RENEWED DOUBLE-DIGIT SALES GROWTH “PUSHES” HARTING TECHNOLOGY GROUP AHEAD SALES UP 13.4% TO € 762 MILLION / BIGGEST INCREASE IN ASIA AND EMEA / TECHNOLOGY.
Espelkamp-based HARTING Technology Group (district of Minden-Lübbecke) once again achieved double-digit growth during the 2017/18 financial year (30 September). Notching up an increase of 13.4%, the globally active family-owned company achieved sales of € 762 million (previous year: € 672 million), setting yet another record for its 73-year corporate history. The jump clearly exceeded the Management Board’s forecast of five to six percent at last year’s annual press conference in December 2017.
“This is a top-notch performance that makes us proud. We’re very satisfied with the development of our business,” said Board Chairman Philip Harting. With the renewed jump in sales, HARTING has taken another big step towards becoming a global company. Growth came from all regions and all markets, and the company has now more than doubled its sales in ten years: sales amounted to € 345 million during fiscal 2007/08.
“Our global network of development, production and sales companies means we’re in an excellent position. Our customers know that they can count on the proven HARTING quality of our products, connectivity solutions and services. HARTING is a trailblazer and partner of Industry 4.0.” Harting further emphasised the point, stating “Wherever automation, digitisation and networking machines to the Cloud are involved, our products and solutions are among the world’s best in the industry.” Harting noted that growth had been driven particularly by momentum from the market segments transportation, mechanical engineering, automation and robotics.
Growth in all regions
All the regions in which HARTING is active contributed to the positive result. The strongest gain was in the Asia region, which increased 18% to € 187 million (previous year: € 158 million). In Europe (excluding Germany) and the Middle East, or “EMEA”, sales increased by 17% to € 263 million (previous year: € 225 million). In the Americas region, the Technology Group recorded an increase of 8% to € 79 million (previous year: € 73 million). Business in Germany also continued to develop positively. Here, HARTING recorded an increase of 8% to € 233 million. (Previous year: € 216 million). “We once again were able to achieve a bit more at the already high level in Germany, which is an encouraging performance,” Harting said. The technology group now generates some 70% (69.4%, previous year: 67.8%) of its total sales abroad.
HARTING setting standards
HARTING offers targeted products and solutions which meet the demands of customers and industries, as underscored impressively by the company’s latest standardisation successes. These saw HARTING successfully establish a new norm for miniaturised Ethernet interfaces on the market with its ix Industrial and IEC 61076-3-124. “HARTING is leading the industry and setting global standards,” said Philip Harting. “Customers expect market-conforming standards. A standalone solution won’t help them in the long term.”
HARTING took another big step towards standardising Single Pair Ethernet with IEC 61076-3-125. All relevant standardisation committees have now decided to go with the HARTING design for an SPE mating face. Thanks to its very active and successful standardisation work, when it comes to Single Pair Ethernet HARTING is also setting benchmarks and creating the conditions for easier, IP-based Ethernet connection all the way down to individual sensors. The advantages for the user: space and weight savings while eliminating hitherto necessary gateways.
