Schuler focuses on new markets and digital business models

481

In the 2018 fiscal year, Schuler increased its order intake by ten percent with successful sales in new markets and digitized applications. However, ongoing pressure to make adjustment in Germany, international trade conflicts and special effects had a significant negative impact on the Göppingen-based press manufacturer’s sales. In mid-2019, Schuler and Porsche plan to start building their joint high-tech press plant, which has now finally been agreed. Schuler’s incoming orders rose to € 1,255 billion in 2018 (previous year: € 1,141 billion). Despite the rather low order backlog at the end of 2017, Group sales remained virtually unchanged at € 1,212 billion (previous year: € 1,220 billion). The regions of Europe and China grew, while business in North America suffered significant losses. Sales margins were subject to multiple burdens. The challenges posed by the new WLTP test procedure for automobile manufacturers led, particularly in Germany, both to the abandonment of new capacities and to the postponement of already agreed projects. At the same time, costs rose due to the collective wage agreements from recent years. Customer business in China suffered from the trade conflict between China and the USA. In 2018, Schuler had extraordinary expenses in the low double-digit million range due to capacity adjustments within the Group and write-downs on the capitalized goodwill of the die manufacturing subsidiary AWEBA. EBITA fell to € 45.3 (111.9) million. Schuler achieved consolidated earnings after tax of € 13.5 (67.4) million. At the end of 2018, Schuler’s equity capital ratio of 40.1 (38.1) percent of the balance sheet total was still above average in the German mechanical and plant engineering sector. The company employed 6,575 (6,570) people worldwide, 4,195 (4,237) of them in Germany – which is barely any fewer than in the previous year.