Schunk Group growth despite difficult conditions

Heuchelhiem, July 2014: With a turnover of almost 940 million Euros, the Schunk Group, the parent group of Weiss Technik UK, looks back on its anniversary year with satisfaction. Despite the difficult economic conditions, the Heuchelheim-based technology group managed to report a slight growth in 2013 and thus achieved the second-highest turnover in the company’s history. Although sales in Germany and Western Europe have declined due to market conditions, these remain the most important markets for the Schunk Group. The drop in sales in Germany is primarily due to the weak solar market. The highest growth rate of all regions was achieved in Eastern Europe. Considerable growth in sales was also achieved in Asia and, on a currency-adjusted basis, in America, which means that the corporate strategy to expand the business in America and Asia also paid off in 2013. “These countries offer the best opportunities to increase market share and benefit from high growth rates at the same time,” explains Dr. Arno Roth, CEO of the Schunk Group. The market share of both continents accounts for over 30 percent. “Our companies in Germany, which employ over half of our staff, also benefit from our successful overseas business,” says Roth. Despite the challenging market conditions, Schunk has managed to further improve its market position and to exceed last year’s sales. This was mainly down to the stable automotive market, the group’s largest customer segment. Based on the profit development and the financial stability in 2013, the Ludwig Schunk Foundation has again decided to pay Schunk employees a profit-share payment this year. The Schunk Group has made a positive start to the New Year and is optimistic about the future, “2014 is also proving to be a challenging year but Schunk is very well positioned in all business areas. We are experiencing increased demand for our high-tech products and are also benefiting from the current economic upswing in our core markets,” says Roth. The Schunk Group is an international technology group with approximately 8,150 employees in 29 countries. The company offers a broad range of products and services in the areas of carbon technology and ceramics, environmental simulation and climate technology, sintered metal and ultrasonic welding technology. The Schunk Group has posted sales of approximately 940 million Euros. For more information about the Schunk Group, please visit: www.schunk-group.com For more information about the Weiss Group, please visit: www.weiss-group.com

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