Annual Report 2011 (5.07 MB, PDF-File) - Oerlikon

Business development
In 2011, Oerlikon Vacuum generated a record margin of 14 %
with stable sales, while overall demand in the market weakened
in the second half of the year. EBIT totaled CHF 59 million, 97 %
above the previous year’s level of CHF 30 million. As expected,
2011 order intake normalized in comparison to 2010 – a year in
which the Segment profited from high demand following the
recovery from the global economic crisis of 2009 – and fell by
9 % to CHF 400 million. Sales remained stable at CHF 409 million
(previous year: CHF 410 million). Order backlog totaled
CHF 77 million (previous year: CHF 84 million). However, adjusted
to currencies, sales of Oerlikon Leybold Vacuum were
11 % higher than compared to 2010.
Market segments such as process industries, coating and
analysis were the key sources of the positive performance in
2011. Thanks to products like the DRYVAC, the Segment
succeeded in tapping new application areas, including steel
degassing and the production of LEDs. In the process industry,
the Segment increased sales by almost 10 % compared to the
previous year. All other sectors reflected the overall market development
by witch reduced volumes compared to 2010. Analysis
and R&D remained quite stable at around 20 % of sales,
whereas semiconductor and photovolatic applications showed
reduced volumes in the second half of 2011. Sales in Asia have
Key topics
Focus on Asia: Consistent with the strategy of serving the
growing Asian market from within the region, the third facility
extension at the Tianjin, China, site was opened at the end of
2011, increasing capacity by about 30 %. This strategic investment
allows Oerlikon Vacuum to offer customers a comprehensive
selection of locally made vacuum pumps and systems
with shorter delivery times and improved delivery terms.
Oerlikon Vacuum now offers a wider production and service
range for fore- and high-vacuum, leak detection and solutions
know-how in Asia.
Outlook: slight increase in profitability, stable sales
In 2012, Oerlikon Vacuum expects the market environment to
remain stable for coating technologies and for the process and
analytic sectors. As a result of new products, additional capacities
in Asia and the continued expansion of the solution and
service network, the Segment expects to gain market share.
New products and continuing efforts in Operational Excellence
will have a positive effect. For this reason, Oerlikon Vacuum
foresees further margin improvement, but stable sales in a
more challenging environment.
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not been as strong as in previous years, with Europe catching
up on volumes and stable business in the Americas.
The solutions business generated the strongest sales growth
within the Oerlikon Vacuum portfolio, with an increase of nearly
40 % compared with the previous year. In this area, the Segment
applies its extensive technical know-how in consulting
and engineering services to meet specific, complex customer
needs. An example is the remote control and operation of
vacuum systems via mobile devices like tablet computers. The
component business, as well as services, were slightly below
sales figures of 2010.
Innovation: Oerlikon Vacuum continued to deliver innovative
new products to market in 2011. The turbo-molecular pump
MAGiNTEGRA was developed in direct response to customer
needs and closes a gap in the Segment’s product range. The
pump, with its unique flexible mounting system, offers a very
low maintenance platform characterized by robust, reliable and
wear-free operation reducing cost of ownership. The pump
platform comes in three suction sizes, and is targeted at customers
in the coating and renewable energy sectors. Its compactness
and application flexibility have generated broad appeal
and high sales volume.