German packaging provider upgrades outlook
packaging industry, says that it is optimistic for 2003 following a
healthy jump in sales for last year. The company says that it is
now aiming for sales double digit sales growth this year.
ELAU, the German provider of drives and controllers for the packaging industry, says that it is optimistic for 2003 following a healthy jump in sales for last year. The company says that it is now aiming for sales double digit sales growth this year.
In 2002 the group acheived 8 per cent growth in sales and with results so far this year looking strong the company says that it is confident that the outcome for the rest of the year will be equally positive.
"Compared with competitors in the automation sector we were clearly able to increase sales in 2002. In the first quarter of fiscal year 2003 new orders were up 25 per cent on year-earlier level", said Erwin Fertig.
The Chairman of the Board of ELAU attributes this primarily to the company's focus on the packaging industry and to new customers including SIG Combibloc, SIG Simonazzi or SIG Sapal. ELAU invested €10 million in a new logistic center and customer forum as well as a new motor factory. Moreover, the Marktheidenfeld based group restructured their electronics production and adjusted to market requirements. Fertig says that he is convinced that "we created the capacities for further expansion."
ELAU's market share in the packaging sector shows that those investments and a clear corporate strategy are bearing fruits: the company says that 50 per cent of the top packaging OEMs in Germany use the automation segment PacDrive by ELAU - worldwide ELAU has a market share of 30 per cent in that sector. "With PacDrive we developed a powerful and easy to use system that is based on international standards. PacDrive will replace conventional PLCs", said Fertig.
