“2017 marks a year of strong financial performance for the Group and across all Segments. We recorded profitable growth by securing wins in our markets and industries, delivered on our strategy and sustained a high EBITDA margin after offsetting sizeable investment expenses,†said Dr Roland Fischer, CEO Oerlikon Group.
“Our Surface Solutions Segment continued its steady upward trend, generating notable organic growth that was complemented by technology-strengthening acquisitions. Our manmade fibres business reported substantial recovery, driven mainly by the China-led filament equipment market. The drive systems business made significant gains in sales, orders and operating profitability. Consequently, we are actively evaluating all value-creating options for the Drive Systems Segment,†added Dr. Fischer.
In 2017, Oerlikon delivered on its targets and recorded top-line growth as well as improved operating profitability across all Segments. The strong performance affirms the Group’s strategy and ability to capture business opportunities in its markets. The global economic expansion provided a steady backdrop for the upward trend in trade, export and capital investments in practically all of Oerlikon’s end markets, including automotive, aviation, tooling, general industries, energy, filament equipment, agriculture, construction and transportation.
The Manmade Fibres Segment saw a significant and positive turnaround in market demand in 2017 after two years of challenging conditions. The growth was mainly driven by a few key players in the China manmade fibre industry, but at the same time larger projects in Turkey and India could be secured as well. With its leading market position, among others, for pre-oriented and full-drawn (POY & FDY) filament equipment, the Segment was able to capture a healthy share of market opportunities.
In addition to recovery in the filament equipment market in 2017, the Segment’s growth was complemented by a notable increase in global demand for staple fibres machinery and in texturing, including the delivery of its first DTY machines to a key customer in China. Good demand for bulked continuous filament (BCF) plant solutions for the production of carpet yarns was also seen in the USA and Turkey. In addition, a strong increase in sales was noted in polymer processing, driven mainly by Oerlikon’s joint venture with Huitong in this market. To position itself for future growth, the Segment has been ramping up its production capacity in all business areas. Additionally, the Segment created a separate business unit to capture opportunities in the attractive and growing nonwovens market and entered into a partnership agreement with Teknoweb Materials in Italy to add disposable nonwoven solutions to its product offering.