Swiss firm Oerlikon sees rise in orders by 25% in 2021

Order intake for the fourth quarter increased 4.9 per cent year-on-year to CHF 673 million (Q4 2020: CHF 642 million). Group sales increased by 21.1 per cent to CHF 758 million (Q4 2020: CHF 626 million). In 2021, group sales increased by 17 per cent in 2021 to CHF 2,649 million, including a positive currency impact of 0.7 per cent.

“We grew the company and delivered strong margin expansion in 2021, and expect profitable growth to continue in 2022,” said Roland Fischer, CEO Oerlikon Group. “Operationally, we executed well, efficiently managed cost and successfully mitigated supply chain shortages, driving EBITDA above pre-COVID levels. Moreover, we successfully completed two accretive bolt-on acquisitions, further diversified our business and made excellent progress in our sustainability initiatives.”

“The board will propose a dividend of CHF 0.35 per share at the AGM. In 2022, we will continue to execute on our strategy to expand in growth markets, take advantage of recovering markets and focus on cost control. We expect group sales to be around CHF 2.9 billion and our operational EBITDA margin to be around 17.5 per cent,” added Fischer.

In 2021, Oerlikon strengthened its innovation pipeline by filing 90 patents. The company continued to invest in innovation and spent 4.0 per cent (CHF 105 million) of 2021 group sales on R&D to develop new, improved and sustainable technologies to meet customers’ needs and demands, Oerlikon said in a press release.

Oerlikon will continue to expand its business in growth markets, leverage opportunities in recovering markets and exercise cost containment. The Group will continue to actively manage and mitigate any further impact from challenges stemming from short-term supply chain and COVID-19-related issues. For 2022, group sales are expected to be around CHF 2.9 billion and the operational EBITDA margin to be around 17.5 per cent.

After six years leading the company and ensuring its successful transformation, Roland Fischer, Oerlikon Group CEO, has announced his decision to step down for private reasons, effective June 30, 2022, in consultation and with the endorsement of the board of directors.

“I am proud of what we have achieved at Oerlikon since I joined as CEO, and how the company has been transformed into a globally active engineering and technology company with a clear strategic focus and organisation,” said Fischer. “In the past two years, the surface solutions division has successfully implemented cost measures and embarked on a transformation to empower the regions and become closer to key markets. The polymer processing solutions division has successfully continued its strategic diversification into non-filaments markets. My priority now is to ensure a smooth transition so that the company can continue to be a global market leader in advanced materials, surface engineering and polymer processing.”

“I very much regret but fully understand and respect Roland’s decision. On behalf of the board, I would like to express our deep gratitude for his extraordinary service. He has been a key driver in the successful transformation of Oerlikon,” said Michael Suess, chairman of the board. “Our two divisions are distinct from each other in that they serve different customers in different industries and also differ in their growth potential. With the executive chair model, the division CEOs will gain agility in decision making, which will enable them to expedite the execution of their business and ensure sustainable growth.”

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RR)