Gurit Reports Strong Net Sales Growth of 18% for 2018

Gurit`s Composite Materials Business achieved solid results in its various market areas. Wind material demand grew by 3.1% in 2018 over 2017 in reported Swiss Francs and could raise its sales in the second half of 2018 by 13% versus the first half. Demand in Europe and especially North America was good, while in China and India wind industry demand was soft. The Marine superyacht and leisure markets witnessed healthy growth. The same applies to Industrial markets, mainly supported by good demand in North America and Europe. In total, net sales in the Composite Materials Business increased by 6.1% (currency-adjusted: 4.1%) year-on-year from CHF 198.9 million in 2017 to CHF 211.1 million in 2018.

The newly acquired JSB business unit, now Gurit Kitting, contributed CHF 28.9 million to the 2018 net sales for a period of 2.5 months since the acquisition in mid-October 2018. This contribution represents the major share of the acquisition effect for the Gurit net sales growth reported.

Gurit`s Tooling Business reported yet another excellent year. Winning a new major global customer and solid sales in the existing customer base created this sales momentum. Net sales increased by 29.1% (currency-adjusted: 27.0%) to CHF 118.5 million in 2018 compared to net sales of CHF 91.8 million in 2017.

Gurit’s Aerospace Business reported net sales of CHF 49.9 million, this represents an increase of 5% (currency adjusted 2.6%). Slower build rates of a major European OEM recovered in the second half-year and have been supported by increasing demand from an American OEM.

Gurit`s Composite Components Business reported net sales of CHF 16.9million in 2018 compared to net sales of CHF 22.3 million in 2017. This represents a sharp decrease of 24% in reported Swiss francs (-26.5% on a currency-adjusted basis). The abrupt demand decline in Gurit’s biggest car part volume program in the first six months and the slow start-up’s of several new programs in the second half year of 2018 caused this sales reduction versus 2017. As communicated on December 19, 2018, Gurit has decided to re-structure and divest its Composite Components Business.

NET SALES Full Year Sales by quarter
in MCHF 2017 2018 Change in reported CHF Change @ ytd 2018 transl. Q1
2018
Q2
2018
Q3
2018
Q4
2018
Wind Energy 128.2 132.2 3.1% 0.7% 29.7 32.4 35.8 34.3
Other Material Markets 70.7 78.9 11.6% 10.4% 20.0 20.7 18.6 19.6
Composite Materials 198.9 211.1 6.1% 4.1% 49.7 53.1 54.4 53.9
Kitting 0.0 28.9     0.0 0.0 0.0 28.9
Tooling 91.8 118.5 29.1% 27.0% 24.7 35.5 29.1 29.3
Aerospace 47.5 49.9 5.0% 2.6% 13.2 11.7 12.9 12.0
Composite Components 22.3 16.9 -24.0% -26.5% 4.5 2.8 3.6 6.0
Total Group 360.5 425.3 18.0% 15.7% 92.1 103.2 100.0 130.1
thereof:                
Continued operations 340.0 410.6 20.8% 18.5% 88.1 100.9 96.9 124.8
                 
Total Group, excl. acquisition effects 360.5 392.1 8.8% 6.6% 89.5 99.8 98.4 104.6

 

Online publication of Annual Report 2018, Media/Analyst conference and international Webcast on Thursday, February 28, 2019

Gurit will report its 2018 full-year results on February 28, 2019, by issuing a press release at 07.00 a.m. CETand publishing its Annual Report 2018 online at http://www.gurit.com/Investors/Reports. Management will also discuss the results in further detail at a joint media and analyst conference in Zurich on February 28, 2019, at 09:00 a.m. CET. The conference will take place at the Zurich Marriott Hotel, Neumuehlequai 42, CH-8006 Zurich.

The presentations will be held in English and will also be accessible as webcast at http://www.gurit.com/Investors/Webcasts where an archived version will later be available for download. Please sign up for the live event by returning the enclosed registration form.

Quelle: Gurit