernization of IT systems and the reorganization of production at our largest plant in Schopfloch. Against this backdrop, we are satisfied with the result achieved."
The Homag Group was particularly successful with large-scale systems for furniture production and was able to win several major projects in the kitchen industry in Germany and elsewhere. "This also contributed to the very positive business development in Europe and to our double-digit percentage growth in Germany," said Paasivaara. "In China, on the other hand, the systems business temporarily calmed down after the strong years of 2016 and 2017.
The Homag Group is optimistic about the "Ligna", the industry's leading trade fair, which will be held in Hanover in May. Pekka Paasivaara: "On a stand area of over 5,000 m², we will convince both small craft enterprises and large industrial enterprises with our comprehensive range of products. We will be presenting solutions with which our customers can meet today's market requirements and the trends of the future. For the digital vision that we showed at 'Ligna' 2017, we have developed concrete solutions that already provide our customers with real benefits today".
