For the 2015 business year, Liebherr Group has reported a total turnover of 9,237 million € ($10.4 billion), the highest figure in the group’s history, and an increase of 414 million € ($466.4 million), or 4.7%, in sales compared with the previous year.
In Western Europe, Liebherr recorded an increase in sales, with Germany, Great Britain, and the Netherlands with the highest turnovers. Sales revenue for the company dropped in France, which is the group'd third largest market.
Revenue also increased in the Americas and the Far East/Australia region. Liebherr also said sales were satisfactory in the Near and Middle East. A downturn was recorded in Eastern Europe and on certain African markets.
Liebherr achieved growth in construction machinery and mining, as well as in maritime cranes, aerospace and transportation systems, machine tools and automation systems, domestic appliances, components and hotels. Turnover from construction machinery and mining equipment, including the earth moving, mining, mobile cranes, tower cranes and concrete technology divisions, rose by 330 million € ($371.7 million), or 6.2 %, to 5,624 million € ($6.3 billion). Sales revenue in divisions not included in the construction machinery and mining area rose by 84 million € ($94.6 million) or 2.4 % to 3,613 million € ($4.1 billion).
In 2015, the Liebherr Group recorded a surplus of 294 million € ($331 million), which is 22 million € ($25 million) below the 2014 figure. The operating result was slightly above the previous year’s level. The financial result was lower, primarily because of negative exchange-rate influences.
The Liebherr Group's workforce increased slightly, and at the end of the year, Liebherr employed 41,545 people, 706 or 1.7 % more than at the end of 2014.
The Liebherr Group has always put emphasis on investing in its production facilities and in the international sales and service network. Last year, investments in production facilities and international sales and service networks totaled 751 million € ($846 million), and thus maintained the existing high level. Offset against this figure was depreciation valued at 448 million € ($505 million).
The 2016 Business Year
Global economic development in the current year will probably be similar to 2015 with approximately the same rate of growth as in the previous year in both industrial countries and emerging markets.
In the current year, the Liebherr Group expects the turnover to be at the previous year’s level. It will continue to invest considerably in its international production sites and its sales and service network. There will again be a slight increase in the numbers of employees at the group’s companies.
Lift & Access is part of the Catalyst Communications Network publication family.
