14/01/19

 

 

 

 

 

  • Sales grow by 7.1 percent to new redord level of EUR 13.6 billion – an increase of 8.6 percent in local currency
  • Share of e-business confirms success of multi-channel sales model

 

Künzelsau. According to the preliminary annual financial statement, the Würth Group reports a sales volume of EUR 13.6 billion in 2018 (previous year: EUR 12.7 billion). This corresponds to a growth of 7.1 percent. Adjusted for foreign currency effects, growth comes to 8.6 percent. All of the individual regions reported successful development again in the past year. With respect to the business units, Electronics and Electrical Wholesale showed above-average growth rates.
 

Operating result

According to preliminary calculations, the operating result of the Würth Group is between EUR 860 and 880 million, which is a new record and a clear increase over the previous year (2017: EUR 780 million). “We are highly pleased about this positive result. It provides proof of the fact that thanks to our strategies and services we are still an important partner for our customers in trade and industry,” explains Robert Friedmann, Chairman of the Central Managing Board of the Würth Group. E-business sales in 2018 amounted to EUR 2.4 billion and grew at above-average proportions compared to Group sales.

Employees

The number of employees increased by 2,921 from 74,159 to 77,080 in 2018. In Germany, the number of employees amounts to 23,772 corresponding to an increase by 5.1 percent. The Group currently has 33,218 sales force employees on the payroll.

Outlook

The Würth Group expects sales growth in the moderate single-digit range as well as a proportionately rising operating result in 2019. “Due to an economic slowdown, the year 2019 will certainly become a bigger challenge than 2018. Nevertheless, there is still no cause for concern, as the company is based on stable ground,” says Friedmann about the expectations for the new business year.

The next press conference on the Würth Group’s annual financial statement will be held at Kunsthalle Würth in Schwäbisch Hall on 8 May 2019.

About the Würth Group

The Würth Group is the global market leader in its core business – the sale of fastening and assembly materials. It currently consists of more than 400 companies in over 80 countries with more than 77,000 employees on its payroll. Approximately 33,000 of those employees are salaried sales representatives.

In the Group’s core business, the Würth Line, the sales program for the trades and industry comprises more than 125,000 products: from screws, screw accessories and anchors to tools, technical chemicals and personal protective equipment.

The Allied Companies of the Würth Group, which either operate in business areas related to its core business or in diversified business areas, round off the range by offering products for DIY stores, material for electrical installations, electronic components such as circuit boards, and financial services. They generate approximately 40 percent of the Würth Group’s sales volume.

SOURCE:

 

Fastener Press Releases, The Fastener Museum