Technologies · Systems · Solutions - Dürr

Cylinder head cleaning: A highpressure
lance, working with an
operating pressure of approximately
400 bar, removes residues of contamination
originating from the manufacturing
process. The lance is mounted
on a robotic arm that makes sure the
high pressure water jet is directed just
where it is needed. Final cleaning
is carried out with multi-nozzle spray
systems.
Ecoclean business unit
Course set for
earnings improvement
Difficult market environment in Germany
Earnings enhancement measures under way
New cleaning systems for diesel fuel injection systems
Amounts in €m
2004 2003 Change
Total incoming orders 183.6 176.9 3.8%
Total sales 186.1 208.1 –10.6%
EBITDA –2.0 9.4 –121.3%
EBT –5.1 5.7 –189.5%
Employees at year’s end 909 932 –2.5%
For the Ecoclean business unit, 2004 was marked by very weak demand in the important
German market, which we were only partly able to offset with an increase in
business in the United States, where capital spending restraint in the automotive
industry was slowly beginning to ease. A gratifying development came out of the
newly tapped Chinese market, where we smoothly completed a showcase project
involving 19 cleaning systems for an automotive joint venture through our local
unit established there in 2003.
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Earnings enhancement measures introduced without delay
A difficult overall market environment, insufficient capacity utilization in Germany and
Spain, and unscheduled expenditures in the Coolant Filtration product line resulted
in considerable reductions in profit. In response, we immediately launched a series of
short and medium-term measures as part of the JUMP restructuring program. These
measures will increase our profitability and strengthen our market position, especially
since some of our smaller competitors have been unable to withstand the price and
cost pressures and have withdrawn from the market.
We are cutting production costs by simplifying the concepts and designs of our cleaning
systems without compromising on functionality and quality.
To further utilize the potential of the international Ecoclean network, we are installing
a process-oriented organization based on international centers of competence.
The interfaces between sales, purchasing, design, and assembly are being optimized
to accelerate product development and order processing times and to reduce costs
and capital tie-up. Strengthening project management as a key overarching process is
playing a vital role.