The Collano Group, the adhesives specialist headquartered in Sempach Station near Luzern, reflects on financial 2012. Sales declined by 3.6% to CHF 108 million (previous year CHF 112 million). Operating profit (EBIT) closed at CHF 4.3 million, unchanged from the prior year. The Collano Group is expediting its realignment toward operationally independent companies and is communicating as a group for the last time.

Financial 2012

Overall, the demand from industrial markets for specialty adhesives was brisk in 2012, which translated into qualitative growth for the Group. Certain markets segments, such as technical textiles, labels and tapes, and medical and automotive, were growth drivers. The positive market trend was burdened by the persistently firm Swiss franc, which had an adverse effect on prices and earnings. The difficult circumstances faced by the solar industry impacted the Group's result, and the divestiture of the flooring adhesives business in February 2012 contributed to the downturn in consolidated sales. The workforce grew from 333 to 336 persons. The number of occupational trainee positions was 23 (previous year 25).

CEO Stefan Leumann: «We are satisfied with financial 2012. Despite the strong Swiss franc, we have positive perspectives with respect to our future as an export-oriented enterprise. The systematic advancement of the three companies – nolax, Collano Adhesives, and Emerell (Collano Services) –has been successful and harbors potential. The course is clearly plotted.

The way forward is being pursued

During the year under review, the companies of the Collano Group formulated their strategies for 2020. In the future, they will emphasize their roles as operationally independent companies» even more and focus on their respective strategic directions. Subsequently, the Group will gradually retreat into the background and withdraw from the public domain. The away-from-the-group transformation into three operationally self-reliant businesses has been ratified by the Group's board of directors.

Thus, the publication of the Group's results for financial 2012 ends the tradition of consolidated reporting. As of today, the three companies will communicate individually. In the same context, Collano Services is being renamed: Collano Services AG and its subsidiaries in Switzerland and Germany will adopt a new name in the summer of 2013. The new company name and brand is Emerell. From then on, the Collano brand will be used exclusively by Collano Adhesives AG.

About Collano

Collano develops and markets innovative specialty adhesives for sophisticated bonding applications in the construction, textiles, label/tape/packaging, protective systems, and foams segments. We are passionately committed to new adhesive solutions for enhanced productivity, safety, and quality. Our objective is to make our customerssuccessful with intelligent adhesive bonds.Currently, Collano employs 80 persons and generates sales of about CHF 50 million.