More than half of ATD's business now comes from projects outside Germany. After its successful turnaround in the last fiscal year, ATD has systematically implemented measures for increasing productivity, has achieved a sustained improvement of the cost position and had further increased the economic value added by the end of March. All ATD Divisions have continued with profitable growth in the first six months of the current fiscal year. In this connection, it should be kept in mind that a number of larger orders totalling about DM 350 million had been booked in the first six months of the previous year. These orders included the Trans-Canadian Pipeline, mining equipment for Laubag, three steelworks for India, South Africa and Germany, and construction of the Al Taweelah water pipeline.
Several subdivisions are world market leaders with their industry-specific solutions.
In America ATD's sales increased by 25 percent to DM 440 million. In view of the decline in investment in Asia, this region's share of total sales volume fell by 9 percent to DM 300 million. In Germany, too, the share of total sales volume fell by 2 percent to DM 1.9 billion in the first six months of the current fiscal year. Because we are a global partner for industrial plant automation and for technical services such as maintenance and IT integration, our local presence is increasingly gaining importance where exports are concerned. Due attention will be given to this development in connection with the expansion of existing locations and the takeover of other companies.