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Business Development
Development 2009
On the basis of its strong market position, intensive marketing and the high order backlog at the begin of the year and in spite of the extremely problematic general situation, Waagner-Biro will again pursue its goal of further improving the positive results of previous years during 2009. The figures of the first six months confirm this strategy to date: Sales revenues could be significantly increased to EUR 89.4 million as compared to EUR 53.9 million in the preceding year and also the profit from ordinary activities amounting to EUR 4.6 million increased significantly during the first six months (2008: EUR -0.44 million during the first six months).
New business as well is characterized by solid development: In the course of the first six months of 2009 the Waagner-Biro Group took in new orders amounting to a total of EUR 99.5 million which means an improvement of the preceding year’s good value despite of the difficult general situation (2008: EUR 98.8 million during the first six months).The Group’s positive development is reflected also in the number of employees amounting to 970 which means an increase by 40 persons or 4% with regard to the end of 2008.
Development 2008
Highlights
Waagner-Biro Group
- Despite a drop in sales by 14% to EUR 151.6 million, profit on ordinary activities improved by 72% to EUR 7.4 millio
- Order intake raised by 13% to EUR 206.3 million
- Order backlog 37% higher at a record EUR 190.0 million
Stage Systems
- Profit on ordinary activities raised by 46% to EUR 1,6 million
- Order backlog stable at EUR 30.4 million
Structural stage engineering
- At 5.1 million, the profit on ordinary activities remains at the markedly higher level achieved in 2007
- Order intake raised by 13% to a record EUR 145.7 million
Mechanical engineering
- Order intake raised by 46% to 28.9 million
- Result maintained at EUR 1.4 million thanks to good capacity utilisation
Further improvement in results
To date, the downturn in the global economy, which commenced at the end of 2008, has had no notable effects on the business development of the Waagner-Biro Group; once again the business result could be significantly improved. In 2008 consolidated sales revenues fell by 14% to EUR 151.6 million, but this was due primarily to the fact that, at EUR 176.6 million, sales in 2007, which are used for comparison, were exceptionally high as a consequence of the major Dubai Floating Bridge project realised by the subsidiary Waagner-Biro Gulf.
Thus sales revenues in 2008 followed the steady growth trend of the Waagner-Biro Group. The profit on ordinary activities could be increased by 72% to EUR 7.4 million. This very positive development is due to very solid demand on all markets of the Group so that both order intake and backlog could be significantly increased. With an increase by 13% order intake in 2008 reached a record EUR 206.3 million as did the order backlog which by the end of the year increased by 37% to EUR 190.0 million.
All business areas with clearly positive results
The Waagner-Biro Stahlbau Group profited in 2008 from intensive marketing, the successful penetration of new markets and the generally favourable market environment.
The steel and glass engineering division registered powerful demand in Europe and particularly in Abu Dhabi. With the Yas Island Marina Hotel project the biggest individual order ever received by the steel and glass engineering division could be captured. The bridge construction division excelled again in the Indonesian core market with highly positive sales of both modular bridge systems and panel bridges. The delivery of further panel bridges to Angola as well as projects in Morocco and Ghana consolidated the market entry on the African continent.
The Waagner-Biro Stage Systems Group as well was able to tangibly improve its result. The biggest projects of the stage engineering division in 2008 in terms of both scale and volume were the re-equipping of the Seoul Arts Centre opera house, the National Concert and Conference Centre in Reykjavik, the understage machinery of the Basel Theatre, the refurbishment of the Ronacher in Vienna and the stage equipment of the Medium Theatre in the Chongqing Cultural Centre in China.