Annual Report 2010 - About Heraeus

ladies and Gentlemen,
2010 was the most successful year in our company’s history. Our most important markets have recovered
from the crisis, equaling or even surpassing the previous year’s performance in many areas. Business
developments benefited both from the rise in production across the economy and from our systematic
measures and programs to improve efficiency. In this environment, we significantly boosted the Group’s
product revenues, which climbed by 58% to €4.1 billion, and raised earnings by 132% to €396 million.
The strong position Heraeus holds in a multitude of markets, our innovative strength, our highly skilled
workforce, and our solid financial structure provided a stable foundation for the Group and made it
possible to continue expanding our business activities. We found it particularly gratifying that, unlike in
2009, every business group contributed to this extremely positive performance.
The precious metals business group, which was restructured in 2010, benefited primarily from the thor-
oughly positive market development for products for the photovoltaics industry and thick film pastes.
Another new business group, materials and technologies, profited from the strong demand for contact
materials in the automotive industry. Stronger demand for our products in the steel industry stabilized
the sensors business group at a very healthy level. Above-market growth characterized the dental prod-
ucts business group, especially in the field of digital prosthetics. The biomaterials and medical prod-
ucts business group enjoyed growth with its products for orthopedic surgery as well as traumatology and
biosurgery. The quartz glass division profited from the semiconductor market’s strong recovery and from
the effects of restructuring measures introduced the year before. And the specialty light sources business
group logged notable growth, driven chiefly by demand from the solar industry.
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