Annual Report 2009 - Von Roll

Business development 13Von Roll Transformers:Growth trend continuedIn financial year 2009, Von Roll Transformers generated sales of CHF 92.0 million, which correspondsto an increase of 27 % in comparison with the previous year. The transformer business hastherefore already contributed 16 % to Von Roll’s sales. Order intake increased by 15 % to CHF 77.8million.Von Roll Transformers continued the growth trend across all markets, with the North Americanmarket in particular developing in a very dynamic way. The growth drivers were investments in thereplacement of outdated electricity infrastructures, in more efficient electricity consumption, aswell as in new energies and more climate-friendly transmission networks.The capacities of Von Roll Transformers are almost fully utilised up to the end of 2010, while thereare more extensive orders in place for 2011 and 2012. In addition, there are strategic alliances withsome major electricity providers, which will utilise Von Roll’s capacities for several years. In orderto be able to fully exploit the potential of this growth market, Von Roll increased its production capacitiesconsiderably in financial year 2009. From 2010, there will be twice as much productioncapacity available for the manufacture of large transformers.Thanks to measures designed to improve efficiency, the improvement in operating EBIT wassignificantly greater than that in sales, increasing to CHF 7.1 million (2008: CHF 1.1 million). In thisway, Von Roll Transformers was able to improve the operating EBIT to 7.7 %, in comparison with 4.9 %in the previous year.Von Roll Transformers: key figuresin CHF 1,000 2009 2008Net sales 92,046 23,073Gross margin 16,475 2,687– In % 17.9 11.6Operating EBIT 7,091 1,137Number of employeesIn the Von Roll Transformers segment 246 235* Von Roll Transformers: included since 25 September 2008 (pro-forma Sales: CHF 72.3 million).