<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> <rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:f="http://typo3.org/ns/TYPO3/CMS/Fluid/ViewHelpers" xmlns:n="http://typo3.org/ns/GeorgRinger/News/ViewHelpers"> <channel> <title>Röchling</title> <link>http://example.com</link> <description></description> <language>en-gb</language> <copyright>TYPO3 News</copyright> <pubDate>Tue, 28 Aug 2018 19:23:11 +0200</pubDate> <lastBuildDate>Tue, 28 Aug 2018 19:23:11 +0200</lastBuildDate> <atom:link href="https://www.roechling.com/?type=9818" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /> <generator>TYPO3 EXT:news</generator> <item> <guid isPermaLink="false">news-611</guid> <pubDate>Thu, 09 Aug 2018 12:00:00 +0200</pubDate> <title>Röchling creates Chief Information and Digital Officer role</title> <link>https://www.roechling.com/news-roechling-group/news-detail-view/news/roechling-creates-chief-information-and-digital-officer-role/</link> <description>Mannheim, 9 August 2018…Röchling SE &amp; Co. KG, an international plastics specialist based in Mannheim, is advancing its digital transformation and has therefore created the new position of Chief Information and Digital Officer (CIDO). The position will be filled by Klaus-Peter Fett, who will start work on 1 October 2018, and was most recently Industry Leader at Google in Germany.</description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<ul> <li><strong>Google manager Klaus-Peter Fett to take responsibility for digitalization and IT</strong></li> <li><strong>Core digital team installed in Berlin and Munich</strong></li> </ul><p>Mannheim, 9&nbsp;August 2018…Röchling SE &amp; Co. KG, an international plastics specialist based in Mannheim, is advancing its digital transformation and has therefore created the new position of Chief Information and Digital Officer (CIDO). The position will be filled by Klaus-Peter Fett, who will start work on 1 October 2018, and was most recently Industry Leader at Google in Germany.</p> <p>“We see the digitalization of our company as a crucial requirement for its future success and want to proceed with the activities that are already under way in many areas of our Group with vigor and a sense of purpose,” says Professor Hanns-Peter Knaebel, CEO of Röchling SE &amp; Co. KG. So the company is all the more delighted to have acquired an eminent digitalization expert from Google for this challenging role. “Klaus-Peter Fett’s résumé predestines him for the task of launching new business models within the Röchling Group at high speed, bringing success to our Group in a transparent manner and essentially kicking off a new way of thinking,” Knaebel continues. As a Google manager, Fett primarily helped manufacturing companies promote digital innovations and digital transformation.</p> <p>Klaus-Peter Fett will be responsible for the Röchling Group’s core digital team, which will be based in Berlin and Munich, and for all of the Group’s IT. After studying business and computer science in Stuttgart, the 49-year-old worked at IBM in various roles from 1993 to 2004, most recently at IBM Software Group EMEA as Director Software Sales for a German industrial client. In 2005, he moved to the software company Mercury Interactive Germany GmbH as Manager Strategic Accounts Financial Services. The company was acquired by Hewlett-Packard Deutschland GmbH in 2006.</p> <p>In 2010, Fett joined Google Germany GmbH, where he chiefly advised and supported companies from the manufacturing industry headquartered in Germany in the use of cloud technologies as a basis for digital transformation. Subsequently, Fett took on the role of Head of Innovation and Collaboration for the Germany, Austria and Switzerland region in 2016. Most recently, he was likewise responsible for German industrial clients as Industry Leader Google Cloud.</p> <p>At Röchling, the new Chief Information and Digital Officer will report directly to CEO Knaebel.</p>]]></content:encoded> <category>Röchling Industrial</category> <category>Press Releases</category> </item> <item> <guid isPermaLink="false">news-600</guid> <pubDate>Fri, 20 Jul 2018 10:44:00 +0200</pubDate> <title>Röchling continues to grow in medical and industrial technology</title> <link>https://www.roechling.com/news-roechling-group/news-detail-view/news/roechling-continues-to-grow-in-medical-and-industrial-technology/</link> <description>Mannheim, 20 July 2018… The Röchling Group has completed another step in its growth strategy. Subject to approval by the Cartel Office, the plastics specialist from Mannheim has acquired FRANK plastic AG, a medical and industrial technology provider headquartered in Waldachtal, Baden-Württemberg. Just a few weeks ago, Röchling acquired U.S. medical technology specialist Precision Medical Products. </description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<ul> <li class="MsoNoSpacing"><strong>Acquisition of FRANK plastic AG, headquartered in Baden-Württemberg</strong></li> <li class="MsoNoSpacing"><strong>Ideal complement to the product portfolio and production technologies</strong></li> <li class="MsoNoSpacing"><strong>Location in the northern Black Forest reinforces the Röchling medical network </strong></li> </ul><p class="MsoNoSpacing">Mannheim, 20 July 2018… The Röchling Group has completed another step in its growth strategy. Subject to approval by the Cartel Office, the plastics specialist from Mannheim has acquired FRANK plastic AG, a medical and industrial technology provider headquartered in Waldachtal, Baden-Württemberg. Just a few weeks ago, Röchling acquired U.S. medical technology specialist Precision Medical Products.</p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">“With this acquisition, we are continuing to pursue our growth strategy in the medical and industrial segment. FRANK plastic AG perfectly complements our product portfolio, our production technologies, and our customer structure,” explained Prof. Hanns-Peter Knaebel, CEO of Röchling Group, who is also in charge of the Medical division. He went on to note that in terms of size, focus, technical expertise and cultural qualities, FRANK plastic AG fits very well into the network of Röchling companies. “Its Waldachtal site will be the starting point for national and international success,” said Knaebel.</p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">Joachim Lehmann, BU Director Medical Europe for the Röchling Group is confident that the partnership will be beneficial for FRANK plastic AG and the Röchling Group. “With FRANK plastic we have the option of cultivating additional client potential, especially in the growing medical technology market,” commented Lehmann.</p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">FRANK plastic AG is a family company rich in tradition. It was founded in 1940 in Waldachtal near Freudenstadt in the Black Forest and was acquired in 2013 by Ferdinand Piëch Beteiligungs GmbH. In recent years, it has grown from being a provider for various industry segments to a being manufacturer that focuses on the medical segment and other select industrial segments. In the 2017 financial year, the FRANK Group had 260 employees and revenues of EUR 32.4 million.</p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">FRANK provides medical technology for such segments as cardiology, infusions, angiography (CT/MRI), surgery and ophthalmology. The company's industrial business supplies select segments with extrusion profiles, complex injection molding parts as well as valves, flow meters, and fittings. In the future it will work closely with Röchling Industrial.</p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">“We decided to sell our shares in FRANK plastic AG and partner with the Röchling Group because we feel this offers the absolute best outlook for the future and for further growth – not just for the company but for the location as well,” said Ferdinand Piëch of Ferdinand Piëch Beteiligungs GmbH. In light of the changes in medical product approval requirements by the EU in 2017, it is becoming increasingly difficult for smaller companies to stay competitive on this highly regulated market and to continue their growth in the years ahead. “Our alliance with the international corporate network of the Röchling Group gives the employees in Waldachtal good prospects for the future,” added Piëch.</p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">The Medical division of the Röchling Group focuses on the areas of pharmaceuticals (primary packaging and drug delivery systems), diagnostics / patient monitoring, life sciences (dialysis and infusions) and minimally invasive surgery / interventional medicine. “FRANK's current product portfolio is a perfect fit for this market segment and is a complement to the product portfolio of the Röchling Group,” said Knaebel.&nbsp;</p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">Thanks to development partnerships with a number of customers in years past, FRANK has reinforced its own development activities and introduced an innovation management concept.&nbsp; The company has also acquired significant skills in the area of regulatory affairs (certification, registration, and approval of medical products). “This regulatory expertise and current innovation management concept are essential additions to the skill set for the Röchling Group's network of medical companies,” explains CEO Knaebel.</p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">FRANK plastic has been a family-managed company in the past decades and is very similar to the Röchling Group in terms of client focus. “We firmly believe that the collaboration will work very well in cultural terms,” Knaebel continued. The CEO of FRANK plastic, Dr. Christian Holzherr, will continue to serve as the head of the company. According to Holzherr, “FRANK plastic would not be where it is today without the great dedication of our employees. I know that we will continue to succeed on the journey with the Röchling Group.”</p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">FRANK has impressive expertise and a broad spectrum of production technologies in the area of medical technology and industry. Injection mold manufacturing began back in 1960 and extrusion technology was added in 1970. Back in 1980, FRANK put its first clean room into operations for medical production. Alongside some 70 injection molding machines, 40 of which are in an ISO 8 clean room, there are some 18 extrusion lines in operation. There are also a number of machining centers installed. While the production technologies complement those of the Röchling Group, in some cases they provide key additional expertise. One example is clean room pipe extrusion.</p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">FRANK plastic, as a new affiliate of Röchling Medical, will be a very important part of the global corporate network for the Röchling Group.</p>]]></content:encoded> <category>News</category> <category>Röchling Group</category> <category>Röchling Industrial</category> <category>Press Releases</category> <category>Röchling Medical</category> </item> <item> <guid isPermaLink="false">news-570</guid> <pubDate>Thu, 07 Jun 2018 13:00:00 +0200</pubDate> <title>Innovation driving Röchling growth</title> <link>https://www.roechling.com/news-roechling-group/news-detail-view/news/innovation-driving-roechling-growth/</link> <description>Mannheim, 7 June 2018. Röchling SE &amp; Co. KG (Mannheim) can look back on a strong 2017 financial year. With a sales increase of 11.1 percent to EUR 1,840.9 million (previous year: EUR 1,657.4 million), the Group reported its eighth consecutive sales upturn. </description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<ul> <li class="MsoNoSpacing"><strong>2017 financial year: Eighth consecutive sales increase</strong></li> <li class="MsoNoSpacing"><strong>Industrial division: International industry counting on plastics</strong></li> <li class="MsoNoSpacing"><strong>Automotive division: 15.8 percent sales growth </strong></li> <li class="MsoNoSpacing"><strong>Medical division: Investment as growth engine</strong></li> </ul><p>Mannheim, 7 June 2018. Röchling SE &amp; Co. KG (Mannheim) can look back on a strong 2017 financial year. With a sales increase of 11.1 percent to EUR 1,840.9 million (previous year: EUR 1,657.4 million), the Group reported its eighth consecutive sales upturn.</p> <p>Demand eased somewhat in the first quarter of 2018. At EUR 477.5 million, sales for the quarter therefore were only just up year on year (EUR 474.6 million), with exchange rate effects cited as the greatest negative influencing factor. Prof. Hanns-Peter Knaebel, Chairman of the Executive Board of the Röchling Group, states: “The start to the new 2018 financial year did not fully meet expectations. For the financial year as a whole, we continue to see every possibility of achieving our ambitious targets across virtually all areas. Essential to this are our materials expertise in the dynamic market for high-tech plastics and our application knowledge.</p> <p>The Röchling name is synonymous for innovation in plastics processing. In the past financial year, the company launched an entire range of new materials, products and systems with high customer benefit. “Developing ever better products in an ever shorter time frame is the essential pillar of our corporate success,” added Prof. Hanns-Peter Knaebel. He expects to see additional growth stimulus and further efficiency enhancements through the digital transformation of the Röchling Group. “The topic of digitalization is a key focus of the current corporate strategy. It plays an increasingly important role as a driver of our corporate success.”</p> <p>In the 2017 financial year, Röchling benefited from favorable demand in virtually all industries. “The economically favorable circumstances as regards orders received, our innovations and the absolute focus seen on customer benefits were the growth drivers,” stated Prof. Hanns-Peter Knaebel. “Over the coming years too, I see every chance of driving forward our expansion organically and through acquisitions in all three corporate divisions.” Sustainable growth is Röchling’s concern in this regard. This includes continual efforts in assessing the environmental implications of the company’s activities. Most Röchling sites are certified according to environmental management standard ISO 14001. Röchling has also introduced voluntary environmental standards and monitors compliance with these meticulously.</p> <p>Staff numbers increased in the 2017 financial year by 10.4 percent to 9,733 (as of the reporting date of 31 December 2017). The Röchling Group has a global presence at 88 locations worldwide: 55 in Europa, 18 in Asia and 15 in the Americas.</p> <p>The Röchling Group had 255 trainees and apprentices for the reporting period (previous year: 229). Opportunities range from commercial and technical training-based occupations through to various dual university-level courses.</p> <p>Of Group sales, Germany accounted for 39%, while the rest of Europe contributed 31%. The share of sales coming from the Americas was 20%, with 10% coming from Asia.</p> <p>Earnings before taxes (EBT) increased by EUR 9.1 million. This put the EBT margin at 7.3% (previous year: 7.64%). Innovation again proved a leading driver of growth. An increase of 41.3 percent to EUR 178.7 million was recorded. Focus was on expanding and modernizing global capacities.</p> <p><strong>Industrial division: Growth across all regions</strong></p> <p>In the 2017 financial year, the Röchling Group increased sales in the Industrial division by 7.7 percent to EUR 737.4 million. “Strong demand for high-performance industrial plastics proved crucial,” reported Franz Lübbers, member of the Executive Board of the Röchling Group overseeing the Industrial division. “The favorable mood in mechanical engineering was an engine for positive development. Furthermore we benefited from the strong investment propensity evident in the chemical industry and from the development of renewable energy production.”</p> <p>Röchling recorded pleasing sales trends across all regions. The acquisition of Fischer GmbH Kunststoff Präzision (Laupheim), a leading machining specialist of precision plastic parts and components, also spurred on growth. The company rebranded into Röchling Industrial Laupheim GmbH at the start of the year.</p> <p>Further investment funds were channeled into expanding operation and production facilities at the Haren site, into new production and logistics space in Thal, Bad Grönenbach, and into a new logistics hall in Lahnstein. Investments overall in the Industrial division amounted to EUR 40.7 million.</p> <p>The division demonstrated its plastics mastery through participation in a project at the highest level in 2017. With inclination rings produced from Durostone® EPX-M for transformers, Röchling collaborated in constructing the world’s highest-capacity line carrying high-tension direct current in China. The line runs over 3,284 kilometers from Changji to Guquan.</p> <p><strong>Röchling supporting environmentally friendly liquefied gas drive</strong></p> <p>A shipping company from Haren was behind the world’s first container ship, the Wes Amelie, to be converted over to a modern and environmentally friendly liquefied gas drive system (LNG). Stays made from Lignostone® cryogenic by Röchling take on a supporting role in this project. Synthetic resin compressed wood insulates the -164°C fuel tank reliably from the ship’s structure.</p> <p>Key innovations also included the development of permanently antistatic sliding materials, for the first time proving suitable without the use of carbon black, allowing for their production in various colors. LubX® CV AST color and LubX® AST color applications include conveyor systems, in particular for fragile goods in transit, e.g. in food and pharmaceutical industry settings where both high standards of cleanliness and antistatic properties are required. Any abrasion of carbon black particles must be excluded in such applications.</p> <p>The 30-year anniversary of Röchling Engineering Plastics in Dallas/North Carolina points celebrates the company’s many years of expertise in the development of superior industrial plastics. The company is strengthening its manufacturing and sales presence in North America and has recorded continual growth since its founding in 1987.</p> <p><strong>Automotive division: 15.8 percent sales growth</strong></p> <p>The Automotive division achieved a sales increase of 15.8 percent in 2017. This equates to an increase from EUR 855.9 million in 2016 to EUR 991.5 million in the reporting year. Virtually all regions benefited from the upward trend. Röchling achieved noticeable growth particularly in Europe. Commercial operations were also positive in Asia and Brazil. Revenues edged down somewhat only in North America. Due to the market slow-down in the automotive area, not all orders were released by customers. Frustrating matters further, customer difficulties in launching a model and negative currency effects also impacted.</p> <p>“We have been quick to implement our growth strategy in the Automotive division,” states Erwin Doll, the member of the Management Board in charge of the Automotive division. Investment has been focused on the new construction or development of production facilities. Röchling for instance has invested heavily in its sites in Ostrava, Czech Republic, Duncan, USA and Silao, Mexico. In Teruel, Spain, a new factory has been built for wheel arch linings and deflectors for Ford. Alongside the Araia site, it becomes the company’s second factory on the Iberian Peninsula. A new production facility was also opened in Shenyang, China. New technical centers for global product development were established at the sites in Worms, Germany and Laives, Italy. A new production hall was invested in at the site in Peine at the start of the year. All together, the division increased spending to EUR 105.3 million from EUR 75.4 million the previous year.</p> <p><strong>New customers in the USA and China</strong></p> <p>From 2019, Röchling will manufacture wheel arch linings in Akron, USA for electric vehicles start-up Lucid Motors based in Mountain View, California.</p> <p>In China, Röchling is developing plastic parts for start-up Nio based in Shanghai for two of its electric vehicle models scheduled to enter production in 2018.</p> <p>Further new customers acquired by Röchling include Chinese start-up CHJ Automotive. As well as active grille shutter controls, expansion tanks are also being used in a seven-seater hybrid SUV. Luxury vehicle manufacturer FAW-Hongqi was also acquired as a new customer in the highly contested Chinese market. Two models will be fitted in future with underfloor panels from Röchling.</p> <p>The division has reported pleasing demand from China. Shanghai General Motors (SGM) for instance has ordered active grille shutters for the Buick Regal. Röchling will deliver active grille shutter systems for FAW Group Corporation’s small SUV from December of this year.</p> <p>Further active grille shutter systems are being manufactured by the company for the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC). The area of application is a new electric vehicle. Volvo Asia’s electric high-end Polestar model now also uses Röchling grille shutters worldwide. The Automotive division will start producing just under 40,000 low-pressure systems a year for SAIC Maxus Automotive, a manufacturer of light commercial vehicles, from next year. In Europe, the new Opel/Vauxhall Astra will be manufactured with active grille shutter controls and fully paneled underbody. Volkswagen has ordered heated SCR tanks for its Caddy models.</p> <p><strong>Ten-year anniversary in Kunshan/China</strong></p> <p>The year’s special occasions included 10-year anniversary celebrations at the company’s manufacturing site in Kunshan in China. Further high points last year included participation in top-class roadshows of leading Chinese automotive manufacturers. Representatives of Röchling Automotive showcased the company’s innovations and system solutions at the events. Groups Dongfeng Automobile and Beijing Electric Vehicle among others had also invited along a BAIC Group company.</p> <p>The group also maintains good ties with South Korea. Representatives of Röchling Automotive demonstrated to the South Korean Minister for Trade, Industry and Energy, Paik Ungyu, on his European visit, the commitment and dedication of the Röchling Group in his home country. Of particular interest to the minister was the planned opening of the first factory in Asan/South Korea.</p> <p><strong>Medical division: Previous year’s level as expected</strong></p> <p>At EUR 114.4 million, sales in the Medical division were virtually on a par with the previous year’s level (EUR 117.2 million) in line with expectations. Decisive for the downturn was the production shift of a major US customer. The acquisition of new orders, however, virtually made up for the losses. Business furthermore was also hit by unfavorable foreign exchange rates.</p> <p class="CxSpMiddle">The financial year was pleasing for European sites, which recorded sales growth. Investments for the 2017 financial year stand at</p> <p class="CxSpMiddle">EUR 32.1&nbsp;million. Investment focused on constructing a new production facility in Neuhaus am Rennweg/Thüringen, housing the manufacture of primary packaging for pharmaceutical products under ultra-modern Class GMP C and Class GMP D (GMP = Good Manufacturing Practice) clean room conditions. Investment was also made in Brensbach/Odenwald in extending a production building.</p> <p><strong>Coated drugs taste better to children</strong></p> <p>Sympfiny®, a system for administering multi-particulate drugs specifically for children, was among the division’s most ambitious products of 2017. The drugs, which come in the form of small spheres, are coated with a taste-neutralizing layer. Röchling produces the system in collaboration with HS Design. It ensures simple and reliable administration and precise dosage.</p> <p>Röchling in the US also develops and manufactures parts for modern surgical instruments for minimally invasive surgery. Products involve sophisticated components and parts in tight tolerances with high surface quality.</p> <p><strong>Outlook for 2018</strong></p> <p>After a patchy start to the current 2018 financial year, Röchling once again sees every possibility of continuing sustainable growth organically and through acquisitions for the year overall.</p> <p>Partner-based cooperation with our existing and newly acquired customers - won over by Röchling’s product and service expertise - creates interesting growth prospects for the Röchling Group for 2018 and beyond.</p> <p>“Digitalization is of central importance to the Röchling Group” emphasized Prof. Hanns-Peter Knaebel. “We see major opportunities in digital transformation to shape an even more successful future for our company.”</p> <p>Alongside digitalization, however, instilling the right skills in staff is also key to ensuring the company is fit for the future. This reflects the fact that well-trained, creative and motivated staff are an essential factor with respect to the company’s economic success. The Röchling Group increased investment in 2017 in its skills and advance training measures for staff and offers its personnel professional prospects, personal development and structured career opportunities.</p>]]></content:encoded> <category>Röchling Automotive</category> <category>Röchling Group</category> <category>Röchling Industrial</category> <category>Press Releases</category> <category>Röchling Medical</category> </item> <item> <guid isPermaLink="false">news-447</guid> <pubDate>Fri, 25 Aug 2017 13:31:29 +0200</pubDate> <title>Röchling Image Brochure</title> <link>https://www.roechling.com/fileadmin/downloads/Roechling_Group/Brochures/EN/Roechling_Imagebroschuere_2018_E.pdf</link> <description>The face of the Röchling Group: In our image brochure, you will find current key figures and gain insight into the latest developments at our company. Markets, customers, innovation and employees are the focus here.</description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[]]></content:encoded> <category>Roechling Magazine</category> </item> <item> <guid isPermaLink="false">news-446</guid> <pubDate>Fri, 25 Aug 2017 13:22:20 +0200</pubDate> <title>Röchling magazine</title> <link>https://www.roechling.com/fileadmin/downloads/Roechling_Group/Roechling_Magazine/EN/Roechling_magazine_2018.pdf</link> <description>You can find news from our corporate group in our customer magazine. Here, we show interesting ways to use our products, report on customer advantages and let experts have their say in the comment section. </description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[]]></content:encoded> <category>Roechling Magazine</category> </item> <item> <guid isPermaLink="false">news-444</guid> <pubDate>Mon, 21 Aug 2017 13:40:58 +0200</pubDate> <title>Hanns-Peter Knaebel as the Röchling Group’s New CEO</title> <link>https://www.roechling.com/news-roechling-group/news-detail-view/news/hanns-peter-knaebel-as-the-roechling-groups-new-ceo/</link> <description>Mannheim, 21 August 2017… Prof. Hanns-Peter Knaebel (48) will be the new CEO of Röchling, a plastics specialist. On 1 October 2017, he will join the Executive Board of the Röchling Group and be in charge of Medicine as Deputy Chairman. On 1 January 2018, Knaebel will then take on the position of CEO, as Ludger Bartels (64) will be retiring at the turn of the year.</description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<ul> <li class="MsoNoSpacing"><strong>Aesculap’s former CEO will be joining Röchling’s Executive Board on 1 October&nbsp;2017</strong></li> <li class="MsoNoSpacing"><strong>Knaebel will succeed Ludger Bartels, who will retire at the turn of the year</strong></li> <li class="MsoNoSpacing"><strong>Röchling’s family head von Salmuth: “An ideal CEO for our strategic challenges”</strong></li> </ul><p class="MsoNoSpacing">Mannheim, 21 August&nbsp;2017… Prof. Hanns-Peter Knaebel (48) will be the new CEO of Röchling, a plastics specialist. On 1 October&nbsp;2017, he will join the Executive Board of the Röchling Group and be in charge of Medicine as Vice-chairman. On 1 January&nbsp;2018, Knaebel will then take on the position of CEO, as Ludger Bartels (64) will be retiring at the turn of the year.</p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">Hanns-Peter Knaebel has a PhD in medicine and was Aesculap’s CEO over the last eight years. He also represented Aesculap on the Executive Board of B. Braun Melsungen AG, a medical technology manufacturer based in Melsungen, Germany. “Last spring, when I found out in the press that Hanns-Peter Knaebel would be leaving Aesculap in April 2017, we reacted immediately,” said Johannes Freiherr von Salmuth, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Röchling Group. Röchling is delighted to have Knaebel on board as an experienced and innovative business leader and renowned ”medical technician.” This is because medical technology is the most significant strategic growth segment for the Röchling Group.</p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">Prof. Hanns-Peter Knaebel was born in 1968 in Stuttgart. He studied medicine in Ulm and Tübingen in Germany and at Yale University in the USA. After completing his studies and obtaining his doctorate in 1995, he began his medical work in&nbsp;the Department of Surgery at Heidelberg University Hospital. He worked there for 12 years and spent the last five years of this period as a Chief Physician. At the end of the 90s, he dealt with various aspects outside the area of curative medicine, particularly medical quality management in the field of surgery.</p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">The physician played a major role in building up the Clinical Study Center of the Department of Surgery at Heidelberg University Hospital and the study center of the German Surgical Society. From 2004 to 2006, parallel to his work he studied for a degree in economics at the University of Salzburg, Austria, which he completed with a Master’s of Business Administration (MBA). In the same year, he qualified as professor at the University of Heidelberg’s Medical Faculty.</p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">In 2007, Knaebel became the Head of the Clinical Science Department at Aesculap. Five months later, he was entrusted with global responsibility for Marketing and Sales. In 2008, Prof. Knaebel was appointed as a member of the Executive Board of Aesculap AG and was its Chairman from 2009 onwards. He represented Aesculap as a member of the Executive Board of the family-owned company B. Braun Melsungen AG.</p> <p>He was also the head of the “Innovation at B. Braun” working group on the Executive Board and was thus responsible for global innovation management. He also was responsible for and managed “Digitalization at B. Braun,” a strategic initiative as part of the strategy for 2020.</p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">In addition to his managerial responsibilities, the father of four is still actively working in research and teaching. In 2010, Heidelberg University appointed him as an Associate Professor. Since October 2012, he has been a member of the University Council over which he has presided since 2015.</p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">In addition, Knaebel has served as an advisor to various bodies of the regional government of Baden-Württemberg.</p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">Erwin Doll (Automotive), Franz Lübbers (Industrial), Steffen Rowold (Finance) and Ludger Bartels (as CEO until the turn of the year) will remain members of Röchling’s Executive Board alongside Knaebel.</p>]]></content:encoded> <category>Röchling Automotive</category> <category>Röchling Group</category> <category>Röchling Industrial</category> <category>Press Releases</category> <category>Röchling Medical</category> </item> <item> <guid isPermaLink="false">news-408</guid> <pubDate>Wed, 31 May 2017 13:49:40 +0200</pubDate> <title>Röchling Continues to Grow</title> <link>https://www.roechling.com/news-roechling-group/news-detail-view/news/roechling-continues-to-grow/</link> <description>Mannheim, 31 May 2017. Röchling SE &amp; Co. KG (Mannheim) continued its record of success in the 2016 financial year and the first quarter of 2017. For the first three months of the current financial year, the Röchling Group increased its sales by 15.1% to €474.6 million. “Our investments have paid off. All three divisions got the new year off to a good start. In particular, the Automotive Division made another strong contribution to our growth. There, higher demand in Western Europe and China accounted for the positive development. The Industrial Division benefited from a healthy economy in its key markets,” said Ludger Bartels, CEO of the Röchling Group.</description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<ul> <li><strong>&nbsp;Outstanding developments and new records in 2016</strong></li> <li><strong>&nbsp;Industrial Division: continued steady growth</strong></li> <li><strong>&nbsp;Automotive Division: huge investment for further growth</strong></li> <li><strong>&nbsp;Medical Division: expanded product portfolio</strong></li> </ul><p>Mannheim, 31 May&nbsp;2017. Röchling SE &amp; Co. KG (Mannheim) continued its record of success in the 2016 financial year and the first quarter of 2017. For the first three months of the current financial year, the Röchling Group increased its sales by 15.1% to €474.6 million. “Our investments have paid off. All three divisions got the new year off to a good start. In particular, the Automotive Division made another strong contribution to our growth. There, higher demand in Western Europe and China accounted for the positive development. The Industrial Division benefited from a healthy economy in its key markets,” said Ludger Bartels, CEO of the Röchling Group.</p> <p><strong>New records set in 2016 financial year</strong></p> <p>For the 2016 financial year, Röchling clearly continued down a sustained path of success and growth. “We have seen some outstanding developments, once more setting new records. With sales of €1,657.4 billion, we improved our profitability once again,” Ludger Bartels said, adding, “We have hit our targets for 2016 – even though the year started off with many financial market players increasingly worried about a cooling down of economic growth.”</p> <p>The Röchling Group boosted its consolidated revenue for the 2016 financial year to a new record. It grew by 6.6% to €1,657.4 billion (prior year: 1,555 billion). For the 2016 financial year, there was also an increase in the number of employees at the Röchling Group, which rose 5.0%, from 8,397 in 2015 to 8,815 (including temporary employees as of the reporting date of December 31, 2016).</p> <p>The Röchling Group had 229 trainees and apprentices for the reporting period (prior year: 205). Those individuals are being trained for a range of professions, from administration to production to studying at the Duale Hochschule (Dual study programs).</p> <p>Of the total sales, Germany accounted for 32% while the rest of Europe contributed 32%. The share of revenue coming from the US was 22%, and 14% coming from Asia.&nbsp;</p> <p>The largest share of total sales is contributed by the Automotive Division, 41% comes from the Industrial Division and 7% from the Medical Division.</p> <p>The Röchling Group increased its earnings before taxes (EBT) by €13.3 million. That put the EBT margin, defined as the ratio of EBT to total sales, at 7.4% (prior year: 7.1%). According to Ludger Bartels, “The reasons for this profitable business year include the fact that we have dealt with our challenges consistently and systematically. We pursued our strategic goals without wavering and with intensity, and we further expanded our international presence – for example, by opening our first production plant in Silao, Mexico.” The Röchling Group also stepped up its investments for the 2016 financial year. Capital spending grew by €41.5 million, from €89.7 million to €131.2 million. Of the total volume of investment, 80.5% was spent on expansion (prior year: 71.8%).<br /> &nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Industrial Division: continued steady growth</strong><br /> &nbsp;</p> <p>The Industrial Division maintained its steady pace of growth from previous years. All told, the division saw a 1.9% increase in sales to €684.4 million. According to Franz Lübbers, Executive Vice President of the Röchling Group’s Industrial Division, “We managed to boost our sales volume considerably, but because of the extreme volatility in the cost of our raw materials and the resulting fall in sales prices, we failed to meet our expectations.” The Industrial Division also felt the effects of the low oil price on its sales markets. In North America, the UK, and Denmark – the countries where important oil production equipment suppliers are based – there was serious restraint in spending in 2016. Customers from other industrial sectors, such as Chemical industry, mechanical engineering, electrical, and electronics, made up for only part of the resulting drop in sales. There was very positive growth in demand from the solar energy and from the leisure industry.</p> <p>“We are especially pleased to see the overall positive development of the Industrial Division from an international standpoint. In Brazil, the division increased sales by 17%, in China by 16%, in Japan by 32%, and in India by 14%,” said Lübbers.</p> <p>The Industrial Division had capital expenditures of €41.2 million for 2016, €9.7 million more than the previous year. The investments were again focused primarily on expanding capacity in the US, at four locations in Germany, and in Austria.</p> <p>“Besides increasing our capacity and optimizing our processes, we are persistently adhering to our innovation strategy. For instance, we have further expanded our market position with new and innovative products in every sector,” stated Lübbers.</p> <p>In addition, the division unveiled new and advanced materials in 2016. For example, Röchling in Haren developed Polystone® P flex especially for the production of chemical tanks and plants. With its high elasticity, good resistance to chemicals and weldability with polypropylene, thermal and mechanical expansion can be compensated already during construction. In addition, the LubX® high-performance sliding material was given antistatic properties. LubX® AST black and now the world’s first colored version, called LubX® AST color, are specially conceived for use in conveyor systems that are run at high speeds and with high pressure loads, resulting in increased productivity.</p> <p>For the conversion of the first German container ship to an eco-friendly propulsion using liquefied natural gas (LNG, -164 °C), Röchling is contributing low temperature insulation made of Lignostone® cryogenic.<br /> &nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Automotive division: huge investment for further growth</strong><br /> &nbsp;</p> <p>The Automotive Division generated sales of €855.9 million for Röchling, a 10.1% increase in revenue over the €777.5 million earned last year. Viewed as a whole, nearly every region covered by the division saw increased sales compared to the figures for the prior year. Only the Asia Region posted a slight drop in sales, mainly attributable to currency effects.</p> <p>Erwin Doll, the member of the Management Board in charge of the Automotive Division, said, “We executed the Automotive Division’s growth strategy at a rapid pace. We built a new facility in Silao, Mexico, and we carried out expansions in Ostrava, Czech Republic, and Wackersdorf, Germany.” On top of that, new engineering centers were opened at our locations in Laives, Italy, in March 2017 and in Worms, Germany, in May 2017, laying the foundation for innovative growth. The company opened its new US-based technical center in Troy, Michigan, back in March 2016. Its facility in Peine has also been expanded to include a new production hall. New facilities are being built in Spain, China, and Eastern Europe, and the site in Romania is being expanded. Altogether, the Automotive Division increased spending from €49.9 million in 2015 to €79.3 million in 2016.</p> <p>Once more, active grill shutters and underbody systems, as well as products for air and water management, were particular drivers of growth. In the future, Röchling Automotive’s expertise in SCR technology will help it become the market leader in the segment of SCR tank systems, giving an added strong boost to the growth of the division. With the aid of this technology, catalytic converters remove up to 90% of nitrogen oxides from the exhaust of diesel vehicles.</p> <p>This makes SCR technology part of the solution to the problem of emissions. At our facility in Laives, we develop SCR tank systems for nearly every automobile manufacturer and are either already producing or will be producing them in ten factories around the world.</p> <p>The air ducts made by Röchling Automotive are just as successful. One big-name German automaker is using actively adjustable air ducts for the new series of two of its models.</p> <p>Furthermore, the Röchling Group landed new orders in China. In that county, the Automotive Division benefited particularly from the fact that Chinese automobile manufacturers are increasingly generating sales and acquiring more market share with affordable SUVs.</p> <p>For example, BAIC, one of the largest local car companies, commissioned Röchling Automotive for the first time to develop and produce active grill shutters. Another first-time order was placed by the Sino-European automobile manufacturer Chery Jaguar Land Rover. Röchling Automotive will be producing noise-reducing engine covers for a new mid-size model at the facility in Kunshan, China. In the segment for degas bottles, Röchling in China acquired GAC Fiat Chrysler Automotive as another new customer.<br /> &nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Medical division: strong growth fueled by intensive marketing</strong><br /> &nbsp;</p> <p>The Medical Division, newly established in 2016, also experienced positive growth. Altogether, its three locations in Rochester, NY/USA; Brensbach/Germany; and Neuhaus am Rennweg/Germany, generated sales of €117.2 million, 9.5% higher than the previous year. Individually, the three sites of the division each posted increased revenues. For the 2016 financial year, the division invested a total of €10.4 million.</p> <p>Röchling Group CEO Ludger Bartels, who is also in charge of the Medical Division, said, “We are more than pleased with the growth of the Medical Division.” Thanks to the heavy marketing and expansion of its product portfolio to include closure systems, the company landed new projects that will enable it to invest in modifying and expanding its facility in Brensbach.</p> <p>At its site in Neuhaus, the company began expanding the facility and capacity with an investment of €30 million. That is where primary packaging is produced. “Primary packaging” is the designation used for products that come in direct contact with medications. For that reason, the products require a high level of quality and cleanliness.&nbsp;</p> <p>“Never before has the Röchling Group invested that kind of money at one of its facilities,” says Ludger Bartels. In addition, a new clean room began operation at the facility in Rochester/USA. With the clean room, we were able to purchase five additional injection molding plants for the manufacturing of medical technology products.</p> <p>In collaboration with a customer in West Chester/USA, Röchling in Rochester developed battery casing components for a system that allows patients to check their blood sugar levels easily and that has a built-in insulin pump that enables the simple and precise dosing of insulin.</p> <p>Furthermore, Röchling made a significant contribution to the development of a trocar for another company in North America. Trocars are inserted through the abdominal wall into the abdominal cavity during minimally invasive surgeries, such as laparoscopy. The new trocar allows surgeons to visually monitor the process of inserting the laparoscope. The production process involved multiple techniques, including injection molding, assembly, printing, ultrasonic welding, multi-component injection molding, and in-mold processes. Another key to the success of the project was the efficient supply chain management by Röchling. Among other things, metal components had to be procured for the in-mold process.</p> <p><strong>Tremendous potential for growth throughout 2017</strong><br /> &nbsp;</p> <p>Provided there are no major crises in the global economy, the Röchling Group is adhering to its growth targets for the current financial year. Ludger Bartels gave his prognosis for the future: “We are budgeting for sales of over €1.8 billion, which will again set another record for us. We want to see continued strong growth in all three divisions while moving forward with our internationalization and seeking to perform additional acquisitions. We will invest, expand our capacity, all the while remaining a financially sound company through and through.”</p>]]></content:encoded> <category>Röchling Automotive</category> <category>Röchling Group</category> <category>Röchling Industrial</category> <category>Press Releases</category> <category>Röchling Medical</category> </item> <item> <guid isPermaLink="false">news-396</guid> <pubDate>Thu, 11 May 2017 16:13:56 +0200</pubDate> <title>Röchling Automotive Opens New Technical Center in Worms</title> <link>https://www.roechling.com/news-roechling-group/news-detail-view/news/roechling-automotive-opens-new-technical-center-in-worms/</link> <description>Worms, 11 May 2017… Three stories, 4,500 square meters, space for 250 employees: Röchling Automotive has successfully completed construction of its new Technical Center in Worms. While the official opening ceremony conducted by the Röchling Automotive Germany management team took place today (Thursday), the around 650 employees at the location and their families had the opportunity to visit the new building during the inauguration festivities last Saturday.</description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<ul> <li>Opening ceremony at the Worms location</li> <li>Smooth construction phase lasting almost eleven months</li> <li>New building constructed in response to Röchling Automotive’s global growth and the lack of capacity in the old building</li> </ul><p>Worms, 11 May&nbsp;2017… Three stories, 4,500 square meters, space for 250 employees: Röchling Automotive has successfully completed construction of its new Technical Center in Worms. While the official opening ceremony conducted by the Röchling Automotive Germany management team took place today (Thursday), the around 650 employees at the location and their families had the opportunity to visit the new building during the inauguration festivities last Saturday.</p> <p>“We are extremely delighted that our new Technical Center in Worms has been completed on schedule within eleven months. Alongside our Technical Centers in Kunshan in China, Troy in the USA and Leifers in Italy, the Technical Center in Worms is the fourth one that we have been able to get up and running within a very short space of time,” said Erwin Doll, President and CEO of the Röchling Automotive Group. He added that this new building was constructed in response to the global growth that Röchling Automotive is currently enjoying.</p> <p>A total of around €9 million was invested in the Worms location, where products are developed for every single one of Röchling Automotive’s locations all over the world. The old building had to be demolished to make way for this three-story building with a gross floor area of around 4,500 square meters. At the official opening ceremony, which was attended by not only the Röchling Automotive Executive Board and Management Board but also company employees, representatives of the City of Worms and local business leaders, Robert Eimer – the Managing Director of Röchling Automotive Germany – explained why it was necessary to open a new Technical Center here. First, the original office space was reaching the limits of its capacity.&nbsp;</p> <p>The new building, however, offers sufficient space for around 250 employees from Innovation, Business Development, Development, Project Management, Quality Planning, Process Engineering, Industrial Engineering and Purchasing.&nbsp;</p> <p>“Second, this new building will be a much more pleasant working environment for our employees, offering a state-of-the-art office concept that appeals to specialists and engineers alike and ensures barrier-free communication,” said Robert Eimer. Specifically, this means open-plan offices and a variety of room concepts for meetings and discussions. For example, the new building offers not only ground-floor meeting rooms that can be flexibly configured to accommodate anywhere between 10 and 100 people, but also micro meeting areas and project and meeting rooms. Coffee bars with break areas, a terrace and a furnished outdoor area further enhance the attractiveness of the location. &nbsp;“To appeal to&nbsp;</p> <p>specialists and offer them the best-possible conditions, we have placed the emphasis on modernity. All rooms in the new Technical Center are air-conditioned and we even have a private showroom for new products,” explained Robert Eimer.</p> <p>In addition to the state-of-the-art workplace design, the beautiful location commanding views of the Rhine and just a short walk away from the “Wäldchen” local recreation area make working for Röchling Automotive in Worms a highly attractive proposition. The construction of the new Technical Center represents a clear commitment to the Worms location. The Mayor of Worms, Michael Kissel, is also delighted: “I am confident that Röchling Automotive’s new Technical Center in Worms will help to enhance the attractiveness of the location for specialists.” At the same time, he added, the new development center is a great example of the bundling of competencies in the region.&nbsp;</p> <p>The automotive supplier employs around 650 people at the location, around 320 of whom work in production.</p>]]></content:encoded> <category>Röchling Group</category> <category>Press Releases</category> </item> <item> <guid isPermaLink="false">news-317</guid> <pubDate>Tue, 13 Dec 2016 13:51:41 +0100</pubDate> <title>Changes to the Executive Board of the Röchling Group</title> <link>https://www.roechling.com/news-roechling-group/news-detail-view/news/changes-to-the-executive-board-of-the-roechling-group/</link> <description>Mannheim, 13 December 2016…Rüdiger Keinberger (51), Member of the Executive Board of the Röchling Group and CEO of the Industry Division, will leave the Management Board for personal reasons on December 31, 2016.</description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Mannheim, 13 December 2016…Rüdiger Keinberger (51), Member of the Executive Board of the Röchling Group and CEO of the Industry Division, will leave the Management Board for personal reasons on December 31, 2016.</p> <p>“We are extremely sorry to lose such a distinguished specialist and manager. While working at our company for nearly 30 years, Mr. Keinberger made a significant contribution that we are very grateful for. We wish him all the best and every success in his professional and private life,” said Johannes Freiherr von Salmuth, Chairman of Röchling’s Supervisory Boards.</p> <p>The Supervisory Board of Röchling SE &amp; Co. KG has appointed Franz Lübbers (58), a longstanding member of Röchling’s Management Board who is responsible for the Thermoplastics business unit, as his successor and as a new Executive Board member for the Industry division with effect from January 1, 2017. Franz Lübbers, who has spent almost his entire professional career at Röchling, will succeed Rüdiger Keinberger as one of the most renowned experts in the plastics processing industry.</p>]]></content:encoded> <category>Röchling Automotive</category> <category>Röchling Group</category> <category>Röchling Industrial</category> <category>Press Releases</category> <category>Röchling Medical</category> </item> <item> <guid isPermaLink="false">news-310</guid> <pubDate>Fri, 28 Oct 2016 14:24:00 +0200</pubDate> <title>Röchling on the K 2016</title> <link>https://www.roechling.com/news-roechling-group/news-detail-view/news/roechling-on-the-k-2016/</link> <description>Düsseldorf, 26.10.2016 - On Wednesday the K 2016 came to an end in Düsseldorf with almost 3,300 exhibitors and more than 230,000 visitors from 160 countries, the largest plastics exhibition in the world. The plastic processor Röchling was once again represented with a stand of more than 250 square meters at the international plastics industry show which only takes place every three years.</description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2>Exceptional booth shows innovative products</h2> <p><i>Düsseldorf, 26.10.2016 - On Wednesday the K 2016 came to an end in Düsseldorf with almost 3,300 exhibitors and more than 230,000 visitors from 160 countries, the largest plastics exhibition in the world. The plastic processor Röchling was once again represented with a stand of more than 250 square meters at the international plastics industry show which only takes place every three years.</i><br /><br />Röchling presented his application oriented plastic exhibits on an extraordinary stand, which stood out from the other stands thanks to its authentic design. Under the motto &quot;Explorers of Innovation&quot; the Röchling stand had the look of an oil rig. With a drilling tower, high superstructures and a view of the sea, as well as lots of loving details like seagulls, warning signs, a helicopter landing field, as well as the sound waves and gull screams, the booth gave the visitors the feeling of being on the high seas.<br /><br />With the unique stand concept Röchling wants to show how the plastic processor understands the innovation process. The search for new solution approaches must take place in cooperation with the customer in the deep &quot;abysses&quot;, where the innovative treasures are slumbering and waiting to be lifted - in direct dialogue with the customers. The response of the professional visitors to the extraordinary concept was extraordinary. They came from almost all industrial sectors, where Röchling products are used. In numerous talks, the Röchling employees were able to convincingly convey the wide range of products and the application know-how and to discuss new challenges with the customers.<br /><br />At the stand, Röchling presented selected exhibits from the three divisions Industrial, Automotive and Medical. The range includes, for example, newly developed sliding materials for conveyor engineering, flame retardant materials for vehicle and railway construction, medical components such as a head holder for surgical interventions, ballistic protection plates, subsea applications in the oil and gas industry and fiber-reinforced components for the ITER test reactor to research power generation by nuclear fusion. Röchling is also quite big in small scale: under a lens micro-machined components with a diameter of only 0.5 mm have been shown, which are used in hearing aids or in aviation technology.<br /><br /> </p>]]></content:encoded> <category>Röchling Group</category> <category>Röchling Industrial</category> <category>Röchling Medical</category> <category>Röchling Automotive</category> <category>Press Releases</category> </item> <item> <guid isPermaLink="false">news-308</guid> <pubDate>Wed, 12 Oct 2016 17:08:31 +0200</pubDate> <title>Röchling is launching a new website</title> <link>https://www.roechling.com/news-roechling-group/news-detail-view/news/roechling-is-launching-a-new-website/</link> <description>Mannheim, 14.10.2016 - The Röchling Group has completely revised their internet presence and switched it online in a new design. The new site has been created for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets in Responsive Design.</description> <enclosure url="https://www.roechling.com/fileadmin/media/Roechling-Gruppe/_News_Press/Homepage-Relaunch-EN.jpg" length="484254" type="image/jpeg" /> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2>Targeted customer engagement in their industries</h2><header><p><i>Mannheim, 14.10.2016 - The Röchling Group has completely revised their internet presence and switched it online in a new design. The new site has been created for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets in Responsive Design.</i></p></header><p>At www.roechling.com the Röchling Group presents the complete range of plastic products and services offered by the world's leading plastics specialist. The new design also takes account of the requirements of mobile devices. The responsive design automatically adapts the presentation of the content to the size of the respective display. </p> <p>The clear, reduced design with Röchling-blue accents supports the intuitive user guidance (usability) and enables an easy orientation within the comprehensive range, which extends over the three divisions. </p> <p>The President and CEO of the Röchling Group, Ludger Bartels, explains: &quot;We want to approach our customers in their respective industry and present our products and services in an even more targeted manner and also optimized for mobile devices.&quot; The new Internet presence of the Röchling Group is part of the communication and innovation strategy and should further intensify the direct exchange with the customers and push ahead the internationalization. This is why the new site offers a direct contact possibility and also a link to the contact data of all international locations on each page. </p> <p><b>Industrial, Automotive, Medical and Career</b> </p> <p>The homepage of the new website leads directly into three business divisions Industrial, Automotive and Medical as well as to the new career portal. </p> <p>In addition to the comprehensive range of products and materials, the <b>Industrial </b>Division is now also presenting a navigation point &quot;Industries&quot;. Here, Röchling presents to distributors and end-users (OEM) their competence in the respective industry, for example in the chemical, automotive, electrical, or sports and leisure industries. Examples of typical applications and proven products are shown. </p> <p>Röchling <b>Automotive</b> will be presenting its expertise in aerodynamics, powertrain and new mobility on the new webpages. New, appealing graphics have been developed for the five product lines. </p> <p>The new <b>Medical</b> Division, which was founded at the beginning of 2016, presents the products of the various sites for the first time with the relaunch. Here, prospective customers from the industries of pharmacy, diagnostics and life science will find information on the wide range of order-processing services, including primary packaging and complex precision assemblies. </p> <p>The <b>career</b> portal provides information on the initial and further development possibilities at Röchling. It provides information for professionals, graduates, students and pupils, as well as open positions at almost 80 locations worldwide.&nbsp;</p>]]></content:encoded> <category>Röchling Group</category> <category>Press Releases</category> <category>Röchling Industrial</category> <category>Röchling Automotive</category> <category>Röchling Medical</category> </item> <item> <guid isPermaLink="false">news-119</guid> <pubDate>Wed, 08 Jun 2016 09:11:00 +0200</pubDate> <title>Röchling Still on Track for Success</title> <link>https://www.roechling.com/news-roechling-group/news-detail-view/news/roechling-still-on-track-for-success/</link> <description>Mannheim, Germany, June 8, 2016... Röchling SE &amp; Co. KG (Mannheim) got off to a successful start in 2016. The Röchling Group increased total sales in the first quarter of 2016 by 9.0 percent to EUR 412.4 million. The Automotive division was the growth driver. It benefited from the dynamic performance of the worldwide automotive industry. The Industrial division also developed positively. However, the strength of demand varied in its markets.</description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<ul><li><article><p><span class="circle">New Record Figures in 2015</span></p></article></li><li><article><p><span class="circle">Change in Executive Board Ensures Continuity</span></p></article></li><li><article><p><span class="circle">2016 Starts with Expansion to Three Divisions</span></p></article></li><li><article><p><span class="circle">Good Start to Current Fiscal Year</span></p></article></li></ul><p>Mannheim, Germany, June 8, 2016... Röchling SE &amp; Co. KG (Mannheim) got off to a successful start in 2016. The Röchling Group increased total sales in the first quarter of 2016 by 9.0 percent to EUR 412.4 million. The Automotive division was the growth driver. It benefited from the dynamic performance of the worldwide automotive industry. The Industrial division also developed positively. However, the strength of demand varied in its markets. </p> <p><br />At the turn of the year, the Röchling Group increased the number of its divisions from two to three. It is now comprised of the Industrial division (formerly High-Performance Plastics), Automotive (formerly Automotive Plastics), and the new Medical division. Röchling spun this off from High-Performance Plastics as a newly independent division. “Medical technology is growing worldwide because plastics are increasingly replacing traditional materials in this sector,” said Georg Duffner, Chief Executive Officer of the Röchling Group until May 31 of this year. “In addition, this division increases our independence from business cycles.” </p> <p><br />In the 2015 fiscal year, Röchling continued its sustained growth course. “Although China’s lower growth rate restrained the worldwide economic expansion, we were able to buck this trend with above-average growth,” reported Georg Duffner. According to estimates of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the worldwide economy recorded a decline in growth from 3.3 to 3.1 percent in 2015. China’s slower growth, which declined by 0.4 percentage points to 6.9 percent, impeded the performance of many Asian newly industrializing countries. By contrast, growth in the United States increased by a slight 0.1 percentage point to 2.5 percent, while the eurozone recorded growth of 1.5 percent, compared to 0.9 percent in 2014. <br /> <br />The Röchling Group’s sales growth of 14.0 percent to EUR 1,555.0 million (EUR 1,364.0 million in 2014) was more than twice as much as in the previous year. <br />The two divisions, High-Performance Plastics and Automotive Plastics, contributed equally to the success of the business. The Group also set a new record for incoming orders. They grew by 14.0 percent to EUR 1,566.8 million (EUR 1,373.8 million in 2014). <br />Viewed regionally, 31 percent of Group sales were generated in Germany, while 34 percent were realized in other European countries. America accounted for 21 percent of sales, while Asia contributed another 14 percent. By far the largest customer segment was automotive technology with a share of 50 percent. This was followed by mechanical engineering and conveyor technology (14 percent), medical/pharma-ceutical (7 percent), chemicals/environment (7 percent), the electrical engineering (5 percent), and other customers (17 percent). They include the construction/visual communication industries, renewable energies, and thermal insulation.<br /><br />The Röchling Group increased EBIT by 32.0 percent to the new record of EUR 135.9 million (EUR 102.9 million in 2014). Ludger Bartels: “The decisive factors are our high product quality, systematic internationalization, and innovative power. We are expanding our business in market regions with high growth potential.” As a current example, he cited the construction of a plant in Mexico. As a result of the expansion course and rising incoming orders, the Röchling Group increased its investments in tangible assets. They grew by 16.8 percent or EUR 12.2 million to EUR 85.0 million. The number of employees (including temporary employees) increased by 517 to 8,397 (reference date: December 31, 2015). <br /><b><br />High-Performance Plastics: Surpassed Market Growth</b> <br /><br />The High-Performance Plastics division increased its sales by 14.8 percent to EUR 778.5 million. “We are growing much faster than the market,” said Ludger Bartels, the new Chief Executive Officer of the Röchling Group since June 1, 2016. “The growth drivers were especially customers from the areas of oil and gas, wind energy, and thermal insulation.” Incoming orders increased by 14.6 percent to EUR 788.5 million. Investments in tangible assets rose by EUR 9.3 million to EUR 38.4 million. The largest projects were the expansion of the logistics center in Lahnstein by 3,900 square meters and the expansion of the Haren site. The number of employees (including temporary employees) increased by 348 from the previous year to 3,779 (reference date: December 31, 2015). <br /><br />Among the most important acquisitions was the purchase of HPT Hochwertige Pharmatechnik (Neuhaus am Rennweg, Germany) at the beginning of the year. It is part of the new Medical division. With 271 employees, the company produces plastic primary packaging for the pharmaceutical and diagnostics industries. In addition, Röchling acquired the two English plastics processing companies Fibracon Twin Ltd. (Derbyshire) and Insoll Components Ltd. (Hertfordshire). With this move, the Group is expanding its leading position for machined finished parts made from high-performance plastics. Both companies together have 96 employees (reference date: December 31, 2015). <br /><br /><b>On a Growth Course with Innovations</b><br /><br />In 2015, the division presented new and advanced materials. For example, Maywotron® pure combines good electrical conductive and dissipative capability with high purity. Application areas include the electrical engineering and semiconductor industries as well as cleanrooms in various sectors. The Polystone® Safe-Tec material also features an innovation. The new structured “cubic grain” surface increases the slip resistance of floors in the chemical industry, but also in swimming pools and on playgrounds. A refinement of the Trafoboard® HD-PH material enables the construction of even more powerful high-voltage transformers. <br /><br />For the high-end record players of the premium brand “Dr. Christian Feickert,” the plastic Sustarin C® provides turntables with the optimal synchronization characteris-tics. Its low feedback prevents noise interference. Another reference for the quality of Röchling products is the prestigious German central military hospital in Koblenz. For the renovation of its ten operating rooms, it relies on TroBloc® M. The antimicro-bial plastic wall coverings limit the spread of fungi and bacteria, such as the hospital germ MRSA. They are easy to clean, resistant, and durable. <br />Among Röchling's most innovative product developments are intelligent sealing strips for paper production marketed under the name SMARTROLL. Reflecting the trend to Industry 4.0, the components equipped with sensors supply information about temperature, wear, and noise levels. The information enables continuous quality control. <br /><br /><b>Automotive Plastics: In Best Form Again in 2015</b><br /><br />The Automotive Plastics division presented itself in best form again with a 13.3 percent increase in sales to EUR 777.5 million. Incoming orders grew by 13.5 percent to EUR 779.2 million. “Röchling plastics reduce emissions, fuel consumption, and weight in automobiles,” said Duffner. “This is how we support our customers in solving their most important problems.” As a result of the continuing rise in demand, the division increased its investments in tangible assets by 5.6 percent to EUR 45.9 million. The focus was on the acquisition of new injection molding machines for production in Mexico, Italy, and Germany. Additional investments involved the expansion of plants in Wackersdorf and the Czech Republic. The number of employees (including temporary employees) increased by 3.8 percent to 4,582 (reference date: December 31, 2015). <br /><br /><b>Large Orders for GM, Ford, and Many Other Automobile Manufacturers<br /></b><br />Among the most important large orders in 2015 were controllable air duct systems for the Ford models Focus, Kuga, and Mondeo. In addition, the Focus will have degas bottles and climate chambers from Röchling on board in the future. The same applies to dashboard-mounted air channels, which will be manufactured with Röchling’s new air channel technology involving high-expansion foam. In addition, Röchling entered the important Ford aftermarket business: The Group supplies filter elements for the Ford Transit. In China, Changan Ford equips its Focus model with the division’s active grille shutters. For the same manufacturer, Röchling will start producing degas bottles in March 2017. <br /><br />General Motors also collaborates closely with Röchling. Röchling manufactures loading edge protection for the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup models. In Brazil starting in August, Röchling will produce engine insulation for the turbo gasoline engines of the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze. In Germany, Röchling received an order to manufacture underbody panels for the Opel Insignia. <br /><br />In the future, the Audi A6, A7, and TT models will get SCR tank systems from Röchling Automotive. The order also includes the filling systems for them. Similarly, the new SUV model from Jaguar will be rolling down the street with SCR tanks beginning the middle of next year. Mitsubishi is also counting on SCR tank systems. Annually, more than 15,000 SCR tanks will be installed in a new SUV. The stream-lined active grille shutters are enjoying tremendous demand. Chery Automotive is equipping models of the type SUV T15 with them as part of a five-year order. In addition, the company ordered air flap systems for more than 100,000 SUVs per year for the second time. <br /><br /><b>Electric Cars Drive with Röchling Technology</b><br /><br />Beginning in February 2017, SAIC General Motors will equip the new Chevrolet Volt plug-in electric car with underbody panels featuring low-weight reinforced thermoplastics (LWRT) from Röchling Automotive. <br /><br />Daimler is one of Röchling’s most important customers. The Stuttgart company will equip its A- and B-Class vehicles with cool air channels and wheel arch liners from Röchling starting at the end of next year. The GL Coupe, GLE Coupe, and SUVs will get cooling systems. The S-Class, E-Class, and CLS Coupe are underway with air flap systems from Röchling Automotive. <br /><br />The cooperation between Röchling and Fiat Chrysler celebrated its premiere. Since the beginning of this year, the Akron, Ohio plant has supplied the active grille shutter for the Chrysler minivan. Variants of the Opel Meriva and the Citroën Picasso also have on board the system that improves aerodynamics, thermal management, and acoustics. The Nissan Versa Note and the Alfa Romeo SUV are also equipped with the active grille shutter. The latter is also underway with underbody panels from Röchling. Beginning at the end of this year, Honda and Geely (Volvo) will equip their models with degas bottles from Röchling.<br /><br />The quality of Röchling manufacturing is once again reflected in the awards re-ceived: The Volvo Car Corporation presented the Belgian plant in Gijzegem with the Volvo Car Quality Excellence Award in recognition of its quality management. Spurred on by this prize, sales with the automobile manufacturer will double in the coming years. Röchling was also recognized by Ford for very good quality. The plant in Kopřivnice (Czech Republic) received the World Excellence Award for the active grille shutter.<br /><br />Among the most important trade fair appearances was the presentation of the new product line “New Business Green Car” at the Aachen Car Body Engineering Days in Germany. The innovative lightweight solutions for the vehicle floor in a sandwich design made from LWRT and aluminum encountered significant interest. In October 2015, Röchling Automotive presented its new materials and alternative joining pro-cess at the ITB Plastic Engine Parts Conference in China. The focus was on product innovations for air induction applications in the engine compartment. <br /><br /><b>Good Outlook for 2016</b><br /><br />For the entire year of 2016, the Röchling Group sees good growth prospects. Ludger Bartels: “We are confident of setting new records again. The main factor here is the expansion of production capacities in all divisions. In addition, we are reviewing all opportunities for expansion through acquisitions in the Industrial and Medical divisions.” Bartel thanked the long-term Chief Executive Officer Georg Duffer after 15 years of service for his outstanding achievements, particularly in the area of comprehensive Group expansion with a focus on the rapidly growing and future-oriented business with engineering plastics. Bartels: “The Georg Duffner era stands for the positioning and management of a financially solid, profitable corporate group with international presence and a good-to-outstanding market position in the industry sectors relevant to us.”</p>]]></content:encoded> <category>Röchling Group</category> <category>Röchling Industrial</category> <category>Röchling Automotive</category> <category>Press Releases</category> <category>Röchling Medical</category> </item> <item> <guid isPermaLink="false">news-133</guid> <pubDate>Mon, 18 Jan 2016 10:53:00 +0100</pubDate> <title>A Change at the Röchling Group</title> <link>https://www.roechling.com/news-roechling-group/news-detail-view/news/a-change-at-the-roechling-group/</link> <description>Mannheim, Germany, 18 January 2016... Ludger Bartels will become the new CEO at the Röchling plastics specialist. As of June 1, 2016, he will take over the position of CEO from Georg Duffner, who is retiring after many successful years as planned on May 31. Bartels, 62, has worked at the Röchling Group for almost 40 years and, since 2007, has been the second member of the Executive Board together with Duffner. “With him, we will have a highly skilled CEO in senior management with decades of experience, who will continue to pursue our Company’s successful course,” said Johannes Freiherr von Salmuth, Chairman of the Advisory Board and the Shareholder Board of the Röchling Group. </description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<ul> <li> <p>As of 1 June&nbsp;2016, Ludger Bartels will become the new Chief Executive Officer at Röchling</p> </li> <li> <p>Georg Duffner Retires – Change at the Röchling Advisory Board</p> </li> <li> <p>Three Additional New Executive Board Member as of June 2016</p> </li> <li> <p>Reorganization of the Divisions</p> </li> </ul><p>Mannheim, Germany, 18 January&nbsp;2016... Ludger Bartels will become the new CEO at the Röchling plastics specialist. As of 1 June 2016, he will take over the position of CEO from Georg Duffner, who is retiring after many successful years as planned on 31 May. Bartels, 62, has worked at the Röchling Group for almost 40 years and, since 2007, has been the second member of the Executive Board together with Duffner. “With him, we will have a highly skilled CEO in senior management with decades of experience, who will continue to pursue our Company’s successful course,” said Johannes Freiherr von Salmuth, Chairman of the Advisory Board and the Shareholder Board of the Röchling Group.<br /> <br /> Von Salmuth thanked the departing CEO Georg Duffner for his very successful work. He assumed control of the Röchling Group in 2001 at a challenging time and had the vision to successfully transform the Company from a conglomerate into a worldwide leading plastics specialist, according to von Salmuth. Under his aegis, Röchling consistently focused on the core business. Access was gained to new regional and industrial markets, through targeted investments and corporate acquisitions in the plastics sector. Despite all the restructurings, he succeeded in remaining faithful to the family Company’s motto – “Continuity Amid Change.” “We owe Georg Duffner our utmost thanks. He achieved or even surpassed all of the goals he set for himself and is handing over a strategically well positioned and financially sound Company,” von Salmuth continued.<br /> <br /> On 31 May, the Duffner era will come to an end at Röchling, an era that will go down in the almost 200-year history of the family Company as one of the most successful. The unusually high regard the Röchling family has for Georg Duffner’s work is also demonstrated by the fact that the Shareholder Board has already decided to nominate him for election to the Advisory Board at the shareholders’ meeting in the summer.<br /> <br /> Furthermore, Georg Duffner’s departure has been taken as an occasion to reorganize the lead company and Executive Board of the Röchling Group.<br /> <br /> The designated CEO Ludger Bartels, who studied materials engineering, began his career at today’s Röchling Engineering Plastics SE in 1977. He worked there in various capacities, including as head of development and quality assurance, extrusion, the thermoplastics profit center, and the composites profit center. In 1996, he joined the Executive Board of the Röchling Engineering Plastics Group and in 1999, he became its Chairman. Since 2003, Mr. Bartels has also served as CEO of Röchling Sustaplast SE. In 2007, he was appointed to the Executive Board of the Röchling Group, where he was responsible for the High-Performance Plastics division. “Ludger Bartels knows our business like no one else and is therefore the ideal choice for us to fill the position,” von Salmuth said.<br /> <br /> Effective immediately, the Röchling Group has reorganized its divisions. Along with the existing Automotive division, the previously second division of “High-Performance Plastics” is being split into “Industrial” and “Medical” in order to highlight the strategic importance of the still small medical segment. In the future, the new CEO Ludger Bartels will be responsible for the Medical division. Röchling wants to increase sales to EUR 250 million in this division by 2020. Of this, over EUR 100 million will be achieved through the acquisition of more companies.<br /> <br /> The Industrial division will supply all other industrial business sectors. By 2020, this division should grow to EUR 1 billion – of this, approximately EUR 100 million will be the result of acquisitions. As of June of this year, Rüdiger Keinberger, who was appointed to the Executive Board of the former High-Performance Plastics division in the summer of 2015, will be responsible for this division on the Röchling Executive Board.<br /> <br /> The Automotive division will remain the largest division, encompassing all the companies that supply the automobile industry. By 2020, Röchling intends to increase sales from the current EUR 800 million to EUR 1.25 billion, primarily through the successful management of organic growth. The previous spokesman of Röchling Automotive SE, Erwin Doll, will replace Georg Duffner in June as the responsible member of the Executive Board at the lead company.<br /> <br /> Completing the new Executive Board team will be Steffen Rowold, who along with his activity as CFO of the Automotive division will assume responsibility from Georg Duffner the “Financial” area at the lead company. As a result, as of 1 June 2016, the new Röchling Executive Board will present itself as a four-member Executive Board with clear divisional authority and a traditional CFO in a cross-divisional position.<br /> <br /> “Our new Executive Board members have proven themselves over many years in the Röchling Group. We are proud to be able to put together such an impressive lead company from our own ranks,” von Salmuth said.<br /> <br /> Erwin Doll, 56, who studied mechanical engineering, worked for 13 years for BASF within the plastics department and was subsequently employed at the automotive supplier Johnson Controls and the Plastic Omnium Group. In 2006, Mr. Doll joined the Röchling Group, where he was appointed Executive Vice President of Sales and R&amp;D at Röchling Automotive, where he has served as spokesman since 2011. As a new member of the Röchling Group’s Executive Board, he will be responsible for the Automotive division as of 1 June&nbsp;2016.<br /> <br /> Rüdiger Keinberger also studied mechanical engineering. After holding various positions, he joined Leder-fabrik Poeschl, which Röchling acquired in 1993. Born in Austria, he served as COO and CEO of Röchling Leripa Papertech in the USA for many years. From 2005 to 2015, Keinberger was Managing Director of Röchling Leripa Papertech in Austria and since 2011 has also served as Director of the Machined Components business unit of Röchling Engineering Plastics. In Septem¬ber 2015, the 50-year-old was appointed to the Executive Board of the Röchling Engineering Plastics Group. As a new member of the Röchling Group’s Executive Board, he will be responsible for the new Industry division as of 1 June 2016.<br /> <br /> With a graduate degree in business administration, Steffen Rowold began his career in the Controlling department of Blaupunkt Werke GmbH in Hildesheim (Germany) before transferring to Pierburg AG in Neuss (Germany). In 2001, the 51-year-old joined the Röchling Group, where he served as the Commercial Director of Röchling Automotive Peine KG until 2009. From 2004 to 2008, he was also a member of the Executive Board at the newly founded Röchling Technical Parts KG. In 2009, Mr. Rowold was appointed Board member in charge of commercial management at Röchling Automotive. As a new member of the Executive Board and Chief Financial Officer of the Röchling Group, Rowold will be responsible for the Financial division as of 1 June 2016.</p>]]></content:encoded> <category>Röchling Automotive</category> <category>Röchling Group</category> <category>Röchling Industrial</category> <category>Press Releases</category> <category>Röchling Medical</category> </item> <item> <guid isPermaLink="false">news-135</guid> <pubDate>Wed, 02 Dec 2015 10:57:00 +0100</pubDate> <title>WAK Awards the “Röchling Special Prize” for the First Time</title> <link>https://www.roechling.com/news-roechling-group/news-detail-view/news/wak-awards-the-roechling-special-prize-for-the-first-time/</link> <description>Chemnitz - The Scientific Alliance of the University Professors of Plastics Technology (WAK) gives awards for the best scientific work in the area of plastics technology every year. With the prizes, which were awarded on November 12th in Chemnitz, the WAK desires to both document important progress in plastics science and technology and motivate and support young engineers in their research. The prizes, which are endowed by innovative plastics technology companies, are oriented to the three key points in plastics technology research and education: materials, construction, and processing. This year, the Röchling Group numbered among the endowing companies for the first time. </description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Recognition for New Developments in Hybrid Plastics – Prize Winners from the RWTH Aachen University </p> <p><i>Chemnitz - The Scientific Alliance of the University Professors of Plastics Technology (WAK) gives awards for the best scientific work in the area of plastics technology every year. With the prizes, which were awarded on November 12th in Chemnitz, the WAK desires to both document important progress in plastics science and technology and motivate and support young engineers in their research. The prizes, which are endowed by innovative plastics technology companies, are oriented to the three key points in plastics technology research and education: materials, construction, and processing. This year, the Röchling Group numbered among the endowing companies for the first time. <br /></i> </p> <p>The “Röchling Special Prize for new hybrid materials, systems, and process techniques on the basis of plastics,” which will now be awarded annually, went to Dr.-Ing Andreas Neuß for his dissertation titled “Process Development of Hybrid Multi-Component Injection Molding for the Production of Components for Electronics and Electronics Applications.” Neuß completed his dissertation at the Institute of Plastics Processing at the RWTH Aachen University. </p> <p>“Plastic is the material of the 21st century. With this first special prize, we want to support scientific work that creates new possibilities for the design of technical applications,” said Ludger Bartels, Executive Board member of the Röchling Group. “The close exchange with the experts at the WAK and the contact with the committed next generation of talent is very important for Röchling.” </p> <p>In his congratulatory speech, Mario Frericks, General Manager Sales &amp; Marketing at Röchling Engineering Plastics, emphasized the significance of hybrid materials. Classic materials can no longer fulfill the technical and economical demands in many areas. Just like the motto “the whole is more than the sum of its parts,” combining different materials expands the properties of the whole spectrum. </p> <p>Aside for the Röchling Special Prize, other companies awarded prizes for the development and description of engineering plastics for innovative applications, for methods and approaches for the development and construction of plastic components, and for new plastic processing methods and techniques. The best undergraduate thesis and masterʼs thesis are both awarded a prize of EUR 3,500 and the best doctoral dissertation a prize of EUR 5,000. </p> <p>The WAK strives to promote research and technology in plastics. The alliance promotes the exchange of experiences between people, institutions, and research associations that are active in the field of plastics technology. It coordinates university research interests; forms and maintains contacts to research institutions, associations, and promoting institutions; cultivates contacts with industry companies and associations; and performs public relations work for the interests of plastics technology.</p>]]></content:encoded> <category>Röchling Medical</category> <category>Press Releases</category> <category>Röchling Automotive</category> <category>Röchling Industrial</category> <category>Röchling Group</category> </item> <item> <guid isPermaLink="false">news-145</guid> <pubDate>Tue, 28 Jul 2015 11:29:00 +0200</pubDate> <title>Röchling makes changes to the organisation and management of the High-Performance Plastics division</title> <link>https://www.roechling.com/news-roechling-group/news-detail-view/news/roechling-makes-changes-to-the-organisation-and-management-of-the-high-performance-plastics-division/</link> <description>Mannheim – To improve organisation and secure global growth, Röchling is changing the organisation and management of the High-Performance Plastics division. </description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Reorganisation contributes to global growth </p> <p><i>Mannheim – To improve organisation and secure global growth, Röchling is changing the organisation and management of the High-Performance Plastics division.</i> </p> <p>With effect from 1 September 2015 Rüdiger Keinberger will be appointed to the Board of Management of Röchling Engineering Plastics SE &amp; Co. KG, Haren/Germany. With this position, he will take over the responsibility for the Business Units Machined Components and Composites. Up to this point, he has held the position of Managing Director of the Austrian subsidiary Röchling Leripa Papertech GmbH &amp; Co. KG, Oepping, and Director of the Business Unit Machined Components. </p> <p>His tasks in the Business Unit will be taken over by Heinz Dirksen as Director Sales and Marketing and Dietmar Telgenkämper as Director Production and Engineering. Peter Eckerstorfer will become the Managing Director of Röchling Leripa Papertech. </p> <h3>Life Science Industry promoted</h3> <p>Furthermore, Lewis H. Carter will assume the position of Director Business Unit Medical Plastics, effective 1 September 2015. Röchling is taking this step to promote the development of the strategically important field of Life Science Industry. </p> <p>Lewis H. Carter is transferring his responsibility for the production and sales of thermoplastic semi-finished products in North America to the Business Unit Thermoplastics. This means, starting on 1 January 2016, Röchling will be bringing together all activities concerning thermoplastic semi-finished products in a single Business Unit managed by Franz Lübbers as Director Sales and Marketing and Ludger Vehring, Director Production and Engineering. Mustafa Altintas is responsible for the production of high-performance plastics of Röchling Sustaplast&nbsp;as Business Unit Director Production and Engineering. </p>]]></content:encoded> <category>Röchling Medical</category> <category>Press Releases</category> <category>Röchling Automotive</category> <category>Röchling Industrial</category> <category>Röchling Group</category> </item> <item> <guid isPermaLink="false">news-159</guid> <pubDate>Wed, 25 Jun 2014 07:48:00 +0200</pubDate> <title>Röchling Announces New Records</title> <link>https://www.roechling.com/news-roechling-group/news-detail-view/news/roechling-announces-new-records/</link> <description>Mannheim, Germany, June 25, 2014 The Röchling Group got off to a very good start in 2014. In the first quarter, it achieved a 10.6 percent increase in sales to EUR 338.1 million. Incoming orders rose by 10.8 percent to EUR 350.2 million. “Success is attributable to both divisions,” reported Georg Duffner, President and CEO. “Both the High-Performance Plastics and Automotive Plastics divisions achieved record sales.” </description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<ul><li><span class="circle">More and More Distinctive Global Positioning</span></li><li><span class="circle">Sales Increased More than 50 Percent in the Last Four Years</span></li><li><span class="circle">Highly Innovative in All Global Economic Centers</span></li><li><span class="circle">Outstanding Start in the Current Fiscal Year</span></li></ul><p>Mannheim, Germany, June 25, 2014 The Röchling Group got off to a very good start in 2014. In the first quarter, it achieved a 10.6 percent increase in sales to EUR 338.1 million. Incoming orders rose by 10.8 percent to EUR 350.2 million. “Success is attributable to both divisions,” reported Georg Duffner, President and CEO. “Both the High-Performance Plastics and Automotive Plastics divisions achieved record sales.”&nbsp; </p> <p>The 2013 fiscal year was successful for the Röchling Group despite economic weakness at the beginning of the year. The world economy stabilized in the spring and revived markedly toward year’s end. A moderate recovery began in the eurozone and the USA. In Germany the gross domestic product increased by 0.4 percent from the previous year, while economic growth in the newly industrializing countries initially slowed before picking up again due to rising exports at the end of the year. </p> <p>The Röchling Group increased Group sales in the 2013 fiscal year to a new record. It grew by 7.5 percent to EUR 1,282.5 million. “In the past four years, we increased our sales by more than 50 percent from EUR 0.8 billion to nearly EUR 1.3 billion,” Duffner said. “We recorded this growth in all global economic centers – particularly in Asia and America.” </p> <p>Germany accounted for 34 percent of total sales, while 33 percent accrued to the rest of Europe. America and Asia achieved sales shares of 20 percent and 13 percent, respectively. The largest customer group is “automotive technology” with a sales share of 52 percent. The group “retail and machining” follows with 16 percent. Electrical and electronics industry (7 percent) is in third place. They are followed by these sectors: chemicals and environment (5 percent), mechanical engineering (5 percent), and medical technology (4 percent). </p> <p>Incoming orders also reached a new record level. They rose by 8.3 percent to EUR 1,294.8 million. Investments were high again at EUR 82,9 million, but they fell short of the amount in 2012. They focused primarily on expanding worldwide production. “We reaped the rewards after record investments in 2011 and 2012,” said Marc Trube, Röchling CFO. The number of employees rose by 4.2 percent to 7,463 as of the end of 2013. </p> <h2>High-Performance Plastics Increases Sales by 7.4 Percent</h2> <p>In the High-Performance Plastics division, the Röchling Group achieved a 7.4 percent increase in sales to EUR 637.6 million. Also here incoming orders grew somewhat more strongly. They rose by 7.9 percent to EUR 648.7 million. The number of employees in-creased by 3.1 percent to 3,257, while investments of EUR 27.6 million remained 64.7 percent below the level in 2012. The largest portion accrued to the expansion of production at MAYWO Kunststoff GmbH (Bad Grönenbach-Thal), Röchling Engineering Plastics KG (Haren), and the new production site in Vadodara, India which opened at the beginning of this year. “Expanding the High-Performance Plastics division remains a pillar of our strategy,” emphasized Ludger Bartels, COO of Röchling. </p> <p>In 2013, the division again produced a series of outstanding innovations. For example, Röchling is setting new standards for the production of complex components using 3D printing. By adopting selective laser sintering, the Company is in a position to manufacture complex plastic parts, which could previously not be produced with traditional CNC machining or injection molding. The new technology offers significant advantages regarding quality, mechanical strength, and reproducibility. Another important innovation was the development of two new materials for the optimal insulation of generators: the Group presented Duromag® EPF S13 and Durostone® EPC SL38 at the CWIEME 2013 trade show in Berlin. </p> <p>Röchling developed a new spray protection flap for the logistics fleet of the United Parcel Service (UPS). Safe-Pass® Aero improves visibility and reduces fuel consumption. Another new development are “breakwaters” for large bakeries made from the high-performance material SUSTARIN® C FG. The thin plastic sheets lift up the slices of bread lying on conveyor belts. The pressure of the following slices of bread pushes them gently out of the intervals so that the sliced loaf is ready to be shrink-wrapped as a unit. </p> <p>Röchling recorded a major success in medical technology. One of the world’s leading manufacturers of endoscopic technology now uses the Röchling material SUSTAPEEK MG black for camera housings and handles. </p> <p><b>State-of-art Technology for Wind Turbines</b> </p> <p>Similarly, Röchling is one of the technology leaders in the area of renewable energy. Now sliding sheets made from the new material SUSTARIN® C GLD 350 ensure a faster and more precise orientation for the rotor blades of wind turbines. Thanks to their self-lubricating properties, the rotors move in the wind quickly, evenly, and with minimal resistance. Röchling improved safety in public transport with the development of the flame-retardant material SUSTAMID 6 FR. High temperature-resistant products made from this material include cable clamps as well as rods and flat bars for rolling stock, aircraft, and ships. </p> <p>The High-Performance Plastics division strengthened its position in Japan with the establishment of the new subsidiary Röchling Engineering Plastics Japan Co., Ltd. (Yokohama).&nbsp; </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Automotive Plastics Grows Primarily in Asia and North America</h2> <p>The performance of the business with Automotive Plastics was just as encouraging as with High-Performance Plastics. The division recorded a 7.7 percent increase in sales to EUR 645.2 million. Incoming orders rose by 8.7 percent to EUR 646.4 million. <br />In particular, the strong demand in Asia and North America was a growth driver. In Europe, the automotive sector, which was declining until mid-year, slowed down business. As was the case with High-Performance Plastics, investments were slightly lower this year. They fell by EUR 7.3 million or 11.8 percent to EUR 54.6 million. The largest investment share was dedicated to expanding production. Along with constructing new production plants, the Röchling Group focused on the reconstruction of plants in Wackersdorf, Germany; Araia, Spain; and Kunshan, China. The number of employees in the Automotive Plastics division increased by 198 from the previous year to 4,172. </p> <p>Among the highlights of the past year was the opening of a new plant in Araia, Spain. By the end of 2013, 55 employees at the 16,500 square-meter plant produced primarily aerodynamically, thermally, and acoustically efficient controlled shutter systems, deflectors, and partition walls. In addition, wheel arch liners and center control panels belong to the range of components which are delivered from Araia to VW, Ford, and Daimler, among other customers. A complete plant relocation was on the agenda in Wackersdorf. Röchling Automotive moved from the innovation park there to the nearby industrial area. The 36,000 square-meter large property houses a production facility, including logistics and administrative services. Currently, a new plant is being occupied in Kunshan, China, which will be the future home of the Asia headquarters of Röchling Automotive. Kunshan is also the location of Röchling’s largest production hall worldwide. </p> <p>One of the largest orders is for 100,000 3D blow molded pressure pipes for the Fiat Viaggio being manufactured in China. Beginning this August, the new luxury-class saloons from the Volkswagen Group will be fitted with underbody panels from Röchling Automotive. Röchling booked a large order for SCR tank systems for two models from Skoda and VW. </p> <p><b>Röchling Suppresses Noise with Mercedes S Class Underbodies</b> </p> <p>Underbodies from Röchling Automotive help the Mercedes S Class perform more quietly and softly. Röchling technology is also aboard the new C class. Wheel arch liners have been delivered since the end of last year. </p> <p>BMW just commissioned Röchling Automotive for several system developments for the purpose of further reducing exhaust and noise emissions, including the development of SCR systems. For its Chinese production, BMW ordered wheel arch liners, injection-molded parts for the underbody area, and a front wall package. </p> <p>All-terrain vehicles from Jaguar Land Rover place the highest demands on quality and load capacity. Röchling delivers degas bottles for the all-terrain vehicles. Another large order for controllable air duct systems came from Nissan. Mazda also rides with Röchling: In June 2013, production of air flap control systems for the “Axela” and “Atenza” models was launched in Japan. Production takes place at “Starlite,” Röchling Automotive’s partner firm there. </p> <p>Toyota decided in favor of Röchling as the future supplier of charge-air tubes, which are already being used in several models. Röchling is also demonstrating its lightweight expertise for the Italian truck manufacturer Iveco. Thanks to Röchling technology, 30,000 “Iveco Stralis” trucks are benefiting from weight savings of 250 percent by using plastic covers. A new “blow-by” cover, which consists of plastic polyamide instead of aluminum, is the decisive factor. Chang’an Ford, a joint venture of the respective American and Chinese automobile manufacturers Ford and Changan, ordered air flaps, deflectors, and windshield cowls produced by Röchling Automotive at the Chengdu, China site. </p> <p>Numerous international awards document the technology leadership of the Röchling Group in many branches of plastics production. For example, the group in Livonia, a suburb of Detroit, once again received the coveted Innovation Award of the Society of Plastic <br />Engineers in the Powertrain category. The award was for an innovative flexible charge-air tube used in Audi engines of the A4 and A5 models, resulting in weight savings of 30 percent compared with the predecessor version. General Motors awarded another prestigious prize. Production quality at the Laives, Italy site was honored with the Supplier Quality Excellence Award. </p> <p>For the full year of 2014, Duffner sees good opportunities to maintain growth and achieve additional records in various areas. “We have positioned ourselves well for the future with the right products for the right customers in the right markets,” the CEO said. “Along with our expertise in the plastics business, our ever more international orientation is decisive. The diversity of nationalities and cultures is among our most important strengths.” </p>]]></content:encoded> <category>Press Releases</category> <category>Röchling Group</category> <category>Röchling Industrial</category> <category>Röchling Automotive</category> <category>Röchling Medical</category> </item> <item> <guid isPermaLink="false">news-169</guid> <pubDate>Thu, 24 Oct 2013 09:08:00 +0200</pubDate> <title>K2013 - Fruitful cooperation</title> <link>https://www.roechling.com/news-roechling-group/news-detail-view/news/k2013-fruitful-cooperation/</link> <description>It was with an unusual stand in the form of a cottage garden that the Röchling Group presented itself at the world&#039;s biggest trade fair for the plastics industry, &quot;K 2013 - International Trade Fair for Plastics + Rubber&quot; in Düsseldorf, Germany. </description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Röchling drives forward cooperation with customers </p> <p><i>It was with an unusual stand in the form of a cottage garden that the Röchling Group presented itself at the world's biggest trade fair for the plastics industry, &quot;K 2013 - International Trade Fair for Plastics + Rubber&quot; in Düsseldorf, Germany.</i> </p> <p>It has become something of a tradition for the internationally focused plastics processor to surprise visitors with an unusual stand concept. This year's slogan, &quot;Fruitful Cooperation&quot;, was brought to life in the style of a cottage garden. Visitors to the trade fair were particularly impressed by the fruit-bearing apple tree on the stand. </p> <p><b>Fruitful cooperation</b> </p> <p>At the stand, Röchling presented selected exhibits demonstrating how the fruitful cooperation with customers has already led to new innovative products and ideas from plastic. Examples include cable clamps from the first flame-resistant extruded polyamide 6 (SUSTAMID 6 FR) for applications with high requirements on fire behaviour in the public transport sector, a completely new head support manufactured entirely from thermoplastics and composites from Röchling for open brain surgery and, simpler yet still very innovative, a sled whose runners are made from a specially extruded plastic profile. </p> <p>Ludger Bartels, COO of the Röchling Group, Mannheim, said of the slogan: &quot;In 'Fruitful Cooperation' we are placing the emphasis on cooperation with our customers and business partners. Close cooperation is the foundation for the development of innovative products and applications. Our breadth of knowledge and widely differing experiences form synergies for a common approach to complex and challenging problems and pave the way for new solutions.&quot; </p> <p><b>A positive response</b> </p> <p>Visitors from all over the world responded overwhelmingly positively to the stand, which at more than 250 square metres in size ensured a pleasant atmosphere for conversation. Bartels was delighted with the response: &quot;The environment at K 2013 has been characterised by a steadier development in demand. Conversations at the trade fair give us reason to be optimistic about future trends in our markets. Our key markets offer increasingly interesting growth potential. The many discussions our sales staff, marketing managers and product developers have had with the visitors have produced plenty of ideas for new projects.&quot; </p> <p><b>Mega trends in focus</b> </p> <p>Röchling is focusing its plastic products on core themes that can be derived from mega trends. Bartels: &quot;Energy efficiency, health, mobility, food, comfort and safety are our topics. This is where we expect to see further growth for our products. They also offer us significant potential for innovation. Only those who offer innovative products will be able to survive in the tough markets. We will drive the fruitful cooperation with our customers forward on a consistent basis.&quot; </p> <p>With more than 3,200 exhibitors and over 218,000 visitors from 120 countries, the K 2013 plastics trade fair (16.-23.10.2013) is the world's biggest event for the plastics industry.</p>]]></content:encoded> <category>Röchling Group</category> <category>Röchling Industrial</category> <category>Röchling Automotive</category> <category>Press Releases</category> <category>Röchling Medical</category> </item> <item> <guid isPermaLink="false">news-180</guid> <pubDate>Wed, 12 Jun 2013 10:15:00 +0200</pubDate> <title>Innovation and Internationalization Driving Röchling&#039;s Growth</title> <link>https://www.roechling.com/news-roechling-group/news-detail-view/news/innovation-and-internationalization-driving-roechlings-growth/</link> <description>Mannheim, Germany, June 12, 2013... In a challenging economic environment, the Röchling Group got off to an encouraging start in the 2013 fiscal year. Sales reached EUR 305.7 million, exactly the same level as in the first quarter of 2012. Incoming orders of EUR 316.0 million were slightly higher. At the end of the first quarter of 2013, the Röchling Group had 7,305 employees. “We are emphatically pursuing internationalization,” said Georg Duffner, CEO of the Röchling Group. “This applies to the USA as well as to China, Brazil, and India. In Japan, we also see good opportunities to strengthen our market position.” </description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<ul><li><span class="circle">Increase in Sales to a Record EUR 1.2 Billion</span></li><li><span class="circle">Largest Investment Program in Röchling’s History</span></li><li><span class="circle">Financial Position Remains Solid</span></li><li><span class="circle">Expansion of Medical Technology through the Acquisition of Advent Tool &amp; Mold, USA</span></li><li><span class="circle">Acquisition of MAYWO Kunststoff in Bad Grönenbach-Thal, Germany</span></li></ul><p>Mannheim, Germany, June 12, 2013... In a challenging economic environment, the Röchling Group got off to an encouraging start in the 2013 fiscal year. Sales reached EUR 305.7 million, exactly the same level as in the first quarter of 2012. Incoming orders of EUR 316.0 million were slightly higher. At the end of the first quarter of 2013, the Röchling Group had 7,305 employees. “We are emphatically pursuing internationalization,” said Georg Duffner, CEO of the Röchling Group. “This applies to the USA as well as to China, Brazil, and India. In Japan, we also see good opportunities to strengthen our market position.” </p> <p>2012 was not an easy fiscal year for the Röchling Group. Economic conditions in the Eurozone deteriorated progressively as the down-turn in economically weaker countries increasingly spread to the core countries. In Germany, the gross domestic product grew by 0.7 percent, less than in the two previous years. Business with other European countries declined. Robust exports to Asia and particularly the USA were not able to compensate for this completely. </p> <p>Nevertheless, the Röchling Group increased sales by 5.2 percent to EUR 1,192.8 million, surpassing the previous record of EUR 1,133.5 million in 2011. Incoming orders rose by 5.9 percent to EUR 1,195.7 million. </p> <p>2012 was again characterized by robust investments in future growth. With an investment volume of EUR 140.8 million, the Röchling Group exceeded the previous record of 2011. “Despite very high investment programs in the last two years, the financial position at Röchling remains very solid,” emphasized Marc Trube, CFO of the Röchling Group. </p> <p>The number of employees at the Röchling Group rose in the 2012 fiscal year – driven primarily by acquisitions – by 9.2 percent from 6,559 to 7,165. </p> <h2>High-Performance Plastics: Incoming Orders Increase by 5.6 Percent</h2> <p>Sales in the High-Performance Plastics division increased in the previous year by 2.7 percent to EUR 593.7 million. Incoming orders rose by 5.6 percent to EUR 601.1 million. The number of employees grew by 14 percent or 388 to 3,159. </p> <p>Investments amounted to EUR 78.4 million. The focus was on acquiring new companies: With the acquisition of the injection molding company Advent Tool &amp; Mold Inc., Rochester, NY (USA), in May 2012, Röchling is consistently pursuing its strategy of further expansion in the area of plastics products for medical technology. Röchling Advent Tool &amp; Mold is a full-service specialist in the manufacturing of injection-molded precision plastic parts for medical technology and electronic components, with particular expertise in mold construction for unconventional product solutions. </p> <p>In September 2012, Röchling acquired the southern German plastics processor MAYWO Kunststoff GmbH in Bad Grönenbach-Thal. Using an extrusion process, MAYWO manufactures plastic sheets and films made from the materials acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymers (ABS) and polystyrene (PS) for the thermoforming industry. </p> <p>Emphasis was also placed on the expansion of production at several sites, particularly with new extruders and presses: At the new plant in Itupeva São Paulo (Brazil), the first sheet extruder was put into operation after an eleven-month preparatory period. In Vadodara (India), Röchling acquired a property and began to construct a new plant there for thermoplastics. </p> <p>In Troisdorf (Germany), a new logistics center ensures even more efficient turnover of goods. It leverages synergies between the Haren and Troisdorf sites and creates room for new production equipment. </p> <p>At the site in Lützen (Germany), a new administrative building with an area of 580 square meters and a storage facility with 1,250 square meters were commissioned. </p> <p>“Plastics are the material of the 21st century,” said Ludger Bartels, COO of the Röchling Group. “In the coming decades, technical plastics with customized material properties will take over new application areas and replace traditional materials in many places.” </p> <p>The ever-growing range of extraordinary application areas and innovations demonstrates the potential of the Röchling Group. For example, Röchling technology is involved in saving Venice. Sliding sheets made from Polystone® M support the history-making “MOSE” project, whose 78 enormous flood gates are intended to protect the endangered world heritage site from destruction by flooding in the future. </p> <p>For the feeder wagons of an Australian feed producer, Röchling developed a special two-layer sheet made from Polystone® P copolymer natural and Polystone® P copolymer grey, which satisfies the requirements for contact with food on the inside and is particularly resistant to intensive solar radiation on the outside. </p> <p>In conveyor and automation technology, two new high-performance materials LubX® C and LubX® S with outstanding dry running properties ensure higher process stability, lower energy consumption for equipment, and almost completely smooth movement of the conveyor belts. </p> <p>Trafoboard® accommodates the wishes of many transformer manufacturers for large-scale components. Since 2012, it has been possible to produce rings made from a single piece of high-voltage insulation material with diameters up to 3,100 millimeters in accordance with the design preferences of customers. </p> <h2>Automotive Plastics: Sales Rise by 7.9 Percent to EUR 600 Million</h2> <p>In the Automotive Plastics division, the Röchling Group recorded a 7.9 percent increase in sales, which reached EUR 599.2 million. Incoming orders rose by 6.2 percent to EUR 594.7 million. The Group recorded a significant increase in investments, which rose by 40.4 percent to EUR 61.9 million. In particular, plants in Worms and Wackersdorf (Germany), Pitesti (Romania), and Suzhou (China) benefited from this development. Another portion of investments flowed into the expansion of the plant in Akron (USA). On June 20, 2012, Röchling Automotive opened a new plant in the Chinese city of Chengdu. The 13,000-square meter site manufactures controlled shutter systems, intake manifolds, and compression-molded parts for underbodies and engine compartments. The number of employees in the Automotive Plastics division rose by 6 percent to 3,974. The expansion of staff was concentrated primarily in the growth markets of North America and Asia. </p> <p>Among the most important events in the 2012 fiscal year was the expansion of the Brazilian plant in Itupeva with three large orders for VW Brazil. For the new production in Akron, Ohio, the Group closed a supply agreement with General Motors for annually equipping 480,000 Chevrolet Equinox, Captiva, and GMC Terrain model vehicles with underbody packages. In addition, there are 1.6 million air flaps for the Chevrolet, Opel, Buick, Holden, and GMC brands. Of that amount, 400,000 are manufactured in Akron and 1.2 million in Suzhou. Röchling Automotive received additional large orders from Nissan for the Qashqai, Altima hybrid, and Murano models as well as for all Renault models based on the same platform. </p> <p>Additional successes are several large Volkswagen orders and the first serial order for the Audi A8 and another order for the Q5. In addition, there are water-cooled degas bottles for the A4, A5, Q7, VW Touareg, and Porsche Cayenne models. In the future, Röchling will produce engine undershields, underbody panels, and rear diffusors for the Ford S-Max and Galaxy models. In its luxury-class models, Volvo uses air flaps and degas bottles from Röchling Automotive. BMW and Mercedes also placed other large orders with Röchling. </p> <p>Participation in the development of the first Fiat Panda running on natural gas and hydrogen confirms the innovative strength of the Röchling Group. New glass and plastic fiber materials suppress noises and provide insulation, especially against heat and cold. </p> <p>The Company received two coveted prizes for outstanding products: Ford bestowed an air flap system with the “New Consumer – Focused Technology” award. The Society of Plastic Engineers awarded prizes for two Röchling products in the powertrain category: first place for a VW intake manifold and second place for an Audi return charge-air tube. </p> <p>At the eCarTec trade fair in Munich, the Group demonstrated its expertise in the development of applications and system solutions for electric and hybrid vehicles. The focus of attention was on acoustics, lightweight construction, thermal management, and cooperation in research projects with Audi and Daimler, among others. </p> <h2>New Products for New Markets</h2> <p>For the current 2013 fiscal year, Duffner sees a good chance that the Eurozone will benefit from an increase in worldwide demand in the second half of the year. “We are proceeding full speed ahead on our internationalization course and boosting our independence from regional market developments,” he stated in explaining the strategy of the Röchling Group. “At the same time, we are promoting growth with new products for new markets.” </p>]]></content:encoded> <category>Röchling Medical</category> <category>Press Releases</category> <category>Röchling Automotive</category> <category>Röchling Industrial</category> <category>Röchling Group</category> </item> <item> <guid isPermaLink="false">news-201</guid> <pubDate>Thu, 24 May 2012 12:10:00 +0200</pubDate> <title>Röchling Pursuing Growth in Newly Industrializing Countries</title> <link>https://www.roechling.com/news-roechling-group/news-detail-view/news/roechling-pursuing-growth-in-newly-industrializing-countries/</link> <description>Mannheim, Germany, May 24, 2012... The Röchling Group got off to a good start in 2012. In the first quarter, it increased sales by 4 percent to EUR 305.7 million. Incoming orders rose to EUR 314.1 million, matching the very good level of EUR 313.8 million in the same quarter of the previous year. “Our growth curve still points upward, though with a bit less momentum,” commented Georg Duffner, President and CEO. “Despite the slowdown caused by the sovereign debt crisis in the eurozone, we remain on a very good course.” </description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<ul><li><span lang="EN-US" class="circle">New Plant in Chengdu, China</span></li><li><span lang="EN-US"></span><span lang="EN-US" class="circle">Expansion of Plant in Suzhou, China</span></li><li><span lang="EN-US"></span><span lang="EN-US" class="circle">New Plant in Vadodara, India</span></li><li><span lang="EN-US"></span><span lang="EN-US" class="circle">New Plant in Itupeva, Brazil </span></li></ul><p><span lang="EN-US">Mannheim, Germany, May 24, 2012... The Röchling Group got off to a good start in 2012. In the first quarter, it increased sales by 4 percent to EUR 305.7 million. Incoming orders rose to EUR 314.1 million, matching the very good level of EUR 313.8 million in the same quarter of the previous year. “Our growth curve still points upward, though with a bit less momentum,” commented Georg Duffner, President and CEO. “Despite the slowdown caused by the sovereign debt crisis in the eurozone, we remain on a very good course.” </span> </p> <p><span lang="EN-US">In the 2011 fiscal year, the economic environment was no longer quite as favorable for the Röchling Group as in the previous year. Given the sustained debt crisis in the eurozone, the economic picture deteriorated progressively from the mid-year point on. In the USA, by contrast, the economic outlook began to brighten again due to the increasing stabilization of the domestic labor market. In Germany, the economy again benefited from robust growth. The gross domestic product grew by 3.0 percent net of inflation. However, economic growth slowed – following dynamic growth in the first nine months – by 0.2 percent by the end of the year. </span> </p> <p><span lang="EN-US">The Röchling Group proceeded full steam ahead with its course for growth. In 2011, it increased Group sales by 13 percent to EUR 1,133.5 million. “This is the highest level seen since we focused on the plastics business in 2006,” Mr. Duffner reported. Incoming orders rose by 8.1 percent to EUR 1,129.3 million. “In view of the good outlook, in 2011 the Group launched the largest investment program in its history – valued at almost EUR 100 million. Nevertheless, our financial position remains very solid,” emphasized Marc Trube, CFO of the Röchling Group. The number of employees at the Röchling Group increased during the 2011 fiscal year by 10.6 percent from 5,931 to 6,559.</span> </p> <p><b><span lang="EN-US">Record Growth of 15 Percent at High-Performance Plastics </span></b> </p> <p><span lang="EN-US">The High-Performance Plastics division increased its sales by 15 percent to a record EUR 608.9 million. Investments in tangible assets rose by 172 percent to EUR 53.4 million. The focus was on expanding production locations in Haren/Ems, Lahnstein, and Brensbach, Germany. </span> </p> <p><span lang="EN-US">The Company also expanded production in Singapore in order to broaden its activities in the overall Southeast Asian region. With the aim of further expanding the Company’s position in the future markets of Brazil and India, property in Itupeva (Brazil) and Vadodara (India) was also purchased. New plants will be constructed there this year.</span> </p> <p><span lang="EN-US">As a result of the good business development in the High-Performance Plastics division, the number of employees rose by 10 percent to 3,045 (previous year: 2,763).</span> </p> <p><span lang="EN-US">Several excellent application areas illustrate the diverse potential uses of high-performance plastics. For example, following a successful certification in 2011, Röchling now equips rolling stock with bonded external and internal claddings. For champagne production, Röchling provides large-scale components made from Polystone® for grape presses in the French Champagne region. These components make it possible to exert greater pressure. </span> </p> <p><span lang="EN-US">Environmental technology is another major application area for Röchling Group’s cutting-edge products. Röchling supplied machined finished parts made from Trovidur® EN for the first plant to convert marine algae into fuel. The new technology helps reduce CO<sub>2</sub> emissions. </span> </p> <p><span lang="EN-US">Using the high-performance plastic Robalon® reduces fuel consumption in the agricultural industry. This material requires 13 percent less pulling force than steel, thus reducing fuel consumption by up to 14 percent. </span> </p> <p><span lang="EN-US">Röchling also has good expectations for its gas pipeline insulation business. The new fiber-reinforced compound material Durolight PIP protects the sensitive insulation of pipes, through which liquid natural gas (LNG)&nbsp;flows at minus 168 degrees Celsius. After application, the material becomes rigid and resistant within&nbsp;short time. The two new, PE-based high-performance materials LubX® C and LubX® S promote energy conservation and environmental protection. Starting in 2012, they will reduce energy consumption in conveyor and automation technology significantly in comparison to traditional sliding materials, while simultaneously boosting process stability.</span> </p> <p><span lang="EN-US">“However, we are concerned about the enormous increase in raw material prices,” commented Ludger Bartels, CEO of the High-Performance Plastics division.</span> </p> <p><b><span lang="EN-US">Automotive Plastics Grow by 11 Percent</span></b> </p> <p><span lang="EN-US">In the Automotive Plastics division, the Röchling Group increased its sales by 11 percent to EUR 525.4 million. Of all sales regions, Asia recorded the strongest growth with 45.7 percent higher sales. The stable development of volumes in China and numerous new projects with Chinese and Japanese manufacturers were decisive factors. Sales development in North America was also encouraging. The automotive boom and the production launch of various new orders were growth drivers.</span> </p> <p><span lang="EN-US">The Röchling Group also sent a clear signal for additional growth in the Automotive Plastics division, increasing its investments by 142 percent to EUR 40 million. Of that amount, 76.5 percent was dedicated to expanding production capacity. For example, the capacity expansion involved the construction of a new hall at the Worms site and the commissioning of new equipment for the production of lightweight underbody panels.</span> </p> <p><span lang="EN-US">New plants in Chengdu (China), Akron (OH, USA), and Pitesti (Romania) were added to the worldwide production network. </span> </p> <p><span lang="EN-US">In Chengdu, the third Chinese plant, Röchling produces controllable air duct systems</span> on 13,000 square meters of space. Starting at the end of this year, the site in Akron, Ohio, will supply air flaps and underbody panels to Ford and General Motors. The new plant in Pitesti, Romania, is driving forward the expansion of our automotive business in Eastern Europe. </p> <p><span lang="EN-US">On December 31, 2011, the Automotive Plastics division had a total of 3,477 employees (previous year: 3,136). Staffing numbers increased primarily in the Europe-North, Asia, and America-North regions.</span> </p> <p><b><span lang="EN-US">Large Order from Ford</span></b> </p> <p><span lang="EN-US">A large order from Ford was a key event in the 2011 fiscal year. It has an annual volume of EUR 32 million. The Röchling Group equips the Mustang, F-150, and Transit models with air induction systems. Production of the systems for the Transit will commence in March 2013, with the Mustang’s systems following in April and the F-150 components in July 2014. Since Ford is drastically reducing the number of its suppliers, this new contract is of great strategic importance. </span> </p> <p><span lang="EN-US">The Röchling Group received another large order of EUR 19 million annually from Volkswagen. Starting this year, it will equip 40 small, compact, and medium-sized models with muffler filters. These models include the Golf VII, the Passat, and the new Audi A3. The first filters will be manufactured in June 2012 at the site in Peine (Germany). The Röchling Group achieved an additional success in the premium segment. Since last year, it has been equipping the entire German premium car segment with underbody panels. Joining Audi and BMW, Mercedes also decided to fit its S-class with these leading-edge products. </span> </p> <p><span lang="EN-US">The first large order for electric cars marks the increasing importance of this segment. Starting next year, Opel’s electric model, Junior, will be rolling across the pavement fitted with LWRT underbodies from Worms. At the Hannover Messe and at eCarTec, the leading international trade show for electric mobility, the Röchling Group also presented an under</span><span lang="EN-US">body panel for electric cars featuring an integrated charging coil. In addition, Röchling introduced interior floors made from Stratura for the StreetScooter electric vehicle. Besides the construction of e-cars, Röchling also supports other environmentally friendly mobility technologies. For example, the Group participated this year in a research project to develop a Fiat Panda powered by natural gas and hydrogen.</span> </p> <p>E<b><span lang="EN-US">xpanding International Scope Continues to Have Top Priority </span></b> </p> <p><span lang="EN-US">Throughout the current 2012 fiscal year, the Röchling Group will continue to pursue expansion of its international scope. “Our paramount goal is to become less dependent on the performance of regional markets,” Georg Duffner reported. “We are therefore expanding our position in growth countries like Brazil, India, and China, as well as in the USA.” </span> </p> <p><span lang="EN-US">Röchling will also strengthen its commitment to growth sectors such as medical technology. “This market is heavily innovation-driven and is thus an excellent fit for Röchling,” Ludger Bartels observed.</span> </p> <p><span lang="EN-US">However, it is too early to make a forecast for business development in 2012, according to Duffner. Certainly worldwide economic momentum has regained strength, but rising raw material prices and energy costs are curbing optimism. </span></p>]]></content:encoded> <category>Press Releases</category> <category>Röchling Group</category> <category>Röchling Industrial</category> <category>Röchling Automotive</category> <category>Röchling Medical</category> </item> <item> <guid isPermaLink="false">news-205</guid> <pubDate>Thu, 09 Jun 2011 14:33:00 +0200</pubDate> <title>Röchling Group Expanding Worldwide</title> <link>https://www.roechling.com/news-roechling-group/news-detail-view/news/roechling-group-expanding-worldwide/</link> <description>Mannheim, Germany, June 9, 2011... The Röchling Group got off to an outstanding start in 2011. It increased sales in the first quarter by 22.8% to a total of EUR 293.9 million (previous year: EUR 239.4 million). The sustained good outlook for the future was driven by 22.2% growth in incoming orders to EUR 313.8 million (EUR 256.7 million in Q1 2010). In the Automotive Plastics division, sales improved from the previous year’s quarter by 14.6%, and in the High-Performance Plastics division they rose by as much as 30.9%. </description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<ul><li><span lang="EN-US" class="circle">Sales and Incoming Orders Again over EUR 1 Billion</span></li><li><span lang="EN-US" class="circle">Good Financial Position for Additional Investments</span></li><li><span lang="EN-US" class="circle">Fifth Plant in China and Seventh Plant in the USA</span></li><li><span lang="EN-US" class="circle">Outstanding Start to 2011</span></li></ul><p>Mannheim, Germany, June 9, 2011... The Röchling Group got off to an outstanding start in 2011. It increased sales in the first quarter by 22.8% to a total of EUR 293.9 million (previous year: EUR 239.4 million). The sustained good outlook for the future was driven by 22.2% growth in incoming orders to EUR 313.8 million (EUR 256.7 million in Q1 2010). In the Automotive Plastics division, sales improved from the previous year’s quarter by 14.6%, and in the High-Performance Plastics division they rose by as much as 30.9%. </p> <p>“We are in the midst of a growth spurt,” said Georg Duffner, CEO, explaining the good start to 2011. “The Röchling Group is benefiting from strong demand, particularly in China and other newly industrializing countries. In order to continue to benefit from opportunities, the topic of international expansion has highest priority.” For example, this year the Group commissioned its fifth plant in China, located in Chengdu, the capital of the southwestern Chinese province of Sichuan, and its seventh manufacturing facility in the USA (Akron, Ohio). The Röchling Group is currently building an additional manufacturing facility in Pitesti, Romania. Duffner: “Whereas the Röchling Group still generated 67% of its sales in Germany ten years ago, we expect to derive two-thirds of our sales from other countries in 2014.” </p> <p><b><span lang="EN-US">2010: Sales Grew to EUR 1 Billion</span></b> </p> <p>Following the year of recession, 2010 represented dynamic growth for the Röchling Group. Good demand prevailed not only in the automotive market but also in the capital goods industry, particularly the chemical industry and medical technology. Sales rose by 20.6% to EUR 1,002.8 million. Incoming orders, which increased by 26.8% to EUR 1,044.4 million, performed even better. </p> <p>The growth engine was the unexpectedly rapid recovery of the global economy, driven by a surge in China and other growth markets. As a result of the upturn, the Röchling Group increased investments in tangible assets by 34.2% to EUR 35.9 million. Among the most important projects in 2010 was the first assembly line for the flexible production of six different intake manifold models in the Röchling Automotive plant in Changchun, China, with an annual output of 737,000 units. </p> <p>Due to encouraging business development, the Company’s financial position continued to improve. “Given the continued increase in our financial strength, we are well equipped to remain on track for global expansion,” stated Marc Trube, CFO of the Röchling Group. <span lang="EN-US">The 8.8% increase in the number of employees to 5,971 as of December 31, 2010 underscored the Company’s confidence in the future. </span>At the end of March 2011, Röchling had as many as 6,376 employees. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><b><span lang="EN-US">High-Performance Plastics Grew by 25 Percent</span></b> </p> <p>The High-Performance Plastics division recorded a sales increase of 25.9% to EUR 529.6 million. All important sales markets experienced good demand. “In particular, the area of renewable energies has developed into an important business field for us,” stated Röchling COO Ludger Bartels, who is responsible for this topic. </p> <p>However, since the summer of 2010 significant price increases for raw materials have had a dampening effect on the business. A surge in worldwide demand has led to scarce supply. </p> <p>In the wake of the economic rebound, the High-Performance Plastics division nearly doubled its investments. They climbed by 84.1% to EUR 19.7 million. Focal points were the expansion of production at sites in Haren/Ems and Lahnstein, Germany, as well as extensions to production facilities in Singapore and China. An additional element was the expansion of manufacturing of injection-molded plastic parts for medical technology through cleanroom production in Brensbach, Germany. All Company groups increased their staffing in response to the rising workload. As a result, the number of employees rose by 8.3% to 2,763 (previous year: 2,549). </p> <p>Among the extraordinary projects in the 2010 fiscal year was the delivery of six-meter-long slide rails for the lock gates of Europe’s largest canal lock project, the “Kaiserschleuse” in Bremerhaven, Germany. The guides of the 55-meter wide gates require a combination of extreme wear resistance and outstanding glide characteristics. The plastic Polystone® M-slide, a specially modified polyethylene from Röchling Engineering Plastics, sets the standard in this ambitious application area. Extraordinary material properties are also needed at Cape Town, South Africa’s new landmark, Greenpoint Stadium, which overlooks the Atlantic Ocean. <span lang="EN-US">So that the 11,000 glass panels do not slip loose from the roof even in high winds and still have 40 mm of leeway, the glass panel holders are made from SUSTARIN C (POM) from Röchling&nbsp;</span>Sustaplast. </p> <p><span lang="EN-US">One of last year’s most significant innovations was the reintroduction of the insulation material Trafoboard®, a high-quality, laminated pressboard for high-voltage transformers with a polyester-based glue. It satisfies the most rigorous requirements in terms of electrical properties. </span>An American producer of truck trailers for bulk materials is the first manufacturer to use the plastic as a construction material and almost dispense with aluminum. The new dump tray made from Polystone® M not only weighs less, but it also has triple the service life of the previous aluminum design. </p> <p>At the K 2010 international plastics trade fair in Düsseldorf, the Röchling Group once again presented its entire product range under the motto “Ideas become reality.” The extraordinary exhibition stand designed after the drawings of Leonardo da Vinci challenged the customers to engage in an intensive discussion about implementing innovative ideas with plastics. </p> <p><b><span lang="EN-US">Automotive Plastics Division Benefits from a Rapid Market Recovery</span></b> </p> <p>The international automotive supplier industry recovered from the severe economic decline in 2009 with astounding speed. Thus the industry’s global sales in 2010 nearly matched the pre-crisis level. As a result of the good market development, the Automotive Plastics division increased sales by 15.8% to EUR 473.7 million. The growth<span lang="EN-US"> rates were particularly high in China </span>and the USA. </p> <p>The investments of the Automotive Plastics division, which totaled EUR 16.1 million, remained nearly at the same level as in the previous year (EUR 15.9 million). The emphasis here was particularly on expanding capacity. A new production hall was constructed in Worms, Germany, for example, for the manufacture of lightweight parts. As the business in China is operating at full speed, the Chinese subsidiary in Suzhou expanded its capacity and moved into a new production hall. </p> <p><span lang="EN-US">The workforce grew by 275 new employees, 9.6% more strongly than in the High-Performance Plastics division. On December 31, 2010, Röchling </span> </p> <p><span lang="EN-US">Automotive group had a total of 3,136 employees. This corresponded to an increase of 9.6%. The personnel rise occurred primarily in Europe and Asia.</span> </p> <p><span lang="EN-US">In order to further strengthen its position as an innovation leader, Röchling established the new specialist division New Business Green Car. In view of the increasing variety of new vehicle and drive concepts, the division is designed to promote the development of corresponding plastics products. </span> </p> <p><span lang="EN-US">An order for the Audi A8 confirms the technological leadership of the Röchling Group in plastic underbodies with outstanding acoustic properties. As previously with the BMW 7 Series and the Porsche Panamera, the components are made from Seeberlite II. Röchling Automotive has again proven itself as a successful newcomer to the commercial vehicle market with an additional order for Mercedes-Benz. Beginning in September 2011, the Actros and Axor truck series will be equipped with body undershields that reduce carbon dioxide</span><span lang="EN-US"> emissions. Röchling achieved another sales success in the market for commercial vans, which is also largely new territory for Röchling. The Company now supplies air flaps with emissions-reducing controls for the Ford Transit Connect.</span> </p> <p><span lang="EN-US">Ford’s Quality Excellence Award confirms the high quality standards of Röchling’s manufacturing: The division achieved an error rate of zero parts per million over a period of 20 months.</span> </p> <p><span lang="EN-US">In addition, the innovation prize of the Society of Plastics Engineers in the USA went to Röchling Automotive and Ford. The award was given for the windshield cowl of the new C-Max.</span> </p> <p><span lang="EN-US">In addition, Röchling Automotive strengthened its presence in all important automotive markets. Thus the division has supplied engine undershields to General Motors for the Insignia and Astra models as well as body undershields for the Epsilon II “Insignia” platform and the Chevrolet Cruze since last year. In addition, it has supplied air flaps for the Chevrolet Cruze Eco and the Ford Focus since the end of last year. Volkswagen ordered charge-air tubes and intake manifolds for the new 1.0 and 1.4 liter engines, among other items. Furthermore, the GAIC automotive manufacturer became Röchling Automotive’s eighth Chinese customer by ordering intake manifolds.</span> </p> <p><span lang="EN-US">Despite the good trend, the outlook for the future is not untroubled, as the industry sees itself exposed to new risks. Although China’s enormous automotive market is rapidly gaining in importance, many suppliers complain of financial tension caused by the high costs of expansion necessary to augment their presence in this market. In addition, the industry is suffering from rapid price increases for raw materials. Although the Chinese government has maintained its economic stimulus program since the beginning of 2010, at the end of the year it announced restrictions on the registration of new private cars beginning in 2011.</span> </p> <p><span lang="EN-US">The remaining regions of the Automotive Plastics division similarly recorded sharp increases in incoming orders and sales. </span><span lang="EN-US">Here also, the sector is worried about the increasing scarcity of raw materials as a result of rising demand.</span> </p> <p><b><span lang="EN-US">Company’s Largest Investment Program Launched</span></b> </p> <p><span lang="EN-US">Notwithstanding these risks, Röchling still sees itself well positioned and views the future with optimism. In view of the very promising outlook for growth, the Executive Board launched the largest investment program in the Company’s history. In total, more than EUR 80 million are to be invested in the expansion of existing plants as well as new plant construction. In the first quarter of 2011, therefore, the Group increased expenditure on fixed assets by more than 100% from EUR 6.7 million to EUR 13.8 million.</span> </p> <p><span lang="EN-US">The Executive Board expects the upward trend to continue in the second quarter of this year. Duffer: “However, it is too early to make a forecast for the entire year of 2011. The economy’s development after the summer break will be decisive for business performance. Thus we must await the impact of various risks on the year, particularly the further development of prices for raw materials and energy, the consequences of the natural and nuclear disaster in Japan, lingering problems surrounding the highly-indebted eurozone</span><span lang="EN-US"> countries, as well as the situation in North Africa.”</span></p>]]></content:encoded> <category>Röchling Group</category> <category>Röchling Industrial</category> <category>Röchling Automotive</category> <category>Press Releases</category> <category>Röchling Medical</category> </item> <item> <guid isPermaLink="false">news-211</guid> <pubDate>Mon, 17 Jan 2011 14:52:00 +0100</pubDate> <title>Change in Leadership of Röchling Group Advisory Board</title> <link>https://www.roechling.com/news-roechling-group/news-detail-view/news/change-in-leadership-of-roechling-group-advisory-board/</link> <description>Mannheim, Germany, January 17, 2011 ....The Röchling Group’s most senior supervisory body now has a new Chairman: Johannes Freiherr von Salmuth (44) has assumed the position from the previous Chairman, Klaus Greinert. Mr. Greinert has retired from the position in accordance with the Articles of Association upon reaching his 70th birthday. </description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Mannheim, Germany, January 17, 2011 ....The Röchling Group’s most senior supervisory body now has a new Chairman: Johannes Freiherr von Salmuth (44) has assumed the position from the previous Chairman, Klaus Greinert. Mr. Greinert has retired from the position in accordance with the Articles of Association upon reaching his 70th birthday.</p> <p>Mr. Greinert has held many positions during his more than 30 years with the Röchling Group, including those of Managing Director, Chief Representative, and acting as a member of various boards. He had been Chairman of the Advisory Board since 2000. Within the Röchling Group, the Advisory Board is responsible for all decision making with respect to human resources and corporate strategy.</p> <p>This change in leadership of the Advisory Board completes the handover to the next generation at Röchling, a process commenced as early as two years previously. At that time, Freiherr von Salmuth, who has been a member of Röchling’s supervisory bodies since 2000, had already been appointed Chairman of the Shareholder Board, the main executive council of the Röchling family shareholders. Johannes Freiherr von Salmuth and the new Vice Chairman of the Advisory Board, Dr. Peter Thürmel (46), are both descendents of the Company’s founder, Friedrich Röchling, meaning that the sixth generation of the Röchling family has now taken over leadership of the Röchling Group. The Röchling family has accompanied the Company, which today has total sales of one billion euros and approximately 6,000 employees, closely and continuously throughout its 188-year history.</p> <p>In addition to his activities on behalf of the Röchling Group, Freiherr von Salmuth, who has a graduate degree in macroeconomics (Dipl. Volkswirt), has also been a member of the Executive Board at Aluminiumwerke-Wutöschingen AG &amp; Co. since 2002, a company located in southern Baden-Württemberg that specializes in aluminum processing. It has annual sales of around EUR 180 million.</p>]]></content:encoded> <category>Röchling Group</category> <category>Röchling Industrial</category> <category>Röchling Automotive</category> <category>Press Releases</category> <category>Röchling Medical</category> </item> <item> <guid isPermaLink="false">news-213</guid> <pubDate>Wed, 03 Nov 2010 15:06:00 +0100</pubDate> <title>Röchling exhibiting at K2010</title> <link>https://www.roechling.com/news-roechling-group/news-detail-view/news/roechling-exhibiting-at-k2010/</link> <description>The Röchling Group presented itself at K 2010 – The International Trade Fair for Plastics and Rubber (27.10.-03.11.2010), in Duesseldorf, which drew to a close last week - with an impressive fair stand.</description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><b>Positive development continuing</b> </p> <p>The Röchling Group presented itself at K 2010 – The International Trade Fair for Plastics and Rubber (27.10.-03.11.2010), in Duesseldorf, which drew to a close last week - with an impressive fair stand.<br /><br />Ludger Bartels, Managing Director of Gebr. Röchling KG, Mannheim, was particularly pleased about customer feedback and the way business is developing for this globally active corporate group: “After the crisis year 2009, the market in 2010 again started to accelerate substantially. The Röchling Group has survived the crisis well and since the beginning of the year has been able to post powerful growth. In order to meet the great demand from all over the world, we will continue to expand our production capacity in Germany and at the international locations.”<br /><br />Bartels explained that the group’s strategy is the orientation of all activities in clearly defined target branches: “Innovations can only emerge in close co-operation with the customers”. For this reason, the trade fair presentation was under the motto “Ideas become reality”. </p> <h2>Design by Leonardo da Vinci</h2> <p>Röchling again surprised the fair visitors with an outstanding stand concept. The walls of the over 250 square metre fair stand looked as if the visionary painter and inventor Leonardo da Vinci had designed it personally. The drawings made in his style presented innovative ideas from 14 select branches in which Röchling plastic products are deployed - from renewable energy, medical technology, vehicle construction and traffic engineering, power engineering right up to chemical apparatus and tank building – just to name a few. Fittingly for each branch, examples of real products made of thermoplastics and composites were available at the fair stand for visitors to touch and grasp. </p> <h2>Invitation to discuss innovative ideas</h2> <p>&quot;The motto of the trade fair presentation “Ideas become reality” is an invitation to our customers to discuss their individual problem solutions and innovative ideas with our experts. Together we want to develop new approaches to solutions for implementation in reality,” says Bartels explaining the concept. “We are extremely satisfied with the numerous talks our sales staff, our marketing specialists and product developers from all over the world had with visitors to our stand. They encourage us in the belief that our sales markets are continuing to develop positively.”<br /><br />With 3,102 exhibitors from 56 countries and more than 220,000 visitors, K - The International Trade Fair for Plastics and Rubber – is the biggest event for the plastics industry in the world.</p>]]></content:encoded> <category>Röchling Group</category> <category>Röchling Industrial</category> <category>Röchling Automotive</category> <category>Press Releases</category> <category>Röchling Medical</category> </item> <item> <guid isPermaLink="false">news-217</guid> <pubDate>Thu, 20 May 2010 15:33:00 +0200</pubDate> <title>Röchling Back on Course for Growth</title> <link>https://www.roechling.com/news-roechling-group/news-detail-view/news/roechling-back-on-course-for-growth/</link> <description>Mannheim, Germany, May 20, 2010…The Röchling Group (Mannheim), a worldwide industry leader in engineering plastics, has enjoyed a good start to the year 2010. Sales increased by 22 percent compared to the first quarter of 2009, to EUR 239.4 million. Incoming orders were even more impressive. They increased by 39.6 percent to EUR 256.7 million. Orders received therefore topped sales once again – unlike the temporary situation in 2009. &quot;Röchling is once again on a course of growth&quot;, reports Georg Duffner, CEO. He is anticipating potential for growth in the High-Performance Plastics division in particular, where medical technology among other things plays an increasingly important role. Mr. Duffner also sees the Company in an optimal position from a financial perspective. &quot;The financial situation continued to improve in 2009. We have not only been debt-free since the year 2005 following our far-reaching restructuring, but we also enjoy continuously increasing liquidity for investments. The equity ratio is stable at 34 percent.&quot; </description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<ul><li><span class="circle">Gratifying Start to the Year 2010</span></li><li><span class="circle">Crisis Year 2009 Overcome</span></li><li><span class="circle">Good Financial Position Further Improved</span></li><li><span class="circle">Innovative Strength Secures Market Position</span></li></ul><p><span lang="EN-US">Mannheim, Germany, May 20, 2010…The Röchling Group (Mannheim), a worldwide industry leader in engineering plastics, has enjoyed a good start to the year 2010. Sales increased by 22 percent compared to the first quarter of 2009, to EUR 239.4 million. Incoming orders were even more impressive. They increased by 39.6 percent to EUR 256.7 million. Orders received therefore topped sales once again – unlike the temporary situation in 2009. &quot;Röchling is once again on a course of growth&quot;, reports Georg Duffner, CEO. He is anticipating potential for growth in the High-Performance Plastics division in particular, where medical technology among other things plays an increasingly important role. Mr. Duffner also sees the Company in an optimal position from a financial perspective. &quot;The financial situation continued to improve in 2009. We have not only been debt-free since the year 2005 following our far-reaching restructuring, but we also enjoy continuously increasing liquidity for investments. The equity ratio is stable at 34 percent.&quot;</span> </p> <p><b><span lang="EN-US">Röchling Maintains Ground Well in Crisis Year 2009</span></b> </p> <p><span lang="EN-US">The Röchling Group rode out the 2009 fiscal year, which featured the worst economic crisis in 60 years, unscathed. Continuation of the strict cost-cutting measures introduced back in 2008 was a very decisive factor. The Röchling Group profited from both its financial stability and its technological leadership position in many areas of plastics manufacturing last year, whereas many of its competitors in plastics processing were forced to abandon operations.</span> </p> <p><span lang="EN-US">The sharp recession of last year is reflected in the development of total sales and incoming orders. As expected, sales lost ground, decreasing 22.1 percent to EUR 831.3 million (EUR 1,067.6 million in 2008). Incoming orders decreased by 22.2 percent from EUR 1,057.9 million to EUR 823.5 million following the sharp drop in demand in early 2009. In light of the weak economy, the Röchling Group cut back on its expenditures. It slashed investment in tangible assets by half, from EUR 52.8 million to EUR 26.7 million. One of the most important investment projects of 2009 was a ring processing machine for the Haren/Ems site as well as a new mega-sheet press in Gastonia (USA).</span> It produces Polystone® sheets from thermoplastics sized 6,000 x 2,500 mm, which are used primarily for linings in bulk goods technology. </p> <p><span lang="EN-US">Due to the recession, the number of employees decreased 12.0 percent to a staff of 5,450 (from 6,194 in 2008). </span> </p> <p><span lang="EN-US">The High-Performance Plastics and Automotive Plastics divisions were affected equally by the reduction in personnel. To adapt personnel costs to the sales trend, the Röchling Group reduced the number of temporary employees, introduced reduced working hours across the board from time to time and let some employees go.</span> </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><b><span lang="EN-US">High-Performance Plastics: High Productivity Creates Access to New Markets</span></b> </p> <p><span lang="EN-US">The High-Performance Plastics division suffered mainly due to the fact that major industries such as mechanical engineering, industrial manufacturing equipment and chemistry were especially hard hit by the worldwide economic crisis. The plastics processing industry in Germany was therefore negatively and disproportionately affected by the crisis as well. One decisive factor was the sharp decline in demand accompanied by a price reduction, and disappointing international business. In the </span><span lang="EN-US">High-Performance Plastics division overall consolidated sales declined </span>by 25.1 percent to EUR 381.5 million due to this trend (EUR 509.6 million in 2008). The rigorous cost-cutting program is illustrated by a decline in investments from EUR 21.1 million to EUR 8.9 million in the year 2009. The number of employees was reduced by 272 or 11.1 percent, bringing it to a total of 2,170 as of the reporting date of December 31, 2009. </p> <p><span lang="EN-US">An order for the new Ariane-5 rocket of the European Space Agency (ESA) last year, among other things, illustrated the high level of efficiency of our High-Performance Plastics. Precision parts made of Durostone® protect the cabling of sensitive measuring transducers from extreme temperatures.</span> </p> <p><span lang="EN-US">Insulating components made of Lignostone® and Durostone® also hold out against greater than average demands in the new 330-kilometer per hour</span> Velaro-high-speed trains between Moscow and St. Petersburg. </p> <p><span lang="EN-US">Another seal of approval for Röchling is the &quot;Product of the Year&quot; award for the digitally printable &quot;PE2PRINT&quot;. Polyethylene could not be digitally imprinted up until now. The engineers at Röchling were able to rectify the surface so that the material now exhibits outstanding quality and color brilliance when printing. The award was presented by the Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA) at the SGIA Specialty Printing and Imaging Expo 2009 in New Orleans.</span> </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><b><span lang="EN-US">Automotive Plastics: Röchling Focuses on Reducing CO<sub>2</sub> and Noise</span></b> </p> <p><span lang="EN-US">The economic crisis hit the automotive suppliers even harder than the plastics industry. The largest economic downswing in the history of the industry led to sales declines averaging 25 percent worldwide. Since the outbreak of the economic crisis, 340 suppliers worldwide had to file for bankruptcy, 75 of which were in Germany. Added to this is the fact that the industry is currently plagued by extensive turmoil. The market is demanding completely new, energy-saving technologies while suffering at the same time from steep competition and high cost pressure. Moreover, lingering liquidity problems on the part of many suppliers harbor high risks for the industry.</span> </p> <p><span lang="EN-US">The Automotive Plastics division was unable to escape from the downward trend of the automotive industry. Due to the sharp decline in demand on the part of automobile companies, this division had to put up with a 19.3 percent decline in sales to EUR 446.4 million (EUR 553.0 million in 2008). Only the Asian business with subsidiaries in Changchun and Suzhou (China) were able to successfully brace themselves against this overall trend. The economic stimulus programs of the Chinese government had a particularly favorable effect on the automotive industry there. Investments in the Automotive Plastics division were practically cut in half. They dropped from EUR 31.2 million to EUR 17.7 million. The number of employees decreased by 12.7 percent. As of the reference date on December 31, the division employed a staff of 3,240.</span> </p> <p><span lang="EN-US">Due to its innovative strength, Röchling Automotive acquired several major new customers even during the difficult times of 2009. </span> </p> <p><span lang="EN-US">The division supplied Toyota with cooling-water pipes for more than 100,000 engines produced using </span><span lang="EN-US">bullet shot injection molding technology<i>.</i> </span> </p> <p><span lang="EN-US">For its &quot;Chevrolet Cruz&quot;, GM Chevrolet ordered </span><span lang="EN-US">controllable air ducts to reduce CO<sub>2</sub> emissions.</span> </p> <p><span lang="EN-US">The Chinese engine builder Dongfeng will also rely on Röchling technology in the future. It has ordered intake manifolds for its first car model, which will be used in three gasoline engines. </span> </p> <p><span lang="EN-US">In developing its innovations, Röchling focuses on reducing CO<sub>2</sub>emissions, noise and costs.</span> </p> <p><span lang="EN-US">The Society of Plastics Engineers honored Röchling with the &quot;Plastics Oscar&quot;. Together with </span>materials manufacturer Ticona, Röchling Automotive received the Grand Award for the development of the first injection-joined VW charge-air tube made of PPS plastic. As the first series model, it guarantees temperature resistance up to 230 degrees Celsius and can withstand a pressure of up to 2.7 bar. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><b><span lang="EN-US">Outlook: Confidence for the Year 2010</span></b> </p> <p><span lang="EN-US">The Röchling Executive Board is optimistic about further development in the year 2010, and is anticipating a significant increase in sales. Considerable risks are also envisioned, however. According to Mr. Duffner: &quot;There are many unknowns in the current economic situation. Our business performance depends primarily on whether the economic recovery process will last, and how raw material prices will evolve.&quot;</span></p>]]></content:encoded> <category>Röchling Medical</category> <category>Press Releases</category> <category>Röchling Automotive</category> <category>Röchling Industrial</category> <category>Röchling Group</category> </item> <item> <guid isPermaLink="false">news-225</guid> <pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2009 07:46:00 +0200</pubDate> <title>Röchling Stable in the Crisis</title> <link>https://www.roechling.com/news-roechling-group/news-detail-view/news/roechling-stable-in-the-crisis/</link> <description>Mannheim, Germany, June 10, 2009... The Röchling Group (Mannheim, Germany), one of the world&#039;s leading processors of engineering plastics for industry, can look back on a successful fiscal year despite a disappointing fourth quarter caused by the recession. &quot;Irrespective of the severe downturn in demand towards the end of the year, 2008 was a good year for us,&quot; mentioned Georg Duffner, President and CEO of the Röchling Group, in explaining the key balance sheet figures. &quot;We again reaped the benefits of our focus on the plastics segment and achieved one of our best results. At the same time, we improved our financial and assets position further.&quot; The Röchling Group generated sales which almost reached the previous year&#039;s level (EUR 1,067.6 million compared with EUR 1,090.6 million in 2007). The highly positive course of business for Röchling in the first nine months almost compensated for the sharp drop in sales at the end of the year. Georg Duffner: &quot;Only the global economic crisis that emerged in the fourth quarter prevented another record year.&quot; </description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<ul><li><span class="circle">Successful Year in 2008</span></li><li><span class="circle">2009 Forecast: Lower Sales and Earnings</span></li><li><span class="circle">Costs and Capacities Being Adjusted</span></li><li><span class="circle">Solid Financial Position</span></li></ul><p>Mannheim, Germany, June 10, 2009... The Röchling Group (Mannheim, Germany), one of the world's leading processors of engineering plastics for industry, can look back on a successful fiscal year despite a disappointing fourth quarter caused by the recession. &quot;Irrespective of the severe downturn in demand towards the end of the year, 2008 was a good year for us,&quot; mentioned Georg Duffner, President and CEO of the Röchling Group, in explaining the key balance sheet figures. &quot;We again reaped the benefits of our focus on the plastics segment and achieved one of our best results. At the same time, we improved our financial and assets position further.&quot; The Röchling Group generated sales which almost reached the previous year's level (EUR 1,067.6 million compared with EUR 1,090.6 million in 2007). The highly positive course of business for Röchling in the first nine months almost compensated for the sharp drop in sales at the end of the year. Georg Duffner: &quot;Only the global economic crisis that emerged in the fourth quarter prevented another record year.&quot; </p> <p>Mr. Duffner described the current fiscal year of 2009 as one of the most difficult stages in the Röchling Group's development. In contrast to many of its competitors, however, Röchling was ideally positioned to withstand the crisis in a stable fashion. &quot;Owing nothing to banks and with a widely diversified portfolio of high-quality, innovative products, as well as state-of-the-art production processes, we are well equipped to overcome all of the challenges that face us.&quot; Extensive cost-cutting programs have been implemented in every department since October 2008. </p> <p>Having incurred high investment expenses in 2007– especially in the High-Performance Plastics division – the Company reduced its investments by 22.4 percent from EUR 68 million to EUR 52.8 million last year. The Röchling Group restricted itself to investments in replacements and rationalization in almost every area. Its biggest individual investments included the putting into operation of new production facilities for thermoplastic materials at the Gastonia plant (North Carolina, USA). In this way, the Company continued with its expansion in North America. In the Automotive Plastics division, the significant financial commitments included mold investments in connection with a large-scale order for the manufacture of interior parts for the new VW Golf VI. </p> <p>The number of employees in the Röchling Group increased by an insignificant 0.6 percent to 6,194 as of December 31, 2008. The High-Performance Plastics division hired 46 new employees. In the Röchling Automotive division, the trend in employee numbers&nbsp;differed from region to region. In northern Germany, Röchling Automotive needed additional employees for the start of series production of plastic parts for the VW Golf VI; at other sites, however, personnel numbers were reduced. </p> <p><b>High-Performance Plastics: Subdued Growth</b> </p> <p>The High-Performance Plastics division continued along its path of growth, albeit in slightly more subdued form as a result of the recession. It increased its sales by 3.9 percent from EUR 490.7 million to EUR 509.6 million. The disproportionately low – compared with the growth in sales – increase of 3.0 percent in employee numbers to 2,442 is a clear indication of the adjustment in staff initiated in response to the decline in demand in the fourth-quarter. </p> <p>The most important product innovations in the division include the innovative plastic SUSTARIN H MDT, which is used especially in the food industry. There, components made from plastic are increasingly taking the place of metals due to their more suitable properties. In contrast to other plastic products, SUSTARIN H MDT has the advantage that it is recognized by metal detectors. In this way, food manufacturers that use these components can carry on ensuring the purity of their products by using metal detectors and do not have to adapt their quality assurance systems. The spectacular fields of application for Röchling's products last year included the construction of the world's longest underwater power supply line between Norway and the Netherlands. Röchling supplied, among other things, composite profiles, threaded rods and clamping slings made from Durostone® for power transformation. The crucial factors in the use of this glass fiber reinforced plastic in thyristors are its outstanding insulation properties and its resistance to great mechanical force. </p> <p>The most important investments included the doubling of production capacity at the machining plant in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania and at the plant in Roding, Bavaria, Germany. The commencement of operations&nbsp;at the machining plant in Mumbai, India, the opening of a new production site in Kunshan, China and the foundation of the first subsidiary of Röchling Engineering Plastics in Russia are indicative of the Group's stronger international presence. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><b><span lang="EN-GB">Automotive Plastics Continues Placing Faith in Innovation</span></b> </p> <p>Although the sharp economic downturn at the end of 2008 had affected automobile parts suppliers particularly badly, the decline in sales in the Automotive Plastics division turned out to be rather moderate. Sales were supported by high mold earnings and declined by only 3.3 percent to EUR 553.0 million (2007: EUR 572.0 million). In the comparative fiscal year 2007, the Annual Financial Statements still included the Röchling cold-rolling plant, which has now been sold, and the shares in the Chinese joint venture CSAPT, which has likewise been sold, on a pro rata basis. </p> <p>Included in the balance sheet for the first time in 2008 were the sales generated by two new acquisitions designed to strengthen the Röchling Technical Parts group (RTP). The Oertl Kunststofftechnik group (Brensbach, Germany) manufactures highly complex plastic parts for customers from the medical technology and pharmaceuticals sectors. CircleSmartCard (CSC), based in Erfurt, Germany, is one of the world's leading smart card manufacturers. These were joined in December by Haas Smartcard S.A. (Tlaxcala, Mexico). This company, too, specializes in the production of smart cards. </p> <p>Due to the recession, each Group division had to reduce earnings. The start of production for the new VW Golf model, on the other hand, led to exceptionally high mold sales. </p> <p>Cooperation with existing customers was intensified and new customers were acquired. The development and supply of air filter systems for Porsche and electrically-driven controllable air duct systems for Peugeot in France were important orders. In the future, Nissan and Volvo Trucks will carry expansion tanks manufactured by the Röchling Group. Cylinder head covers were produced for Iveco for the first time. </p> <p>The development of an underbody that holds the current lightweight construction record was another important innovation by Röchling Automotive. It represents a significant contribution to the reduction of fuel consumption and CO<sub>2 </sub>emissions. </p> <p>The high quality standards that prevail in Röchling's production are documented by the presentation of Ford's Q1 Award to the Röchling Group. The aspects assessed for this award included customer satisfaction, quality and continuous product improvement. </p> <p>One of the focal points as far as investments were concerned was the putting into operation of a production hall at Röchling SGT Spritzgießtechnik. </p> <p><b>Outlook: No Quick Economic Recovery in Sight</b> </p> <p>For the current fiscal year, Röchling is expecting a sharp decline in its sales and earnings. Röchling is reacting to this by adjusting its costs and capacities rigorously. Georg Duffner: &quot;Equally important to us as responses to the crisis, however, are the intensification of our sales activities and the further development of innovations. We are determined to maintain and enhance our position on the market.&quot;</p>]]></content:encoded> <category>Röchling Group</category> <category>Röchling Industrial</category> <category>Röchling Automotive</category> <category>Press Releases</category> <category>Röchling Medical</category> </item> <item> <guid isPermaLink="false">news-227</guid> <pubDate>Mon, 08 Dec 2008 07:49:00 +0100</pubDate> <title>Röchling COO Burckhard Frank Retires</title> <link>https://www.roechling.com/news-roechling-group/news-detail-view/news/roechling-coo-burckhard-frank-retires/</link> <description>Mannheim, Germany... Burckhard Frank (65), COO of Gebr. Röchling KG, will retire at the end of this year. </description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p> Mannheim, Germany... Burckhard Frank (65), COO of Gebr. Röchling KG, will retire at the end of this year. <br /><br />After holding national and international positions at renowned plastics companies, the native of Stettin joined the Röchling Group in 1993 as Managing Director of Röchling Sustaplast KG. Since 2003, Burckhard Frank has been a Member of the Managing Board of Gebr. Röchling KG as well as a Member of the Executive Board of the Röchling Automotive group. Mr. Frank also serves as the Head of the Röchling Technical Parts (RTP) group.<br /><br />“Burckhard Frank has significantly contributed to the success of the Röchling Group,” commended Georg Duffner, President and CEO of the Röchling Group.</p>]]></content:encoded> <category>Röchling Group</category> <category>Röchling Industrial</category> <category>Röchling Automotive</category> <category>Press Releases</category> <category>Röchling Medical</category> </item> <item> <guid isPermaLink="false">news-239</guid> <pubDate>Thu, 19 Jun 2008 08:24:00 +0200</pubDate> <title>Röchling Acquires Smart Card Manufacturer CircleSmartCard</title> <link>https://www.roechling.com/news-roechling-group/news-detail-view/news/roechling-acquires-smart-card-manufacturer-circlesmartcard/</link> <description>Mannheim, Germany, June 19, 2008…The Röchling Group, based in Mannheim, Germany, has acquired a global market leader in smart card production – CircleSmartCard (CSC). The manufacturer of smart card bodies will be integrated into Röchling Technical Parts KG (RTP) retroactive to January 1, 2008.</description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Mannheim, Germany, June 19, 2008…The Röchling Group, based in Mannheim, Germany, has acquired a global market leader in smart card production – CircleSmartCard (CSC). The manufacturer of smart card bodies will be integrated into Röchling Technical Parts KG (RTP) retroactive to January 1, 2008. </p> <p>RTP manufactures injection molded parts for the high-tech industry at its locations in Eppingen and Mainburg and at Röchling SGT in Weidenberg. Manufacturing is carried out at the highest technical level with a state-of-the-art degree of automation. The companies within the RTP Group complement one another with respect to their products and procedures. The Röchling Group is one of the largest companies in Europe in terms of processing engineering plastics using injection molding procedures. </p> <p>CSC, located in Erfurt, manufactures smart card bodies and data carriers from thermoplastic materials also using injection molding procedures. Only a few companies in the world are technically able to manufacture highest quality standard injection-molded card bodies that not only comply with all of the required standards, but at the same time remain cost-efficient. A large portion of the card bodies produced worldwide is manufactured using a laminate procedure instead of an injection molding process. CSC is a global market leader in the injection molding niche. </p> <p>Due to its expertise and market position, CSC is an ideal addition to the Röchling Group. “This acquisition provides us with the opportunity to further advance the development of the RTP Group,” explains Burckhard Frank, Chief Operating Officer of the Röchling Group. Röchling is already “at home” in the field of high-quality sophisticated applications in plastics injection molding. With the acquisition of CSC, a “small but powerful” world market leader with an extremely attractive niche product is added to the mix. </p> <p>Established in 1999 in Erfurt, CSC supplies products to the global smart card market. The company has set its sights on developing new, customized card materials and improving the industrial production processes for new applications and markets. With 35 employees, CSC achieves annual sales of EUR 7 million. </p> <p>“CSC’s continuing above-average growth will be made considerably easier due to the national and international locations of the globally operating Röchling Group,” affirms Dr. Reinhard Proske, Managing Director of CSC. Customer requests for additional manufacturing sites in the respective regional markets can now be met. The existing infrastructure will be better utilized by both CSC and its newly affiliated companies, resulting in increased synergy effects. CSC will further establish itself in the sharply growing global market for smart card bodies and grow faster than the competition. </p> <p>According to Frank and Proske, the two companies are united by their high technical standards and the shared idea of utilizing the special capabilities acquired in Germany in new establishments in other countries as well in order to meet customers’ needs. The integration of CSC into the RTP Group will be simplified by the fact that there is no overlap in the product and customer portfolios. “As a medium-sized company, CSC is very well-suited to us and will be integrated into our Group very quickly,” underlines Georg Duffner, Chief Executive Officer of the Röchling Group. This purchase will enable the Röchling Group to further expand its business activities in the area of plastics processing according to plan. In the future as well, the company will have its eye primarily on acquiring those companies which exhibit high quality, medium-sized structures and production areas that complement or expand the portfolio of the Röchling Group. </p> <p>Company Profile:<br />The Röchling Group, a worldwide operating plastics group with over 6,000 employees at 54 locations in 18 countries, stands for proficiency in plastics. Its two divisions, High-Performance Plastics and Automotive Plastics, concentrate on processing quality plastics into semi-finished products, components and systems for a wide range of industrial uses.<br />Röchling stands for innovative products and state-of-the-art process technology in plastics processing. The High-Performance Plastics division’s product range extends from semi-finished products such as sheets, rods, hollow and flat bars via sectional and cast parts to mechanically finished assembly units.<br />The Automotive Plastics division makes plastic parts for the automotive industry. They consist of technologically sophisticated products made of polymer materials and natural fiber plastic composites for the engine compartment, the underbody and the interior.</p>]]></content:encoded> <category>Röchling Medical</category> <category>Press Releases</category> <category>Röchling Automotive</category> <category>Röchling Industrial</category> <category>Röchling Group</category> </item> <item> <guid isPermaLink="false">news-237</guid> <pubDate>Thu, 19 Jun 2008 08:11:00 +0200</pubDate> <title>Röchling Invests in Training</title> <link>https://www.roechling.com/news-roechling-group/news-detail-view/news/roechling-invests-in-training/</link> <description>Mannheim, Germany, June 19, 2008… The Röchling Group is helping young people enter the working world through various projects and collaborations. Participants range from junior high school graduates to highly qualified university graduates. The following example shows the many ways in which these young people benefit from Röchling’s commitment to this cause. In Austria, a team from the Higher Technical Institute in Neufelden won second place in the idea contest “Innovative Youth” with the support of Röchling Leripa Papertech. </description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><b>Austrian Students Win Innovation Award with the Aid of Röchling Leripa Papertech</b> </p> <p>Mannheim, Germany, June 19, 2008… The Röchling Group is helping young people enter the working world through various projects and collaborations. Participants range from junior high school graduates to highly qualified university graduates. The following example shows the many ways in which these young people benefit from Röchling’s commitment to this cause. In Austria, a team from the Higher Technical Institute in Neufelden won second place in the idea contest “Innovative Youth” with the support of Röchling Leripa Papertech. </p> <p>Higher Technical Institutes are a common type of school in Austria. After eight years of compulsory education, students at these schools are given the opportunity to complete a predominantly technical education (which includes &nbsp;a final examination) within five years. After three years of professional experience, the right to hold the title of engineer may be conferred. </p> <p>Röchling Leripa Papertech has worked in close cooperation with the Higher Technical Institute Neufelden in Upper Austria for five years. Each year, 15 students are provided with the opportunity to take a summer job at Leripa Papertech during their summer break. “This allows us to get to know potential future employees early on,” explains Rüdiger Keinberger, General Manager of Röchling Leripa Papertech. The advantages for the students are also obvious. They become acquainted with the daily work routine and tasks in a modern and highly specialized company. </p> <p>Röchling Leripa Papertech manufactures equipment and machines for the pulp and paper industry and also provides servicing, maintenance and repair of ceramic dewatering elements in paper machines. The students are given demanding tasks by the company during their internship in the form of what is referred to as matriculation projects. </p> <p>Within the scope of such a project, four Higher Technical Institute students developed a robot in collaboration with the employees of Röchling Leripa Papertech. The robot makes inspecting ceramic dewatering elements in paper machines easier and earned the students second place in the idea contest “Innovative Youth.” The contest is a nationwide school competition in Austria for innovative ideas in the areas of business, design, engineering and science. The device developed by the students, called “RobaSpy,” consists of a carriage with integrated camera, light source, distance measurement and important alignment units. It also has its own power supply. The robot’s housing shields its sensitive components from water damage as the equipment is usually also cleaned during the inspection. Along with the easily operable robot, the students also provided the necessary control software. </p> <p>“Projects such as this one help us establish a bond between our company and suitable, motivated future employees,” mentions Ludger Bartels, Managing Director of the Röchling Group. However, the company also has a social responsibility to invest in the training of young people. Last year, for example, a project at Röchling Automotive Worms to improve the future prospects of young people and facilitate their entry into working life came to &nbsp;a successful close. 50 unemployed young people under the age of 25 were offered an internship at Röchling Automotive Worms, which led to an apprenticeship afterwards for candidates who showed appropriate performance and aptitude. After two years, 22 trainees successfully &nbsp;completed their training as machine and equipment operators. </p> <p>The “U 25” project was organized in collaboration with the vocational school, the chamber of industry and commerce, the Jobcenter in Worms, the employment promotion company “Arbeitsförderbetrieb” and Müller educational center in Ludwigshafen. Röchling Automotive’s commitment to combat youth unemployment also attracted interest on a national level. The German Chambers of Industry and Commerce as well as the German Federal Ministry for Economics and Labor both called the project exemplary. </p> <p>Company Profile:<br />The Röchling Group, a worldwide operating plastics group with over 6,000 employees at 54 locations in 18 countries, stands for proficiency in plastics. Its two divisions, High-Performance Plastics and Automotive Plastics, concentrate on processing quality plastics into semi-finished products, components and systems for a wide range of industrial uses.<br />Röchling stands for innovative products and state-of-the-art process technology in plastics processing.<br />The High-Performance Plastics division’s product range extends from semi-finished products such as sheets, rods, hollow and flat steel bars via sectional and cast parts to mechanically finished assembly units.<br />The Automotive Plastics division makes plastic parts for the automotive industry. They consist of technologically sophisticated products made of polymer materials and natural fiber plastic composites for the engine compartment, the underbody and the interior.</p>]]></content:encoded> <category>Röchling Group</category> <category>Röchling Medical</category> <category>Press Releases</category> <category>Röchling Automotive</category> <category>Röchling Industrial</category> </item> <item> <guid isPermaLink="false">news-235</guid> <pubDate>Thu, 19 Jun 2008 08:07:00 +0200</pubDate> <title>Röchling Continues Expansion</title> <link>https://www.roechling.com/news-roechling-group/news-detail-view/news/roechling-continues-expansion/</link> <description>Mannheim, Germany, June 19, 2008...The globally operating Röchling Group, based in Mannheim, Germany, increased its sales by 3.7 percent to EUR 1,090.6 million in the 2007 fiscal year from EUR 1,051 million in 2006. Growth in sales, adjusted for company divestitures, amounted to 15 percent. Röchling is now completely focused on the processing of engineering plastics. This has resulted in a pleasing increase in profits. “We can look back on a successful fiscal year,” reports Georg Duffner, President and CEO of the Röchling Group. “The Röchling Group has once again strengthened its market position as international technology leader for plastics processing and set the course for further growth.” The driving force that propelled the worldwide expansion was the continued growth of its global manufacturing network. The Röchling Group widened its manufacturing network with companies in Cleveland in the USA, Orangeville in Canada, and Koprivnice in the Czech Republic as well as with its one hundred percent takeover of the former Chinese joint ventures at the locations Changchun and Suzhou. </description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<ul><li><span class="circle">Considerable Expansion of Manufacturing Network</span></li><li><span class="circle">Impressive Innovations at Röchling Automotive</span></li><li><span class="circle">Investments in Training and Development Centers</span></li><li><span class="circle">Largest Sheet Planer in the World Begins Production</span></li></ul><p>Mannheim, Germany, June 19, 2008...The globally operating Röchling Group, based in Mannheim, Germany, increased its sales by 3.7 percent to EUR 1,090.6 million in the 2007 fiscal year from EUR 1,051 million in 2006. Growth in sales, adjusted for company divestitures, amounted to 15 percent. Röchling is now completely focused on the processing of engineering plastics.<br />This has resulted in a pleasing increase in profits. “We can look back on a successful fiscal year,” reports Georg Duffner, President and CEO of the Röchling Group. “The Röchling Group has once again strengthened its market position as international technology leader for plastics processing and set the course for further growth.” The driving force that propelled the worldwide expansion was the continued growth of its global manufacturing network. The Röchling Group widened its manufacturing network with companies in Cleveland in the USA, Orangeville in Canada, and Koprivnice in the Czech Republic as well as with its one hundred percent takeover of the former Chinese joint ventures at the locations Changchun and Suzhou. </p> <p>Investments declined by 5.2 percent from EUR 72 million in 2006 to EUR 68 million in the 2007 fiscal year. The consistent economy measures policy in the Automotive Plastics division played a decisive role in this respect. The investment focus was on the strongly growing High-Performance Plastics division. Key investments included the expansion of the pressing plant at the Haren location. The commissioning of the largest sheet planer worldwide completed the project. Customers now benefit from greater flexibility and less waste during cutting thanks to the large size of the polyolefin sheets which measure 6,000 by 2,500 millimeters. The “Knowledge Center,” a development and training center for customers and employees of the High-Performance Plastics division, was established at the same location. A second training center opened its doors again in Lahnstein after undergoing complete renovation. </p> <p>As of December 31, 2007, the number of Röchling Group employees had risen by 7.7 percent to a total of 5,983 employees from 5,553 employees on December 31, 2006. The employee figures of the sold companies Röchling Kaltwalzwerk (steel) and Depalor (wood processing) are no longer included in these results. The same applies to the employees of the joint venture CSAPT in China. However, employees were added in the High-Performance Plastics division from the companies newly acquired in January and February 2007, Glastic Corporation (Cleveland, USA) and Symplastics Limited (Orangeville, Canada). At Röchling Automotive, new hiring took place mainly in the Czech Republic and the USA. </p> <h2>High-Performance Plastics: High Growth Rate</h2> <p>In 2007, the High-Performance Plastics division increased its sales by 22.5 percent to EUR 490.7 million from EUR 400.6 million in 2006. The acquisitions of Glastic Corporation and Symplastics Limited considerably contributed to this growth. An increase in employment typifies the growth rate. The number of employees in the High-Performance Plastics division rose by 25 percent, or by 471 employees, to 2,354 from 1,883 employees in 2006. Here too, both acquisitions significantly contributed to the growth dynamics. Overall, the division invested EUR 32.9 million – amounting to 25.7 percent more in comparison to the previous year. In addition to the sheet planer, the two new molding presses for thermoplastics at the Haren location and the extrusion line in the Czech Republic are also worthy of mention. New presses are boosting production at Permali in France and Leripa in Austria as well. </p> <h2>Automotive Plastics: Innovations Reduce CO2 Emissions</h2> <p>The Automotive Plastics division delivered an impressive performance in 2007 with several technological innovations that were extremely well received in the market. Another new development is all about the reduction of fuel consumption and, consequently, carbon dioxide emission reduction and environmental protection. Actively controllable air flaps made of polyamide and polypropylene deliver a drag coefficient that is reduced by at least ten percent, resulting in a fuel consumption reduction of approximately one percent.<br />The new manufacturing method “JectBonding,” for example, combines blow molding, injection molding, and joining for the first time in one continuous manufacturing process. No welding is required. The results are simplification, time savings and error prevention.<br />Primarily innovations such as these have helped the Automotive Plastics division achieve an increase in sales of 4.9 percent to EUR 572.0 million in the 2007 fiscal year. At the close of the year, the division had 3,590 employees, 1.1 percent less than at the end of 2006. The deconsolidation of employees at Röchling Kaltwalzwerk and at CSAPT is offset by the new hiring in the USA and the Eastern European Röchling Automotive plant.<br />The RTP Group (Röchling Technical Parts), which is part of the Automotive Plastics division, shows a positive business development. Core competencies include the development and manufacture of high-quality injection-molded parts for a wide range of sophisticated applications, not only in automotive electrics but also in communication technology, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and medical technology. After the restructuring and upgrading of production at the locations Mainburg and Eppingen and the acquisition of SGT Spritzgusstechnik GmbH in Weidenberg, the RTP Group is expanding through organic growth and internationalization, as well as acquisitions. The goal is to further expand the company in the coming years by means of substantial acquisitions and also to gain expertise in complementary business areas. </p> <h2>Excellent Opportunities for Further Growth</h2> <p>According to Duffner, the Röchling Group is striving for a further increase in sales and earnings in the current fiscal year (2008). Driving forces are additional investments in the expansion of the worldwide manufacturing network. Röchling plans to start production in Russia, for example.<br />“We certainly feel the adverse effects of the unfavorable dollar exchange rate, strongly fluctuating commodity prices, rising material and energy costs, and the ever-increasing pressure from customers in the automotive industry. Nevertheless, we hold fast to our goal to further improve our position in the global plastics market in the year 2008 as well.” </p> <p>Company Profile:<br />The Röchling Group, a worldwide operating plastics group with over 6,000 employees at 54 locations in 18 countries, stands for proficiency in plastics. Its two divisions, High-Performance Plastics and Automotive Plastics, concentrate on processing quality plastics into semi-finished products, components and systems for a wide range of industrial uses.<br />Röchling stands for innovative products and state-of-the-art process technology in plastics processing.<br />The High-Performance Plastics division’s product range extends from semi-finished products such as sheets, rods, hollow and flat steel bars via sectional and cast parts to mechanically finished assembly units.<br />The Automotive Plastics division makes plastic parts for the automotive industry. They consist of technologically sophisticated products made of polymer materials and natural fiber plastic composites for the engine compartment, the underbody and the interior. </p>]]></content:encoded> <category>Röchling Group</category> <category>Röchling Automotive</category> <category>Röchling Industrial</category> <category>Press Releases</category> <category>Röchling Medical</category> </item> <item> <guid isPermaLink="false">news-241</guid> <pubDate>Wed, 05 Dec 2007 08:28:00 +0100</pubDate> <title>Röchling Announces Production Site in Russia </title> <link>https://www.roechling.com/news-roechling-group/news-detail-view/news/roechling-announces-production-site-in-russia/</link> <description>Participation in the interplastica 2008 Trade Fair Haren (Germany), December 5, 2007 – Röchling Engineering Plastics KG, Haren and Röchling Sustaplast KG, Lahnstein will be exhibiting jointly at the interplastica 2008 plastics trade fair this coming January (01/29 – 02/01/2008, Booth FG 39) in Moscow.</description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Participation in the interplastica 2008 Trade Fair &nbsp; Haren (Germany), December 5, 2007 – Röchling Engineering Plastics KG, Haren and Röchling Sustaplast KG, Lahnstein will be exhibiting jointly at the interplastica 2008 plastics trade fair this coming January (01/29 – 02/01/2008, Booth FG 39) in Moscow. </p> <p>As part of the German participation in the trade fair, these two companies of the High-Performance Plastics Division of the Röchling Group will focus mainly on semi-finished products made of thermoplastic materials (sheets, rods) for the product presentation at the booth.<br />The decision to again participate in the Moscow trade fair is due to the increasing strategic focus of sales activities on the growing Eastern European markets. Ludger Bartels, CEO of the Röchling Group who is responsible for the High-Performance Plastics Division, states: “Röchling is already on a very successful track in the East, but we are facing a market with a tremendous amount of potential here which demands even greater commitment on our part.” </p> <p>For the sale of thermoplastic semi-finished products from the Haren, Lahnstein and Czech Republic production sites, Röchling is currently working very closely with major Eastern European trade partners, who handle distribution of the products until they are delivered to the end user on site. In the composite materials segment as well, Röchling already enjoys an excellent reputation and leading market position in the Russian electrical industry.<br /><br />Bartels additionally announces: “To obtain an even greater presence and move closer to the market, we will also build a production site in Russia for the processing of thermoplastics in the near future. Röchling therefore continues to pursue a strategy of decentralized production, according to which the subsidiaries are also production sites. The subsidiaries also take over the sales and marketing activities within their regions.” </p> <p>The expansive High-Performance Plastics Division currently has over 31 locations worldwide, from America to Europe to Asia. </p> <p>The Röchling Group is a worldwide operating plastics group based in Mannheim, Germany. With 6,000 employees at 54 locations in 18 countries, Röchling today is a leading international plastics processing company. With its High-Performance Plastics and Automotive Plastics divisions, Röchling Group sales total over EUR 1 billion in Europe, America and Asia.</p>]]></content:encoded> <category>Röchling Medical</category> <category>Press Releases</category> <category>Röchling Automotive</category> <category>Röchling Industrial</category> <category>Röchling Group</category> </item> <item> <guid isPermaLink="false">news-243</guid> <pubDate>Wed, 17 Oct 2007 08:40:00 +0200</pubDate> <title>Joint Appearance of Röchling Group at K 2007 </title> <link>https://www.roechling.com/news-roechling-group/news-detail-view/news/joint-appearance-of-roechling-group-at-k-2007/</link> <description>Mannheim (Germany), October 17, 2007 – At K 2007, the largest worldwide trade show for plastics and rubber, all of the divisions of the Röchling Group will appear together for the first time. “We have successfully transformed ourselves into a pure plastics processor over the last several years and established Röchling as a brand. Röchling stands for proficiency in plastics. This development is of course also reflected in a joint corporate image”, explained Georg Duffner, President and CEO of the Röchling Group.</description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Mannheim (Germany), October 17, 2007 – At K 2007, the largest worldwide trade show for plastics and rubber, all of the divisions of the Röchling Group will appear together for the first time. “We have successfully transformed ourselves into a pure plastics processor over the last several years and established Röchling as a brand. Röchling stands for proficiency in plastics. This development is of course also reflected in a joint corporate image”, explained Georg Duffner, President and CEO of the Röchling Group. </p> <p>The 17th International Trade Show for Plastics + Rubber will transform the Düsseldorf Trade Fair Center into the mecca of the worldwide plastics industry from October 24-31, 2007. Under the logo “Proficiency in Plastics”, the Röchling Group will display exhibits of thermoplastic and composite semi-finished products and finished components, high-performance plastics, innovative plastic components for the automotive industry and the smallest injection molding components, among other things. </p> <p>The trade show, which goes by the motto “Turning Vision into Business“, is fully booked according to a statement from the event planner. More than 3,000 exhibitors – from global conglomerates to start-up companies – will present their latest developments for all industrial divisions at this leading trade show. The array of products being presented ranges from standard raw materials to individually customized tools. About 57 percent of the exhibition space of the trade fair center will be occupied by companies that are based outside of Germany. Italy is traditionally the largest foreign exhibitor country. </p> <p>The Röchling Group will be featured in Hall 8a, Booth J12. </p> <p>The Röchling Group is a worldwide operating plastics group based in Mannheim, Germany. With 6,000 employees at 54 locations in 18 countries, Röchling is currently among the leading international companies in the field of plastics processing. Through its two divisions High-Performance Plastics and Automotive Plastics, the Group achieved sales of over EUR 1 billion on the European, American and Asian continents. </p>]]></content:encoded> <category>Röchling Medical</category> <category>Press Releases</category> <category>Röchling Automotive</category> <category>Röchling Industrial</category> <category>Röchling Group</category> </item> <item> <guid isPermaLink="false">news-245</guid> <pubDate>Thu, 11 Oct 2007 08:51:00 +0200</pubDate> <title>Röchling puts plant into operation in Czech Republic </title> <link>https://www.roechling.com/news-roechling-group/news-detail-view/news/roechling-puts-plant-into-operation-in-czech-republic/</link> <description>Mannheim (Germany), October 11, 2007 – The Röchling Group has officially started operations at its new Czech production facility in Koprivnice. Compression-molded and shaped parts are made from plastic for the automobile industry at the new location in the east of the Czech Republic. The plant belongs to Röchling Automotive’s Europe Central region, which is managed from Worms, Germany. “The foundation of Röchling Automotive Koprivnice s.r.o. means that the Röchling Group is now represented in the automotive plastics segment in Central and Eastern Europe. In doing this we are following our customers. Many international automobile manufacturers have transferred parts of their production to this region,” said Georg manufacturers are reported to have invested around EUR 24 billion in the region, mainly in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary and Romania.</description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Mannheim (Germany), October 11, 2007 – The Röchling Group has officially started operations at its new Czech production facility in Koprivnice. Compression-molded and shaped parts are made from plastic for the automobile industry at the new location in the east of the Czech Republic. The plant belongs to Röchling Automotive’s Europe Central region, which is managed from Worms, Germany. “The foundation of Röchling Automotive Koprivnice s.r.o. means that the Röchling Group is now represented in the automotive plastics segment in Central and Eastern Europe. In doing this we are following our customers. Many international automobile manufacturers have transferred parts of their production to this region,” said Georg manufacturers are reported to have invested around EUR 24 billion in the region, mainly in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary and Romania. </p> <p>“From the Koprivnice facility we aim not only to supply automobile manufacturers and automotive suppliers in Western Europe but also and most importantly to gain the assembly plants of Western and Asian carmakers in Central and Eastern Europe as new customers,” said Ulrich Mauß, a member of the Management Board of Röchling Automotive, explaining the Röchling Group’s investment in the Czech Republic. </p> <p>After a construction period of eight months in which EUR 6.5 million was invested, Röchling Automotive Koprivnice has already commenced production of its first injection-molded and compression-molded parts for Ford, including plastic partitions for interiors and under the hood. </p> <p>The company currently has 64 employees at its Czech location. “We expect to double this figure in one or two years, thereby having created 120 jobs,” Mauß said. The first employees underwent training at the Röchling Automotive plant in Worms for the technologies that were to be used in Koprivnice. In-house training is now provided on location in the Czech Republic. </p> <p>Röchling is a worldwide operating plastics group based in Mannheim, Germany. With 6,000 employees at 54 locations in 18 countries, Röchling today is a leading international plastics processing company. With its High-Performance Plastics and Automotive Plastics divisions, Röchling Group sales total over EUR 1 billion in Europe, America and Asia. </p>]]></content:encoded> <category>Röchling Medical</category> <category>Press Releases</category> <category>Röchling Automotive</category> <category>Röchling Industrial</category> <category>Röchling Group</category> </item> <item> <guid isPermaLink="false">news-249</guid> <pubDate>Thu, 24 May 2007 09:07:00 +0200</pubDate> <title>Röchling Reports Significantly Higher Results</title> <link>https://www.roechling.com/news-roechling-group/news-detail-view/news/roechling-reports-significantly-higher-results/</link> <description>Mannheim (Germany), May 26, 2007 – The Röchling Group, based in Mannheim and with worldwide operations, can look back on a pleasing 2006 fiscal year. The processor of high-quality plastics for a wide range of industrial uses reports its best-ever result – EUR 44.4 million in earnings before taxes, an increase of 33.3 percent on the 2005 fiscal year. Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) rose by 41 percent to EUR 57.8 million. </description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Concentration on Plastics Bears DividendsHigh-performance plastics continue pleasing trendAutomotive plastics boost performanceExpansion of plastics activities continues </p> <p>Mannheim (Germany), May 26, 2007 – The Röchling Group, based in Mannheim and with worldwide operations, can look back on a pleasing 2006 fiscal year. The processor of high-quality plastics for a wide range of industrial uses reports its best-ever result – EUR 44.4 million in earnings before taxes, an increase of 33.3 percent on the 2005 fiscal year. Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) rose by 41 percent to EUR 57.8 million. </p> <p>“This earnings increase shows that our Proficiency in Plastics alignment is bearing dividends on a lasting basis,” said Röchling Group CEO Georg Duffner. “As a technology leader in plastics processing, we have aligned our portfolio to growth markets with a bright future and set our course for the future by means of both acquisitions and organic growth.” </p> <p>In the 2006 fiscal year, the BEA Group, the last vestige of Röchling’s erstwhile electronic activities, was sold. The disposal of the Röchling Kaltwalzwerk mill marked the end of Röchling’s steel era.<br />Due to these disposals, sales were down by 8.8 percent to EUR 1,051 million. However, the remaining plastics business reported sales growth of 7 percent. </p> <p><b>Acquisitions Strengthen Röchling Group</b> </p> <p>The Röchling Group strengthened itself, in contrast, by acquiring five companies that are an ideal match for the Group by virtue of their proficiency in plastics processing, their market positions and their sales channels: </p> <p>Meta-Plast A/S of Denmark, with production facilities in Allingåbro, Denmark and Liepaja, Latvia, manufactures machined finished parts.<br />The General Engineering division of Canada’s GL&amp;V, based in Bacup, England, makes extruded profiles and finished parts out of thermoplastic resins.<br />SGT Spritzgießtechnik GmbH, based in Weidenberg, Germany, improves our access to engineering plastics markets where Röchling has not previously been strongly represented. </p> <p>The American-based Glastic Corporation in Cleveland, Ohio is a leading manufacturer of upmarket fiber-reinforced materials for electrical and industrial uses. </p> <p>Symplastics Limited of Orangeville, Ontario, is a Canadian manufacturer of thermoplastic semi-finished goods and other special plastic products with specialized know-how in processing the extremely wear-resistant material PE-UHMW (ultra-high molecular polyethylene).<br />In total, companies with a sales volume of circa EUR 70 million and a payroll of 450 were acquired. </p> <p>In addition, in the high-performance plastics division, the Haren and Lahnstein locations were further extended. In 2006, around EUR 32 million was invested and in 2007, a total of EUR 37 million is being invested in boosting production capacity.<br /><br />In the Automotive Plastics division, the main focus of investment was on getting production up and running at the new manufacturing location in the Czech Republic as well as setting up two new factories in China. In addition, there were acquisitions of new injection molding machinery for production in the United States as well as machinery for new projects in China. </p> <p><b>High-Performance Plastics: Sales Up 20.8 Percent</b> </p> <p>The High-Performance Plastics division benefited from brisk business activity and boosted sales by 20.8 percent to EUR 427.8 million. Incoming orders rose by 22.8 percent to EUR 445.4 million. This growth was reflected in employee numbers, which rose by 258, or 13.7 percent, to 2,070. The strong increase in demand also increased the pressure on employees, who handled the production expansion with a keen sense of commitment. </p> <p>Growth in the division significantly exceeded average growth for the industry. According to the industry association Gesamtverband Kunststoffverarbeitende Industrie e.V. (GKV), average nominal sales growth was around 10 percent in 2006. Domestic production grew by 9 percent and production abroad by 12 percent. “In 2006, we again secured additional market shares,” Duffner said. “That makes our outstanding expertise and strength in the plastics business clear.” </p> <p><b>Automotive Plastics: Cost Reduction Boosts Earning Power</b> </p> <p>Sales in the Automotive Plastics division totaled EUR 529.1 million compared with EUR 535.3 million in 2005. In spite of a marked rise in the cost of materials and substantial price reductions due to pressure from automobile manufacturers, the division was able to increase its earning power.<br />This was due in part to personnel cuts as well as a reduction in current assets and bought-in materials. Along with investments in the Czech Republic, the United States and China, the division invested in rationalization in Germany and Italy as well as in new production technology. The number of employees rose by 80 to 3,285. This was due largely to setting up a new production facility in the Czech Republic, personnel recruitment in China and new hires in the United States. In Germany and Italy, personnel numbers declined. </p> <p><b>Outlook: Growth Course Set To Continue</b> </p> <p>The Röchling Group looks to the future with optimism. It sees the cyclical upswing as set to continue. In view of favorable overall framework conditions, business continued to develop well in the early months of 2007. It remains to be seen how the cyclical downturn in the United States will affect business in the 2007 fiscal year. </p> <p>In the High-Performance Plastics division, the Röchling Group anticipates further organic growth by the end of the year. In the Automotive Plastics division, the company expects sales to be on a par with the previous year. The marked increase in energy costs poses a challenge for the Group and will lead to an additional cost burden during the year in progress. Moreover, raw material costs have also risen in some instances and it is not clear whether, as was the case in 2006, there will be a recovery. </p> <p>Furthermore, structural change in the automobile industry with strongly growing markets in Asia and growing cost pressure all over the world imposes a burden on Röchling activities. </p> <p>In spite of these challenges, Duffner sees opportunities for Röchling. “We will further strengthen our good position in Europe, continue our expansion in the United States and take our strong growth in Asia forward by means of heavy investment. Extension of production, our international presence and our product range will be both home-grown and a result of acquisitions should the opportunity arise.” </p> <p>About Röchling: The Röchling Group, a worldwide operating plastics group with over 6,000 employees at 54 locations in 18 countries, stands for proficiency in plastics. </p> <p>Its two divisions, High-Performance Plastics and Automotive Plastics, concentrate on processing quality plastics into semi-finished products, components and systems for a wide range of industrial uses. </p> <p>Röchling stands for innovative products and state-of-the-art process technology in plastics processing. </p> <p>The High-Performance Plastics division’s product range extends from semi-finished products such as sheets, rods, hollow and flat bars via sectional and cast parts to mechanically finished assembly units. </p> <p>The Automotive Plastics division makes plastic parts for the automotive industry. They consist of technologically sophisticated products made of polymer materials and natural fiber plastic composites for the engine compartment, the underbody and the interior.</p>]]></content:encoded> <category>Röchling Medical</category> <category>Press Releases</category> <category>Röchling Automotive</category> <category>Röchling Industrial</category> <category>Röchling Group</category> </item> <item> <guid isPermaLink="false">news-251</guid> <pubDate>Wed, 04 Apr 2007 09:18:00 +0200</pubDate> <title>Röchling Group Strengthens Market Position in Asia </title> <link>https://www.roechling.com/news-roechling-group/news-detail-view/news/roechling-group-strengthens-market-position-in-asia/</link> <description>Mannheim (Germany), April 4, 2007 – The Röchling-Group continues to extend its position in the Asian market. Röchling Automotive Asia has opened two new production facilities in China that have already been awarded large contracts by well-known automobile manufacturers. In 2006 China manufactured 6.8 million automobiles, taking over from Germany as the world’s third-largest carmaker. ”Asia is and will remain a gigantic growth market in which we will continue to grow“, said Georg Duffner, the Röchling Group’s Management Board Chairman. He added that since Asian activities began six years ago, around EUR 17 million had been invested in the Group’s High-Performance Plastics and Automotive Plastics divisions.</description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Mannheim (Germany), April 4, 2007 – The Röchling-Group continues to extend its position in the Asian market. Röchling Automotive Asia has opened two new production facilities in China that have already been awarded large contracts by well-known automobile manufacturers. In 2006 China manufactured 6.8 million automobiles, taking over from Germany as the world’s third-largest carmaker. ”Asia is and will remain a gigantic growth market in which we will continue to grow“, said Georg Duffner, the Röchling Group’s Management Board Chairman. He added that since Asian activities began six years ago, around EUR 17 million had been invested in the Group’s High-Performance Plastics and Automotive Plastics divisions. </p> <p>Röchling has now acquired all the shares in two joint ventures. In Changchun in north China’s Jilin province the newly founded Röchling Automotive Parts Changchun Co. Ltd. has started making plastic parts for the automotive industry. For Siemens VDO a 1.0-liter intake manifold is being manufactured for Mitsubishi Japan that is assembled by Mitsubishi for delivery to Smart in France. For BMW Brilliance production of the entire body undershield for the BMW 5 Series is due to start in Changchun in June 2007. Röchling Automotive has also been awarded the contract to manufacture the entire body undershield for the BMW 3 Series. </p> <p>In Suzhou, 80 kilometers north of Shanghai, the Röchling Group has founded a new company, Röchling Automotive Parts Suzhou Co. Ltd., that started production on April 1, 2007. It is manufacturing oil and expansion tanks for power-assisted steering for Ford. In addition, Ford has commissioned the company with the production of windshield cowls for the Ford Focus and the Ford Mondeo. </p> <p>The Röchling Group has six plants in Asia – Changchun, twice in Suzhou, Kunshan, Shanghai and Singapore. Nearly 400 employees generate revenues totaling around EUR 60 million. </p> <p>The Röchling Group is a worldwide operating plastics group based in Mannheim, Germany. With 6,000 employees at 54 locations in 17 countries, Röchling is today one of the leading international plastics processing enterprises. With its High-Performance Plastics and Automotive Plastics divisions, the Group’s 2005 sales totaled over EUR 1 billion in Europe, America and Asia. </p>]]></content:encoded> <category>Röchling Medical</category> <category>Press Releases</category> <category>Röchling Automotive</category> <category>Röchling Industrial</category> <category>Röchling Group</category> </item> <item> <guid isPermaLink="false">news-253</guid> <pubDate>Mon, 02 Apr 2007 09:22:00 +0200</pubDate> <title>Ludger Bartels Joins Röchling Group Management Board </title> <link>https://www.roechling.com/news-roechling-group/news-detail-view/news/ludger-bartels-joins-roechling-group-management-board/</link> <description>Mannheim (Germany), April 2, 2007 – Ludger Bartels, General Manager of Röchling Engineering Plastics, has been appointed to the Röchling Group&#039;s Management Board from April 1, 2007. He is in charge of the High-Performance Plastics division, which includes the Röchling Engineering Plastics and Röchling Sustaplast groups. „In recent years we have aligned our enterprise consistently to plastics processing. In Ludger Bartels an experienced specialist and successful manager is strengthening the management, and that will have a positive effect on the entire Group,“ said Georg Duffner, Chairman of the Röchling Group&#039;s Management Board. Röchling, he said, stood for proficiency in plastics, and with Bartels&#039; appointment that know-how was now represented even more strongly at the executive level.</description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Mannheim (Germany), April 2, 2007 – Ludger Bartels, General Manager of Röchling Engineering Plastics, has been appointed to the Röchling Group's Management Board from April 1, 2007. He is in charge of the High-Performance Plastics division, which includes the Röchling Engineering Plastics and Röchling Sustaplast groups. „In recent years we have aligned our enterprise consistently to plastics processing. In Ludger Bartels an experienced specialist and successful manager is strengthening the management, and that will have a positive effect on the entire Group,“ said Georg Duffner, Chairman of the Röchling Group's Management Board. Röchling, he said, stood for proficiency in plastics, and with Bartels' appointment that know-how was now represented even more strongly at the executive level. </p> <p>Bartels, 53, is a tried and tested plastics expert. He graduated in Osnabrück as a Diplom-Ingenieur (Master of Engineering) in materials technology and joined today's Röchling Engineering Plastics KG in 1977, working in various positions, first as assistant to the head of the extrusion department. </p> <p>Two years later Bartels was Production Manager of Material Preparation and Extrusion. He was in charge of project management when Impact Plastics was acquired in the United States in 1987. In 1988 he was appointed head of development, quality assurance and extrusion and in 1991 technical manager of the thermoplastics profit center. Bartels was in technical charge of the acquisition of Leripa Kunststoff GmbH &amp; Co. KG, Austria, and Blumer, Italy, in 1993. In 1994 he took over as head of the thermoset Proficenter. In 1995 he was in technical charge of the acquisition of Permali, France. In 1996 he was responsible for the restructuring of Impact Plastics and Permali.<br />Later that year he was appointed first assistant general manager and a year later general manager of the Röchling Engineering Plastics Group. In 1998 the company acquired under his management Plastpur, Spain, and in 1999 Trovidur, Troisdorf, Germany. In 1999 he was named Chairman of the Röchling Engineering Plastics Group's Management Board. In 2001 the Group was further strengthened by the acquisition of Rimito, Finland, and Formaterm, Sweden. These acquisitions were followed in 2003 by that of Extrusion Silon, Czech Republic. </p> <p>Since October 2003 Bartels has, in addition to Chairman of the Röchling Engineering Plastics Group's Management Board, been Chairman of the Board of Sustaplast KG. Bartels is married and has three children. </p> <p>The Röchling Group is a worldwide operating plastics group based in Mannheim, Germany. With 6,000 employees at 54 locations in 18 countries, Röchling is today one of the leading international plastics processing enterprises. With its High-Performance Plastics and Automotive Plastics divisions, the Group's sales total over EUR 1 billion in Europe, North America and Asia.</p>]]></content:encoded> <category>Röchling Medical</category> <category>Press Releases</category> <category>Röchling Automotive</category> <category>Röchling Industrial</category> <category>Röchling Group</category> </item> <item> <guid isPermaLink="false">news-255</guid> <pubDate>Mon, 12 Feb 2007 09:28:00 +0100</pubDate> <title>Röchling expands activities in North America </title> <link>https://www.roechling.com/news-roechling-group/news-detail-view/news/roechling-expands-activities-in-north-america/</link> <description>Mannheim (Germany), February 12, 2007 – The Röchling Group has acquired the Canadian company Symplastics Limited, based in Orangeville, Ontario. Symplastics manufactures thermoplastic semi-finished products and other special plastic products, employs 138 people and last year achieved sales of 26 million Canadian dollars (around EUR 17 million). “The acquisition of Symplastics is a further step in the development of our position in North America. In the USA and Canada Röchling now has yearly sales of over USD 200 million and nearly 1,000 employees,” stated Georg Duffner, President and CEO of the Röchling Group.Symplastics Limited has specialized knowledge of processing the extremely hard-wearing mate¬rial PE-UHMW (ultra high molecular weight polyethylene). Products made from this material are found in many industrial applications in which particular glide properties and abrasion resistance are required.</description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Mannheim (Germany), February 12, 2007 – The Röchling Group has acquired the Canadian company Symplastics Limited, based in Orangeville, Ontario. Symplastics manufactures thermoplastic semi-finished products and other special plastic products, employs 138 people and last year achieved sales of 26 million Canadian dollars (around EUR 17 million). “The acquisition of Symplastics is a further step in the development of our position in North America. In the USA and Canada Röchling now has yearly sales of over USD 200 million and nearly 1,000 employees,” stated Georg Duffner, President and CEO of the Röchling Group.Symplastics Limited has specialized knowledge of processing the extremely hard-wearing mate¬rial PE-UHMW (ultra high molecular weight polyethylene). Products made from this material are found in many industrial applications in which particular glide properties and abrasion resistance are required. </p> <p>The Röchling Group is a worldwide operating plastics group based in Mannheim, Germany. With 5,600 employees at 55 locations in 17 countries, Röchling is today one of the leading international plastics processing companies. With its High-Performance Plastics and Automotive Plastics divisions, the Group’s sales total over EUR 1 billion in Europe, North America and Asia. </p>]]></content:encoded> <category>Röchling Medical</category> <category>Press Releases</category> <category>Röchling Automotive</category> <category>Röchling Industrial</category> <category>Röchling Group</category> </item> <item> <guid isPermaLink="false">news-257</guid> <pubDate>Fri, 26 Jan 2007 09:57:00 +0100</pubDate> <title>Röchling Acquires Glastic Corporation </title> <link>https://www.roechling.com/news-roechling-group/news-detail-view/news/roechling-acquires-glastic-corporation/</link> <description>Mannheim (Germany), January 26, 2007 – The Röchling Group has acquired the U.S. Glastic Corporation from Cignet, LLC.Glastic Corporation, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, is a leading manufacturer of sophisticated fiber-reinforced materials for electrical and industrial uses. It supplies OEMs and dealers all over the world. Its brands include such well-known names as GlasthermTM or GoldmemberTM and a large number of special products for the electrical and electronics industry. Its 160 employees achieved around EUR 30 million in sales last year.</description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Mannheim (Germany), January 26, 2007 – The Röchling Group has acquired the U.S. Glastic Corporation from Cignet, LLC.Glastic Corporation, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, is a leading manufacturer of sophisticated fiber-reinforced materials for electrical and industrial uses. It supplies OEMs and dealers all over the world. Its brands include such well-known names as GlasthermTM or GoldmemberTM and a large number of special products for the electrical and electronics industry. Its 160 employees achieved around EUR 30 million in sales last year. </p> <p>“With this acquisition we are proceeding as announced with the further extension of our international plastics activities,” said Röchling Group CEO Georg Duffner. “We will integrate the Glastic Corporation into our Röchling Engineering Plastics Group, which already holds a leading world market position as a manufacturer of semi-finished products in thermoplastic and composite materials. </p> <p>“We will incorporate the Glastic Corporation into our Composites Division and anticipate fruitful cooperation in future developments of new products and application areas,” said Ludger Bartels, chairman of the Management Board of Röchling Engineering Plastics KG, Haren, Germany. </p> <p>The Röchling Group is a worldwide operating plastics group based in Mannheim, Germany. With 5,400 employees at 54 locations in 17 countries, Röchling is today one of the leading international plastics processing enterprises. With its High-Performance Plastics and Automotive Plastics divisions, the Group’s sales total over EUR 1 billion in Europe, America and Asia. </p>]]></content:encoded> <category>Röchling Medical</category> <category>Press Releases</category> <category>Röchling Automotive</category> <category>Röchling Industrial</category> <category>Röchling Group</category> </item> <item> <guid isPermaLink="false">news-261</guid> <pubDate>Fri, 03 Nov 2006 10:22:00 +0100</pubDate> <title>Röchling Steps Up Plastics Business Expansion </title> <link>https://www.roechling.com/news-roechling-group/news-detail-view/news/roechling-steps-up-plastics-business-expansion/</link> <description>Mannheim (Germany), November 3, 2006 – The Röchling Group, Mannheim, is continuing to expand its plastics business. It has acquired in Meta-Plast A/S, Denmark, SGT Spritzgießtechnik GmbH, Weidenberg, Germany, and Canadian GL&amp;V’s UK-based General Engineering division three companies that ideally complement the Röchling Group with their special plastics processing know-how, their market position and their sales channels.</description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Mannheim (Germany), November 3, 2006 – The Röchling Group, Mannheim, is continuing to expand its plastics business. It has acquired in Meta-Plast A/S, Denmark, SGT Spritzgießtechnik GmbH, Weidenberg, Germany, and Canadian GL&amp;V’s UK-based General Engineering division three companies that ideally complement the Röchling Group with their special plastics processing know-how, their market position and their sales channels. </p> <p>&quot;In acquiring the three companies we are on schedule in embarking on the expansion of our business activities in plastics processing&quot;, said Röchling Group CEO Georg Duffner. Companies would continue to be of special interest as takeover candidates if they combined excellent product know-how, outstanding customer relations and special production processes and could therefore complement or expand the Group’s portfolio.<br />Meta-Plast A/S is a manufacturer of machined finished parts with production facilities in Allinabro, Denmark, and Liepaja, Latvia. The aim of the acquisition is to increase the Röchling Group’s market share in Scandinavia and further enlarge its machining business in the High-Performance Plastics division.<br />The Röchling Group has taken over from Canadian GL&amp;V its UK-based General Engineering division in Bacup, Great Britain. The division specializes in the manufacture of extrusion profiles and finished thermoplastic parts.<br />In buying SGT Spritzgießtechnik GmbH, based near Bayreuth, Germany, the Röchling Group is strengthening its access to engineering plastics markets where it has previously maintained only a marginal presence. SGT specializes in injection molding precision-made engineering plastic parts with a special focus on fully automatic metal and plastic compounds, small high-performance plastic parts, micro-injection molded and multi-component parts. </p> <p>&quot;These companies are a good match for the Group and can easily be integrated&quot;, Duffner said. With a combined payroll of about 150 employees their annual sales are EUR 18 million.<br />Announcing that there would be more acquisitions in the near future, Duffner said &quot;Röchling will move on consistently in its progress toward becoming one of the world’s leading plastics processing enterprises.&quot; </p> <p>The Röchling Group is a worldwide operating plastics group based in Mannheim, Germany. With 5,400 employees at 54 locations in 17 countries, Röchling is today one of the leading international plastics processing enterprises. With its High-Performance Plastics and Automotive Plastics divisions, the Group’s sales totaled over EUR 1 billion in Europe, America and Asia.</p>]]></content:encoded> <category>Röchling Medical</category> <category>Press Releases</category> <category>Röchling Automotive</category> <category>Röchling Industrial</category> <category>Röchling Group</category> </item> <item> <guid isPermaLink="false">news-267</guid> <pubDate>Tue, 13 Jun 2006 10:53:00 +0200</pubDate> <title>Kompetenz in Kunststoff: Röchling zeigt starkes Profil </title> <link>https://www.roechling.com/news-roechling-group/news-detail-view/news/kompetenz-in-kunststoff-roechling-zeigt-starkes-profil/</link> <description>Mannheim, den 13.06.2006…Die Röchling-Gruppe (Mannheim) hat im Geschäftsjahr 2005 ihren Umbau vom Mischkonzern zur technologisch und innovativ geprägten Kunststoff-Gruppe erfolgreich abgeschlossen. „Unter unserem neuen Leitmotiv &#039;Kompetenz in Kunststoff&#039; haben wir unser Profil als starke Hightech Marke deutlich geschärft“, erläuterte Georg Duffner, Vorsitzender der Geschäftsführung der Röchling-Gruppe, die Konzentration auf die Kunststoffverarbeitung. „Die Röchling-Gruppe ist als Technologieführer in einer der interessantesten Wachstumsbranchen der Weltwirtschaft bestens positioniert. Kaum ein anderer Werkstoff ist vielseitiger einsetzbar und bietet ein höheres Zukunftspotenzial als Kunststoff und kaum ein anderer Verbund von mittelständischen Unternehmen ist globaler aufgestellt als die Röchling-Gruppe.“ </description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><b>Geschäftsjahr 2005:</b></p><ul><li><span class="circle">Ertrag deutlich gesteigert und Finanzkraft weiter gestärkt</span></li><li><span class="circle">Umbau vom Mischkonzern zur Kunststoff-Gruppe abgeschlossen</span></li><li><span class="circle">Geschäftsjahr 2006: Hervorragender Start ins Jahr 2006</span></li><li><span class="circle">Konzentration auf Kunststoffe macht sich bezahlt</span></li><li><span class="circle">Zeichen stehen auf Wachstumskurs </span></li></ul><p>Mannheim, den 13.06.2006…Die Röchling-Gruppe (Mannheim) hat im Geschäftsjahr 2005 ihren Umbau vom Mischkonzern zur technologisch und innovativ geprägten Kunststoff-Gruppe erfolgreich abgeschlossen. „Unter unserem neuen Leitmotiv 'Kompetenz in Kunststoff' haben wir unser Profil als starke Hightech Marke deutlich geschärft“, erläuterte Georg Duffner, Vorsitzender der Geschäftsführung der Röchling-Gruppe, die Konzentration auf die Kunststoffverarbeitung. „Die Röchling-Gruppe ist als Technologieführer in einer der interessantesten Wachstumsbranchen der Weltwirtschaft bestens positioniert. Kaum ein anderer Werkstoff ist vielseitiger einsetzbar und bietet ein höheres Zukunftspotenzial als Kunststoff und kaum ein anderer Verbund von mittelständischen Unternehmen ist globaler aufgestellt als die Röchling-Gruppe.“ </p> <p><b>Erfolgreiche Konzentration auf Kunststofftechnik</b> </p> <p>Das Unternehmen legt eine erfreuliche Bilanz für das Geschäftsjahr 2005 vor. Es steigerte sein Vorsteuerergebnis (EBT) um 40,5 Prozent auf 33,3 Mio. Euro (23,7 Mio. Euro 2004). Der Gewinn vor Steuern und Zinsen (EBIT) wuchs um 12,9 Prozent auf 41,0 Mio. Euro (36,3 Mio. Euro 2004).<br />Das Volumen verringerte sich auf Grund von Unternehmensverkäufen im Bereich Elektronik:<br />- Der Umsatz gab um 17,4 Prozent auf 1.152,8 Mio. Euro (1.395,8 Mio. Euro 2004) nach.<br />- Der Auftragseingang verringerte sich um 15,0 Prozent auf 1.162 Mio. Euro (1.366,5 Mio. Euro 2004).<br />- Die Zahl der Mitarbeiter sank zum Stichtag 31. Dezember 2005 um 23,8 Prozent auf 6.095 Beschäftigte (7.994 Mitarbeiter 31. Dezember 2004). Auf Grund der Veräußerungen sind die Zahlen der Jahre 2004 und 2005 nicht vergleichbar. </p> <h2>DeTeWe an Aastra Technologies verkauft</h2> <p>Für die Röchling-Gruppe stand das Geschäftsjahr 2005 im Zeichen der Stärkung der Finanzkraft, des weiteren Ausbaus des Kunststoffgeschäfts und der Trennung von anderen Aktivitäten. So übernahm der kanadische Konzern Aastra Technologies Limited im Juli 2005 das operative Geschäft des Telekommunikationskonzerns DeTeWe, der in den vergangenen Jahren das Ergebnis von Röchling belastet hatte. Die Tochtergesellschaft Francotyp-Postalia, Marktführer für Frankier- und Kuvertiertechnik, wurde im März 2005 nach erfolgreicher Restrukturierung an den Finanzinvestor Quadriga verkauft. </p> <p>Im Zuge der strategischen Konzentration auf die Verarbeitung hochwertiger Kunststoffe übernahm die Röchling-Gruppe im Mai 2005 die restlichen 50 Prozent der Anteile an Seeber Belgium N.V. Zu den Kunden gehören unter anderem Opel, Ford, Landrover und Volvo. Die Übernahme eröffnet der Röchling-Gruppe einen noch besseren Zugang zu den französischen und britischen Automobilherstellern. </p> <p>Röchling erzielte im vergangenen Geschäftsjahr 55 Prozent seines Umsatzes in Deutschland. 29 Prozent stammen aus anderen europäischen Ländern. Drittgrößter Absatzmarkt ist Amerika mit 11 Prozent. Es folgt Asien mit 5 Prozent. Hier expandiert die Röchling-Gruppe stark. Größte Kundengruppe ist mit einem Anteil von 52 Prozent die Automobilindustrie. Weitere 26 Prozent entfallen auf Handel und Zerspaner, Elektro- bzw. Elektronikindustrie und Anlagenbau. Die übrigen 22 Prozent teilen sich auf sonstige Kundengruppen auf. </p> <h2>Hochleistungs-Kunststoffe setzen Erfolgskurs fort</h2> <p>Ausschlaggebend für den guten Geschäftsverlauf im Jahr 2005 war insbesondere die Fortsetzung des anhaltenden Wachstumskurses im Unternehmensbereich Hochleistungs-Kunststoffe. Dieser steigerte seinen Umsatz um 7,7 Prozent auf 354,1 Mio. Euro (328,8 Mio. Euro 2004). Zugleich legte der Auftragseingang um 10,0 Prozent auf 362,7 Mio. Euro (329,6 Mio. Euro 2004) zu. Im Zuge des Umsatzwachstums stieg die Zahl der Mitarbeiter um 3,3 Prozent auf 1.821 Beschäftigte. </p> <p>Der Unternehmensbereich Hochleistungs-Kunststoffe profitierte in Deutschland von einem Marktwachstum von 2,9 Prozent, das deutlich über dem Zuwachs des Bruttoinlandprodukts lag. Das Geschäft stand im Zeichen gravierender Erhöhungen der Rohmaterialpreise. Diese waren zu Jahresbeginn sehr hoch, schwächten sich im Jahresverlauf etwas ab, um dann in der zweiten Jahreshälfte auf bisher nicht gekannte Höhen anzuziehen. </p> <p>Zu den maßgeblichen Investitionen des Unternehmensbereichs Hochleistungs-Kunststoffe gehörten der Ausbau der Fertigung in Österreich, die Inbetriebnahme einer weiteren großen Kunststoffpresse in den USA sowie der Bau eines neuen Logistikzentrums in Haren. In Lahnstein erweiterte Röchling das Polymerisations-Center. </p> <h2>Schwieriges Jahr für Automobil-Kunststoffe</h2> <p>Der Unternehmensbereich Automobil-Kunststoffe blickt auf ein schwieriges Geschäftsjahr zurück. Der Umsatz gab um 8,4 Prozent auf 535,8 Mio. Euro (584,9 Mio. Euro 2004), der Auftragseingang um 8,8 Prozent auf 535,3 Mio. Euro (586,8 Mio. Euro 2004) nach. Ausschlaggebend waren ein Umsatz- und Verkaufspreiseinbruch beim chinesischen Kunden FAW-VW, verzögerte Produktionsstarts von Automobilherstellern in den USA, nicht erhaltene Auftragseingänge sowie enorme Verkaufspreisreduzierungen.<br />Die ansteigenden Rohstoffkosten, welche nicht in die Preise umgesetzt werden konnten, belasten das Ergebnis. </p> <p>Zu den Erfolgen des Unternehmensbereichs Automobil-Kunststoffe gehören der Ausbau des USA-Geschäftes, die Steigerung der Auftragseingänge aus China, die Verbesserung der Geschäfte mit Produkten aus den Bereichen Unterboden und Motorraum sowie die Umsetzung der Produktionsoptimierungen und eines noch konsequenteren Kostenmanagements.<br />Zu den wichtigsten Investitionen in künftiges Wachstum zählen der Aufbau von Produktionen in Tschechien, China und Lettland, der Ausbau der Fasermattenaktivitäten in Gernsbach sowie der Ausbau der Präsenz in Belgien und Frankreich. </p> <p>Vom Gesamtumsatz der Röchling-Gruppe entfielen im 1. Quartal 2006 91 Prozent (71 Prozent 1. Quartal 2005) auf Kunststoffprodukte und 9 Prozent auf nicht mit dem Kerngeschäft verbundene Gesellschaften. Diese Geschäftsaktivitäten werden seit dem 1. Januar 2006 unter Finanzbeteiligungen bilanziert. Dazu gehören die verbleibenden, nicht operativen Aktivitäten der TKV (ehemals DeTeWe) sowie einige, kleinere Aktivitäten. </p> <p>Stärkung des Markennamens Röchling </p> <p>Die Konzentration auf Kunststoff unter dem Dach der einheitlichen Marke Röchling verdeutlichen seit Anfang des Jahres 2006 auch die Namen der Tochterunternehmen. Alle Gesellschaften tragen den Namenszug Röchling und das Röchling-Wappen im Logo. Seit dem 1. Januar 2006 ist die Unternehmensstruktur der Röchling-Gruppe noch klarer auf das Kunststoffgeschäft ausgerichtet. Der bisherige Unternehmensbereich Technische Kunststoffe wurde in Hochleistungs-Kunststoffe umbenannt. Zu ihm gehören die Unternehmensgruppen Röchling Engineering Plastics (REP) und Röchling Sustaplast (RSP). Hinzu kommt der im März 2005 gegründete neue Unternehmensverbund Röchling Technische Teile (RTT). Dieser fertigt unter anderem Hightech Spritzgussteile für die Kommunikations- und Elektroindustrie sowie komplexe Spritzgussbaugruppen für vielerlei industrielle Anwendungen. Auch der zweite Unternehmensbereich erhielt einen neuen Namen: Die Gesellschaften des ehemaligen Bereichs Automobiltechnik fasste Röchling in dem Unternehmensbereich Automobil-Kunststoffe zusammen. Zugleich firmierte die Seeber-Gruppe als größtes Unternehmen dieses Bereichs in Röchling Automotive um. </p> <h2>Gewinnschub im 1. Tertial 2006</h2> <p>Den erfolgreichen Umbau der Röchling-Gruppe dokumentiert der Anstieg des Ergebnisses vor Steuern zum April 2006 von 1,3 Mio. auf 17,0 Mio. Euro. Der Unternehmensbereich Hochleistungs-Kunststoffe setzte im April 2006 seinen Erfolgskurs fort und startete gut ins neue Geschäftsjahr. Auftragseingang und Umsatz entwickelten sich im Vergleich zum Vorjahr (Stand April) hervorragend. So legte der Auftragseingang um 28 Prozent auf 148 Mio. Euro zu. Der Umsatz wuchs um 22 Prozent auf 140,3 Mio. Euro. Der Unternehmensbereich Automobil-Kunststoffe steigerte den vergleichbaren Umsatz um 6 Prozent auf 181,8 Mio. Euro. </p> <h2>Ausblick: Mit Kunststoffen auf Wachstumskurs</h2> <p>Laut Angaben des Gesamtverbandes Kunststoffverarbeitender Industrie (GKV) blickt die Kunststoffbranche in Deutschland voller Optimismus in die Zukunft. Die meisten Unternehmen rechnen im laufenden Geschäftsjahr mit einem Umsatzwachstum. Treiber dieser Entwicklung ist die weltweit steigende Nachfrage nach Kunststoffprodukten. Sorgen bereiten den Unternehmen hingegen die weiter steigenden Öl-, Rohstoff- und Strompreise.<br />Insgesamt erwartet die Röchling-Gruppe erneut eine deutliche Ergebnissteigerung im Jahr 2006. Maßgeblich hierfür sind die erfolgreiche Restrukturierung und die Konzentration auf die Kunststoffverarbeitung. So wird die Röchling-Gruppe im laufenden Geschäftsjahr ihre Marktführerschaft in Europa weiter ausbauen, in Amerika expandieren und durch Investitionen in Asien das starke Wachstum fortsetzen. Nachdem die Phase der Restrukturierung abgeschlossen wurde, stehen nun die Zeichen deutlich auf Wachstumskurs. Dies erfolgt sowohl durch eigenes Wachstum, als auch durch Unternehmenszukäufe, wenn sich die Gelegenheit dazu bietet. </p> <p>Wichtigste Ziele der Röchling-Gruppe für das Geschäftsjahr 2006 sind die Fortsetzung des Erfolgskurses im Bereich Hochleistungs-Kunststoffe und die weitere Verbesserung der Ertrags- und Finanzkraft des Unternehmensbereichs Automobil-Kunststoffe. Bei den Hochleistungs-Kunststoffen erwartet Röchling ein nervöses und volatiles wirtschaftliches und politisches Umfeld. Die Rohstoffpreise – und vor allem der Erdölpreis – bremsen die Investitionen der Industrie. Insgesamt bewertet die Gruppe die Geschäftsaussichten jedoch positiv. </p> <p>Der Unternehmensbereich Automobil-Kunststoffe bekommt zunehmend die angekündigten Sanierungsmaßnahmen namhafter Automobilhersteller zu spüren. Diese planen, erhebliche Einkaufsvolumina in so genannte Niedriglohnländer zu verlagern. Dies wird voraussichtlich die Produktionszahlen bei Zulieferern in Deutschland und Westeuropa verringern. Die Röchling-Gruppe profitiert jedoch davon, dass sie auch in den Niedriglohnregionen mit Produktionsstätten präsent ist. Sie baut die Produktionsbasis in Osteuropa mit Hochdruck aus. Weitere Chancen ergeben sich aus der Neuvergabe von Aufträgen für laufende Modellreihen. </p> <p>Langfristig hat der Bereich Automobil-Kunststoffe sehr gute Wachstumschancen. In der Automobilbranche wird der seit Jahren vorherrschende Trend zum Materialmix in Fahrzeugen und damit zur Steigerung des Kunststoffanteils weiter anhalten. Weltweit treibt außerdem die konstant steigende Nachfrage nach neuen Fahrzeugen die Stückzahlen der Automobilindustrie in die Höhe. Wichtigste Wachstumsregionen sind Asien, Osteuropa und Brasilien. Röchling hat sich auf diese Marktentwicklung mit der Gründung von weiteren Werken und einem Vertriebsbüro in China sowie neuen Produktionsstätten in Tschechien und Lettland sehr gut eingestellt. Die hohen Innovationsraten bei Produkt- und Verfahrenslösungen, die zunehmende Globalisierung des Unternehmensbereichs und der Ausbau von Partnerschaften, z.B. bei Filtern, Lüftern und Saugrohren, stellen eine gute Positionierung der Röchling-Gruppe in diesem wettbewerbsintensiven Wachstumsmarkt sicher. </p> <p>Unternehmensporträt: </p> <p>Die weltweit operierende Röchling-Gruppe steht mit ca. 6.000 Mitarbeitern an 51 Standorten in 16 Ländern für Kompetenz in Kunststoff. Mit ihren beiden Unternehmensbereichen Hochleistungs-Kunststoffe und Automobil-Kunststoffe konzentriert sie sich auf die Verarbeitung hochwertiger Kunststoffe zu Halbzeugen, Teilen und Systemen für eine Vielzahl industrieller Anwendungen. Röchling steht für innovative Produkte und modernste Prozesstechnologie in der Kunststoffverarbeitung. Der Unternehmensbereich Hochleistungs-Kunststoffe verfügt über ein Produktspektrum von Halbzeugen wie Platten, Rund-, Hohl und Flachstäben über Profile und Formgussteile bis hin zu mechanisch bearbeiteten Fertigteilen. Im Unternehmensbereich Automobil-Kunststoffe sind die Unternehmen, die sich als Zulieferer im Automobilbereich betätigen, zusammengefasst. Gefertigt werden technologisch anspruchsvolle Produkte aus Polymerwerkstoffen und Naturfaserformstoffen für den Motorraum, den Unterboden und den Innenraum.</p>]]></content:encoded> <category>Röchling Medical</category> <category>Press Releases</category> <category>Röchling Automotive</category> <category>Röchling Industrial</category> <category>Röchling Group</category> </item> <item> <guid isPermaLink="false">news-273</guid> <pubDate>Thu, 09 Jun 2005 11:08:00 +0200</pubDate> <title>Röchling Expands Plastics Business </title> <link>https://www.roechling.com/news-roechling-group/news-detail-view/news/roechling-expands-plastics-business/</link> <description>Mannheim-based Group plans takeovers in the plastics segmentRöchling now free of debtDent in profits due to DeTeWeOutstanding position in plastics processingMannheim (Germany), June 9, 2005 – Fiscal year 2004 was characterized by increased concentration on the plastics business for the Röchling Group. Takeovers of companies involved in the processing of plastics are planned for the near future. The worldwide operating group of companies also focused increasingly on strengthening its financial capabilities and consolidating its subsidiary DeTeWe. This subsidiary suffered primarily from the price war in the telecommunications market and the weak state of the economy in Germany.</description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Mannheim-based Group plans takeovers in the plastics segmentRöchling now free of debtDent in profits due to DeTeWeOutstanding position in plastics processingMannheim (Germany), June 9, 2005 – Fiscal year 2004 was characterized by increased concentration on the plastics business for the Röchling Group. Takeovers of companies involved in the processing of plastics are planned for the near future. The worldwide operating group of companies also focused increasingly on strengthening its financial capabilities and consolidating its subsidiary DeTeWe. This subsidiary suffered primarily from the price war in the telecommunications market and the weak state of the economy in Germany. </p> <p>As part of its focus on plastics processing, Röchling sold off three companies from its Electronics division: the subsidiaries GMC and FHF, and this year the Francotyp-Postalia Group, market leader in Europe for franking and enveloping systems. The Electronics division now consists only of the DeTeWe Group and the BEA Group. Financial liabilities were further decreased, mainly by means of a reduction of the working capital. Over the past four years, these liabilities were reduced from EUR -238 million to EUR -35 million in 2004. As a result of the sale of Francotyp-Postalia the Röchling Group is now free of bank debt in net terms. </p> <p>“We have thus provided the necessary leeway for our acquisitions in the plastics business“ explained Georg Duffner, chairman of the Management Board of the Röchling Group. “Röchling is now completing its transformation from a technology group positioned in many industries to a pure plastics specialist. Almost no other material can offer so many diverse properties or such a high level of innovation and growth potential. As a technology leader, we are already optimally positioned in this important future market.” The Engineering Plastics division increased its sales over the last three years by 30 percent on the basis of its own efforts, from EUR 290 million to EUR 378 million. Duffner adds: “No other material will increase in significance to the extent of plastics this century. This business segment provides us with excellent, lasting opportunities for profit.&quot; </p> <p><b>Röchling Group acquires Seeber Belgium</b> </p> <p>In the course of the initial expansion in this business, the Röchling Group acquired the remaining 50% share in plastics manufacturer Seeber Belgium N.V. from joint venture partner Denderland Martin N.V. in May of this year. “Our aim is to expand the location further by supplying automobile manufacturers in Belgium, northern France and the UK.“ Customers of Seeber Belgium include Opel, Ford, Landrover and Volvo. </p> <p>Growth in the plastics business was unable to fully make up for the decline in sales of the DeTeWe Group, however. Total sales of the Röchling Group therefore slipped by 8.3 percent to EUR 1,396 million. Adjusted for changes in the companies included in the consolidation and for differences in exchange rates, the decrease in sales amounted to 3 percent. Incoming orders decreased by 6.9 percent to EUR 1,367 million. In 2004, the Röchling Group achieved earnings before taxes and interest (EBIT) of EUR 36.3 million (EUR 49.6 million in 2003) and pre-tax earnings (EBT) of EUR 23.7 million (EUR 36.4 million in 2003). Losses from the telecommunications business and the resulting high non-recurrent expenditure pertaining to the social security scheme and from value adjustments were decisive in this case.<br />The number of employees decreased by 12.1 percent to 7,994 as a result of the disposals and reductions in personnel. </p> <p><b>Engineering Plastics advance by 11 percent</b> </p> <p>The Engineering Plastics division, which came into existence from the Röchling Engineering Plastics Group (REP) and the Sustaplast Group, increased its sales by 11 percent to EUR 378 million. Incoming orders grew by 8 percent to EUR 379 million, while the orders on hand advanced from EUR 41 million to EUR 43 million. The number of employees increased by 6 percent to 1,944 due to the favorable business development. The subsidiaries of the division further expanded their market leadership. Increasing sales in the electronics business boosted sales with Durostone products (fiber optics-reinforced plastics/laminated densified wood). The Thermoplast business – panels, bead molding and profiles made of plastic, among other things – also continued to pick up. Both growing demand and an increase in selling prices in the second half of 2004 were the decisive factors. </p> <p>Business for both REP and Sustaplast was marked by drastic price increases for raw materials. Among the most significant investments of the business segment was the expansion of production at the subsidiary REP by 3,200 square meters and two extrusion plants for Polyolefine at the head office in Haren. A similar plant was also put into operation in Singapore. In addition, the Röchling Engineering Plastics Group opened a logistics center there for delivery to all of Asia. Sustaplast started up a further logistics center in the USA. The Engineering Plastics division also expanded its production – with pipe and mold manufacture at Sustaplast/Lahnstein – in Germany as well as in the Czech Republic and in Shanghai, China. REP established a subsidiary there to produce thermoplastic semi-finished parts. </p> <p><b>Automotive: a leading position in product and process development</b> </p> <p>In the Automotive section – which includes the Seeber Group and the Röchling Kaltwalzwerk cold-rolling plant – sales in 2004 slipped somewhat compared to the previous year. They decreased by 3.5 percent to EUR 585 million. Due to weaker demand, the number of employees was decreased by 7.5 percent to 3,375. The business of the Seeber Group is increasingly being defined by its leading position in product and process technology. Seeber-Röchling Automotive thus has numerous unique selling points, for example in the air ducts of its intake systems. The company has been collaborating with the Italian automotive subcontractor Cornaglia since last year. This collaboration is opening up the path into the after-sales market through the use of filters, as these products need to be replaced on a regular basis. At the same time it is one more step in the direction of module providers, clearly improving the competitive position. Added to this was the expansion of new technologies, such as in particular the development and production of super-light underbody panels made of LWRT (Low Weight Reinforced Thermoplastics). </p> <p>While the Automotive division continued to press ahead with the construction of additional production sites in Eastern Europe in 2004, the ongoing negotiations in China regarding new orders were also looking very promising. As part of this process, the joint venture in Changchun received the follow-up order of the VW Bora model. In addition to VW, the most important customers of the company – namely BMW, DaimlerChrysler and Audi – have now also gained access to the Chinese market. </p> <p><b>Electronics: a record year for Francotyp-Postalia</b> </p> <p>Sales in the Electronics division slipped by 22 percent to EUR 492 million due to the difficulties at DeTeWe. The number of employees declined by 25 percent to 2,821 employees. The Francotyp-Postalia Group can look back on the most successful business year in its corporate history. The drive behind the growth came primarily from the high demand for machinery with the new franking program known as “FrankIT“ by Deutsche Post.<br />Holdup of orders, tough competition and a sharp decline in prices characterized the telecommunications market in 2004. This serious crisis hit the DeTeWe Group especially hard. The decision was therefore made to initiate a major reconstruction of the company and in January 2005 a new corporate structure was introduced. As part of this reorganization, simplification of the product range and a significant reduction of personnel has been implemented. </p> <p>Summary of 2004: Financial capabilities were strengthened and Engineering Plastics were promoted </p> <p>Despite the dent in profits caused by DeTeWe, the Röchling Group was able to decisively strengthen its financial capabilities in fiscal year 2004. Francotyp-Postalia contributed to this with record results. The Automotive division profited from the development of new products and procedures, and the favorable position in the growth market of Engineering Plastics could be further expanded. </p> <p><b>First quarter of 2005: Starting out with a headwind</b> </p> <p>The launch into fiscal year 2005 was marked by an unfavorable economic environment for the Röchling Group. This was expressed in the form of enormous price increases for raw materials and a clearly weaker automotive business, among other things. Sales fell by 16 percent (adjusted for consolidation effects by 10 percent) to EUR 298.3 million. The Engineering Plastics division recorded slight sales growth. The orientation of the Röchling Group to the plastics business is reflected in the increasing weight of these activities within the Group. The share of the plastic processing companies in total sales thus increased from 65 percent in the corresponding quarter the previous year to 71 percent in the first quarter of 2005. This share is expected to increase even further in the current fiscal year. </p> <p><b>Outlook for 2005: Increase in earnings power despite great challenges</b> </p> <p>The lingering difficult situation in the automotive market and the enormous price increases in raw materials for plastics present the Röchling Group with some considerable challenges. The company is nevertheless confident that it will continue to move forward on its way to increasing earnings and completely reducing debts in fiscal year 2005 as well, and that it will accomplish this under its own power. </p> <p><b>Further development of the Röchling Group</b> </p> <p>A long-term goal of the Röchling Group is to achieve a rate of return of at least five percent, with an equity ratio of more than 30 percent. Through a series of additional purchases, the Group intends to strongly expand its position in the plastics segment. “We see great potential for additional purchases in the plastics processing industry,” stated Duffner. “As an association of medium-sized companies with the common theme of plastics technology, we will continue to expand our leading position within Europe. At the same time, we want to grow in America and greatly expand in Asia.” </p> <p>Röchling Group Company Portrait: </p> <p>The Röchling Group, a worldwide operating technology group, focuses strongly on its three divisions Engineering Plastics, Automotive and Electronics. </p> <p>The Engineering Plastics division consists of Röchling Engineering Plastics KG and the Sustaplast Group. Its diversified portfolio of high-performance products meets the industry’s growing demand for increasingly lighter materials that also guarantee extreme strength and optimum moldability. Further characteristics of the diversified portfolio’s materials are their maximum resistance to wear and abrasion, their superior gliding quality as well as outstanding insulation qualities. </p> <p>Among the fields of expertise of the Automotive division – together with the Seeber Group and Röchling Kaltwalzwerk – is the manufacture of lightweight construction parts made from plastics for almost all well-known automotive manufacturers worldwide. Application areas are especially automobile interiors, engine compartments and underbodies. Moreover, the division provides cold rolled, phosphated and hardened steel strip primarily for engine parts. </p> <p>The third division, Electronics , is comprised of the subsidiaries DeTeWe and BEA. The Group accordingly also holds a leading position in Europe with its comprehensive and innovative product palette for voice and data communications. Another business segment is the construction of industrial plants with a focus on electrical engineering and Automation.</p>]]></content:encoded> <category>Röchling Medical</category> <category>Press Releases</category> <category>Röchling Automotive</category> <category>Röchling Industrial</category> <category>Röchling Group</category> </item> <item> <guid isPermaLink="false">news-275</guid> <pubDate>Mon, 23 May 2005 11:25:00 +0200</pubDate> <title>Röchling Expands Plastics Activities and Acquires Remaining Half-Share in Seeber Belgium</title> <link>https://www.roechling.com/news-roechling-group/news-detail-view/news/roechling-expands-plastics-activities-and-acquires-remaining-half-share-in-seeber-belgium/</link> <description>Mannheim (Germany), May 5, 2005 – The Mannheim-based Röchling Group has acquired the 50% share in Seeber Belgium N.V. that was held by its joint venture partner Denderland Martin N.V. Non-disclosure of the purchase price was agreed.</description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Mannheim (Germany), May 5, 2005 – The Mannheim-based Röchling Group has acquired the 50% share in Seeber Belgium N.V. that was held by its joint venture partner Denderland Martin N.V. Non-disclosure of the purchase price was agreed. </p> <p>“The acquisition is a result of the Röchling Group’s consistent alignment as a plastics group,” said the Group’s COO, Burckhard Frank. “Our aim is to expand the location further by supplying automobile manufacturers in Belgium, northern France and the UK and to achieve further growth.” </p> <p>In 2004, Seeber Belgium sales totaled EUR 33 million with 151 employees. Customers include carmakers Opel, Ford, Land Rover and Volvo.</p>]]></content:encoded> <category>Röchling Medical</category> <category>Press Releases</category> <category>Röchling Automotive</category> <category>Röchling Industrial</category> <category>Röchling Group</category> </item> <item> <guid isPermaLink="false">news-281</guid> <pubDate>Wed, 09 Jun 2004 11:49:00 +0200</pubDate> <title>The Röchling Group Good prospects of further improving its earning power and its financial situation in general </title> <link>https://www.roechling.com/news-roechling-group/news-detail-view/news/the-roechling-group-good-prospects-of-further-improving-its-earning-power-and-its-financial-situation/</link> <description>Mannheim, Germany, 9 June 2004. The Röchling Group, which consists of three divisions, Engineering Plastics, Automotive and Electronics, experienced a positive development in its activities in fiscal 2003 despite the fact that the business year was clearly influenced by a weak economy. A globally operating group of companies focusing on the field of technology, Röchling was considerably affected by the difficult market situation and costs incurred as a result of its restructuring measures. It was nevertheless able to increase its pre-tax earnings (EBT) slightly to € 36.4 m (2002: € 35.1 m). The group turnover fell by 0.9 per cent to € 1,523 m, as did the total order value, which amounted to € 1,469 m. The number of people employed by the Group was reduced by 1.2 per cent to 9,102. </description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<ul><li><span class="circle">Earnings were increased to € 36.4 m</span></li><li><span class="circle">Net financial debts were reduced from € 134.4 m to € 61.6 m</span></li><li><span class="circle"></span>Total order value and turnover attained virtually the same level as in the previous year</li><li><span class="circle">Good positioning in China’s growth market</span></li><li><span class="circle"></span>Good results and further improvement in the Group’s financial situation are expected for 2004</li></ul><p>Mannheim, Germany, 9 June 2004. The Röchling Group, which consists of three divisions, Engineering Plastics, Automotive and Electronics, experienced a positive development in its activities in fiscal 2003 despite the fact that the business year was clearly influenced by a weak economy. A globally operating group of companies focusing on the field of technology, Röchling was considerably affected by the difficult market situation and costs incurred as a result of its restructuring measures. It was nevertheless able to increase its pre-tax earnings (EBT) slightly to € 36.4 m (2002: € 35.1 m). The group turnover fell by 0.9 per cent to € 1,523 m, as did the total order value, which amounted to € 1,469 m. The number of people employed by the Group was reduced by 1.2 per cent to 9,102. </p> <p>“In view of the unfavourable economic situation last year and the great pressure to cut costs we came under as a result, we’re satisfied with the outcome,” said Georg Duffner, President and CEO Röchling Group, commenting on the course of Röchling’s business activities.<br />“We attained our goal of increasing our earning power and considerably improving our financial situation,” he continued. The Group was able to reduce its net financial debts from € 132 m to € 62 m, for example. In all, the Röchling Group has reduced its level of debt by more than € 200 m in the past three years. In fiscal 2003 its free cash flow amounted to € 81 m.<br /><br /><b>Extending its technological leadership</b><br /><br />There were two reasons for the increase in earning power, according to Duffner, the first being systematic cost-cutting and a strict approach to making cost savings. The second was the company’s drive to enhance both process and product development and strengthen its position as a technological leader in a large number of sectors. Röchling Engineering Plastics, for instance, was able to reduce the processing costs for one of its large customers by manufacturing extruded plastic sheets that were 16m long, 3m wide and 30mm thick. The automotive division developed ultralight underbody panels for the BMW 5 series that weigh 30 per cent less than previously used materials while retaining the same degree of durability. DeTeWe also drew a lot of interest from visitors at the CeBIT trade fair partly due to its new OpenCom 36lan In­ternet communications system, the first system supporting the new “MMS in the fixed network” service, and partly due to the OpenCom 130, its modular communications system with up to 100 ports.<br /><b><br />Well-positioned in expanding markets</b> </p> <p>The improvement of Röchling’s position in growth markets was a key factor in the positive development of the Group. For one, its position in the United States was improved as a result of large orders it won in the plastics sector. Investments were prioritised in a number of countries, with the emphasis being placed on China. Duffner said he expected “further pleasing contributions to the Group’s financial results” as a result of Röchling’s corporate activities in that country. </p> <p><b>Engineering plastics: releasing synergies through fusions</b><br /><br />The Engineering Plastics division had a difficult year due to the situation on the electricity market (power generation/power distribution). It managed to moderately increase its turnover by 2 per cent, reaching € 296 m, and it increased the size of its workforce by 5 per cent to 1,653 employees. Röchling Haren KG and its subsidiary Röchling Trovidur KG merged on 1 January 2004 to form Röchling Engineering Plastics KG, a move enabling both companies to benefit considerably from potential synergies. The new company is a world leader in its field, manufacturing the entire range of semi-finished products and machined parts made from thermoplastics and du­roplastics. Two of the most significant product innovations to be currently marketed are “Durolight”, a new insulating material with an extremely low specific weight and a particularly low thermal conductivity, and the soldering mask material known as Durostone CLF 280. The latter is significantly better than conventional materials with respect to its resilience and resistance to temperature.<br />Engineering Plastics strengthened its international sales network by setting up a subsidiary company in India. In addition to this, it took over operations at Röchling Technické Plasty s.r.o. in Tabor, Czech Republic. Sustaplast gained more space with which to expand its production facilities at its Lahnstein site in Germany due to the acquisition of bordering land belonging to the German Armed Forces.<br /><br /><b>Automotive division increases turnover</b> </p> <p>For Röchling’s automotive division, the year 2003 was not only characterised by price erosion caused by car manufacturers, but also by the increasing cost of materials. In spite of these unfavourable conditions, the division increased its turnover by 10 per cent, pushing it up to € 606 m. The number of staff employed rose by 4 per cent to reach 3,648. The Seeber Group streamlined its production processes and also reduced its administrative costs, shutting down two sites in Dachau and Emmering and relocating part of its development department and the production facilities in Em­mering to Gernsbach and Peine. At the same time as this was done, the facilities in China were expanded - a new workshop was set up in Changchun for the production of door trim for the Audi A4. Röchling Kaltwalzwerk KG, which cold-rolls steel, in­vested in a new bonderising machine. This coats cold-rolled steel with a zinc phosphate film, thereby optimising it for further processing in the automotive industry. </p> <p><b>The Electronics division: DeTeWe undergoes restructuring</b><br /><br />The Electronics division of the Röchling Group is the largest area of the organisation. Its turnover fell by 7.5 per cent to € 630 m and the number of people employed dropped by 8 per cent, reaching an end-of-year figure of 3,764. Although it developed several very successful products in 2003, the DeTeWe Group ended the year with a loss. This was largely due to the drop in prices on the market for telecommunications equipment and the heavy costs incurred as a result of the reorganisation of Funk­werk Köpenick. For DeTeWe the business year was heavily influenced by restructuring measures. DeTeWe concentrated on expanding its European sales operations and in addition it focused more on specialist retailers and its IT business.<br />Gossen-Metrawatt and Francotyp-Postalia, the two subgroups of Röchling, attained the best operative results, profiting from a stable market and successful innovative products. Francotyp-Postalia, for example, produced a new generation of inkjet franking machines for franking 30 to 300 letters. The emphasis of research was put on preparation for the conversion to Deutsche Post AG’s new franking software FranKIT. Since 1 April 2004, Deutsche Post AG (Germany’s postal service) has only been accepting letters stamped using this program. Being the market leader in franking machines, Francotyp-Postalia feels it has excellent potential for growth in this segment. </p> <p><b>Getting off to a good start in 2004</b> </p> <p>Almost all of the groups of companies got off to a good start in the new year. In April 2004 earnings before tax (EBT) reached € 12.7 m (compared with € 7.1 m in Q1 of 2003), whilst profits prior to tax and interest (EBIT) rose by 29 per cent to € 15.7 m. In the same period, turnover fell by 4 per cent to € 467.3 m and the total order value dropped by 7 per cent to € 471.7 m. Two reasons for this are the existing problems on the telecommunications market and the sell-off of peripheral business operations. As a result, the number of employees was cut by 5 per cent, falling to 8,255 by year-end.<br /><br /><b>Perspectives for the rest of 2004: the Röchling Group expects the positive trend to continue</b><br /><br />The Röchling Group forecasts that in fiscal 2004 it is likely to further increase its earning power by a significant amount. The situation on the telecommunications market will remain difficult, however. DeTeWe’s business operations will consequently continue to be influenced by stringent cost reductions and the reduction of its staff overhead. At the same time it will continue to enhance its sales potential. “We expect a good result and the further improvement of our financial situation in 2004,” said Duffner optimistically. “The good opportunities for growth in the engineering plastics and automotive division and are essential if this is to be achieved, as are the creation of further innovative products, additional cost reductions and our continued expansion in China,” he explained. </p> <p>THE RÖCHLING GROUP - A CORPORATE PORTRAIT: </p> <p>A globally operating group of companies focused on technology, the Röchling Group consists of three main sectors: Engineering Plastics, Automotive and Electronics.<br /><br />The Engineering Plastics division is made up of the Röchling Engineering Plastics Group and the Sustaplast Group and manufactures a wide range of high-performance products for industrial use. In particular, the division meets the increasing demand for lightweight materials that can be moulded very easily and yet are extremely strong. In addition to these characteristics, the products made have an exceedingly high resistance to wear and abrasion, glide smoothly and provide optimal insulation. </p> <p>The areas of competence in the Automotive division, which embraces the Seeber Group and Röchling Kaltwalzwerk KG, include the production of lightweight plastic components made for almost all well-known car manufacturers worldwide. Such components are used in engine compartments and vehicle un­terbodies and interiors. Besides this, the division manufactures cold-rolled, bonderised and hardened hoop steel, which is mainly used for producing engine parts.<br /><br />The Electronics division includes the three sub-groups DeTeWe, Francotyp-Postalia, BEA and the FHF. Francotyp-Postalia has become one of the world’s leading suppliers of digital franking and enveloping machinery for use in the automated processing of mail. With a broad range of innovative products designed for voice and data communication, DeTeWe is now ranked as a market leader in Europe. In addition to these activities, the Röchling Group also produces industrial plants, mainly for areas such as electrical engineering and automation.</p>]]></content:encoded> <category>Röchling Medical</category> <category>Press Releases</category> <category>Röchling Automotive</category> <category>Röchling Industrial</category> <category>Röchling Group</category> </item> <item> <guid isPermaLink="false">news-283</guid> <pubDate>Wed, 26 Nov 2003 11:53:00 +0100</pubDate> <title>New Managing Director for the Röchling Group </title> <link>https://www.roechling.com/news-roechling-group/news-detail-view/news/new-managing-director-for-the-roechling-group/</link> <description>Mannheim (Germany), September 26, 2003 – The Supervisory Board of Gebr. Röchling KG has appointed Burckhard Frank (60) as COO of the company.</description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p> Mannheim (Germany), September 26, 2003 – The Supervisory Board of Gebr. Röchling KG has appointed Burckhard Frank (60) as COO of the company.<br /><br />Frank has worked for the Röchling Group for over ten years and during this time has run the Sustaplast Group in Lahnstein very successfully as CEO. With his expertise in the area of plastics, Burckhard Frank will make a significant contribution to the future development of the Röchling Group.<br /><br />Burckhard Frank´s successor as CEO of Sustaplast KG will be Ludger Bartels (50).<br /><br /> Bartels takes over this position in addition to his existing duties as CEO of the Röchling Engineering Plastics (REP) Group, a company that he has been managing in conjunction with Dr. Joachim Brunswicker (48) for many years, achieving outstanding results. </p>]]></content:encoded> <category>Röchling Medical</category> <category>Press Releases</category> <category>Röchling Automotive</category> <category>Röchling Industrial</category> <category>Röchling Group</category> </item> <item> <guid isPermaLink="false">news-285</guid> <pubDate>Tue, 18 Nov 2003 11:57:00 +0100</pubDate> <title>Merger at the wish of the customers </title> <link>https://www.roechling.com/news-roechling-group/news-detail-view/news/merger-at-the-wish-of-the-customers/</link> <description>Mannheim (Germany), September 18,2003 – The initiative for the merger came so to speak from the customers. These had expressed a corresponding wish within the framework of a broadly-based customer opinion survey.</description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Mannheim (Germany), September 18,2003 – The initiative for the merger came so to speak from the customers. These had expressed a corresponding wish within the framework of a broadly-based customer opinion survey. </p> <p>The merger has already been preceded by amalgamating the organisations of the sales and distribution activities for thermoplastic products. This means that only very little will change for the employees at both sites. The site in Haren will continue to produce polyolefins (PE/PP), PVDF and composite materials (glass-fibre reinforced plastics and laminated densified wood) while PVC panels will still be manufactured at the Troisdorf site. </p> <p>After the merger has been accomplished, the new company will be able to offer its customers the whole product spectrum as well as all services truly from a single source. </p> <p>Ludger Bartels, chairman of the management board in Haren says with regard to the new name of the company: &quot;We have decided in favour of the English-language name of the company &quot;Röchling Engineering Plastics KG&quot;, because this best expresses our international orientation and our global marketing strategy.&quot; </p> <p>The Managing Director of Röchling Trovidur KG, Franz Lübbers, who will in future run the new business division Trovidur, is convinced of the correctness of amalgamating the activities: &quot;The unification of the two biggest companies in the Group will increase the satisfaction of our customers further and will help to consolidate our leading market position.&quot; </p> <p>The Röchling Haren Group with 22 sites world-wide is a leading international manufacturer of semi-finished products and machined finished components made of thermoplastics and composite materials for practically all sectors of the capital goods industry. Group sales in 2002 amounted to 225 million Euro, some 80 per cent of this figure being achieved outside Germany. </p> <p>New Logo: Röchling Haren KG and Röchling Trovidur KG become Röchling Engineering Plastics KG </p> <p>Röchling Haren KG<br />Management Ludger Bartels (Chairman)<br />Dr. Joachim Brunswicker<br />Röchlingstr. 1<br />D-49733 Haren/Germany<br />Phone.: +49 (0) 0 59 34/701-0 </p> <p>Röchling Trovidur KG <br />Management <br />Franz Lübbers <br />P.O. Box 1661 <br />D-53826 Troisdorf/Germany <br />Phone: +49 (0) 22 41/48 20-0 </p>]]></content:encoded> <category>Röchling Medical</category> <category>Press Releases</category> <category>Röchling Automotive</category> <category>Röchling Industrial</category> <category>Röchling Group</category> </item> <item> <guid isPermaLink="false">news-287</guid> <pubDate>Wed, 27 Aug 2003 12:01:00 +0200</pubDate> <title>Roechling Defies Economic Slowdown </title> <link>https://www.roechling.com/news-roechling-group/news-detail-view/news/roechling-defies-economic-slowdown/</link> <description>Mannheim, August 27th, 2003. Roechling Group with its three divisions in the business lines of Engineered Plastics, Automotive Engineering and Electronics was able to hold its own despite the economic slowdown. </description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Mannheim, August 27th, 2003. &nbsp;Roechling Group with its three divisions in the business lines of Engineered Plastics, Automotive Engineering and Electronics was able to hold its own despite the economic slowdown. </p> <p>This is evidenced by the release of the company´s semi-annual results. Due to the delicate situation in the electronics market place, the turnover of 743 Mil. EURO (previous year: 768 Mil. EURO) is slightly lower. However, it does not have a negative impact on the final results.&nbsp; Consequential cost adjustments and strict retrenchment policies even enabled the Group to somewhat enhance the 22 Mil. EURO EBT (previous year: 21 Mil.&nbsp; EURO). By increasing the cash-flow considerably, net indebtedness was reduced to 136 Mil. EURO (previous year: 259 Mil. EURO). </p> <p>With 753 Mil. EURO in new orders, a good result was achieved (previous year: 732 Mil. EURO).&nbsp; Provided there is not another economic slump, the management of the Röchling-Group expects yet another increase in profit and a continuing decrease in indebtedness for the remainder of this business year. </p>]]></content:encoded> <category>Röchling Group</category> <category>Röchling Industrial</category> <category>Röchling Automotive</category> <category>Press Releases</category> <category>Röchling Medical</category> </item> <item> <guid isPermaLink="false">news-289</guid> <pubDate>Wed, 04 Jun 2003 12:04:00 +0200</pubDate> <title>Results Improved, Financial Situation Strengthened </title> <link>https://www.roechling.com/news-roechling-group/news-detail-view/news/results-improved-financial-situation-strengthened/</link> <description>Mannheim (Germany) June 04, 2003. Gebr. Röchling-Group with its three business segments engineered plastics, automotive and electronics, looks back on a difficult, yet successful business year 2002. &quot;In spite of the unfavorable economic development we raised our profits significantly,&quot; reports Georg Duffner, CEO. &quot;Our increased profits are the result of successful restructuring measures in the electronics and automotiove engineering fields as well as the sustained, positive development of the plastics business. Röchling did well in 2002 and faces 2003 optimistically in spite of the continuously unfavorable general conditions.&quot; </description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<ul><li><span class="circle">Engineered plastics on the way up</span></li><li><span class="circle"></span>Automotive expands in the US and China</li><li><span class="circle">Restructuring of electronics business shows positive results</span></li><li><span class="circle">Company goal for 2003: Further improvement of results, additional debt reduction </span></li></ul><p>Mannheim (Germany) June 04, 2003. Gebr. Röchling-Group with its three business segments engineered plastics, automotive and electronics, looks back on a difficult, yet successful business year 2002. &quot;In spite of the unfavorable economic development we raised our profits significantly,&quot; reports Georg Duffner, CEO. &quot;Our increased profits are the result of successful restructuring measures in the electronics and automotiove engineering fields as well as the sustained, positive development of the plastics business. Röchling did well in 2002 and faces 2003 optimistically in spite of the continuously unfavorable general conditions.&quot; </p> <p>The group increased its profits before taxes and interests (EBIT) by 51 percent to 54.4 million Euro in the business year 2002. At the same time, profits before taxes increased by 160 percent to 35.1 million Euro. The adverse economic conditions are reflected by a 7 percent decline in sales to 1.53 billion Euro. Incoming orders decreased by 9 percent to 1.48 billion Euro. Due to adjustments to the difficult market situation the number of employees sank by 12 percent to 9,213 employees. </p> <p>Also, the financial situation was significantly improved: Röchling-Group lowered its net liabilities from 238 million Euro in 2001 to 132 million Euro in 2002, while increasing its free cashflow from 25 million to 94 million Euro. In the year 2000 the company still suffered from a negative free cashflow of -26 million Euro. The successful development was mainly achieved through a drastic lowering of the working capital by about 50 million Euro. </p> <p><b>Engineered Plastics on the Way Up<br /></b> </p> <p>Gebr. Röchling-Group is divided into three business segments: engineered plastics, automotive and electronics. The biggest contribution to the year’s operating profit was delivered by the business segment engineered plastics - despite the worldwide recession in the customer markets for machine building and electrical engineering. This segment raised this year’s operating profit by 6 percent to 35 million Euro compared to previous year’s profit. Incoming orders gained 3.6 percent and reached 288 million Euro. At the same time sales grew by 3.2 percent to 290 million Euro. </p> <p>Important events of the year 2002 in this business segment were the founding of the joint venture Sustaplast Devol Ltd. in Scotland and of Czech company Röchling Techniké Plasty s.r.o. at Prague, as well as the establishment of Chinese distribution company Röchling International (Shanghai) at Pudong and that of production company Leripa Papertech LLC at Jiangsu, China. </p> <p><b>Business Segment Automotive Focuses on Profitable Orders</b> </p> <p>The business segment automotive continued to suffer the strong pressure on profit margins. Additionally, the financial situation was strained by increased advance financing of developments and manufacturing tools. Nevertheless, this segment was able to raise its profits before taxes by 57 percent to 11 million Euro. Sales dropped by 9 percent to 549 million Euro. The fact that Seeber-Group, being one of the leading manufacturers of plastics parts for the automotive industry now only accepts profitable and financially feasible orders, was crucial to this result. Especially the expansion of market positions China and the US was an incentive for economic growth. </p> <p><b>Turnaround in the Electronics Business Segment</b> </p> <p>In the electronics business segment a growth of results before taxes from -28 million Euro to +4 million Euro in the year 2002 marked the success of the radical restructuring. Sales slumped by 12 percent to 682 million Euro. One of the main reason, among others, is a revision of the business segment’s product portfolio. Incoming orders sank by 16 percent to 625 million Euro, while the number of employees dropped by 23 percent to 4,087 employees. The business of all four divisions of the group involved in this segment - DeTeWe, Francotyp-Postalia, GMC Instruments and BEA-Group - was dominated by a strict tightening of belts. Röchling streamlined and optimized processes and got rid of sources of loss. A number of new products were released and innovations pushed, thus enabling these companies to hold their market positions and increase their cashflow. </p> <p>These successes were achieved in spite of a clear decrease in sales and incoming orders. The significant slump of the telecommunications market strained DeTeWe’s business. A strong decrease of orders after the introduction of the Euro at the end of 2001 affected the business of Francotyp Postalia, a manufacturer of postage meter machines. Due to the increased demand for new machines and refittings the volume of orders had risen highly above the average level back then. </p> <p>The Outlook for 2003: Further Improvement of Operating Profits and Finances </p> <p>For the current business year 2003 Gebr. Röchling-Group expects again - despite the adverse economic situation - a growth in operating results and financial power. &quot;It is decisive that the current policy of austerity is maintained and costs are reduced, and that debts are reduced continuously,&quot; explains Duffner the group’s strategy. &quot;We expect signals for growth and simultaneously a gain of market shares through a further pushing of innovations as well as through the expansion of our presence in the US and Chinese market. We envision the best opportunities for continuing on our successful course in the year 2003.&quot; </p> <p>GEBR. RÖCHLING KG COMPANY PORTRAIT: </p> <p>Gebr. Röchling KG, a worldwide operating technology company belonging to Röchling-Group, focuses strongly on its three business segments engineered plastics, automotive and electronics. </p> <p>The business segment engineered plastics consists of Röchling Haren-Group and Sustaplast-Group. Its diversified portfolio of high-performance products meets the industry’s growing demand for increasingly lighter materials that also guarantee extreme strength and optimum mouldability. Further characteristics of the diversified portfolio’s materials are their maximum resistance to wear and abrasion, their superior gliding quality as well as outstanding insulation qualities. </p> <p>Among the automotive business segment’s fields of expertise - together with Seeber-Group and Röchling Kaltwalzwerk - is the manufacturing of lightweight construction parts made from plastics for almost all well-known automotive manufacturers worldwide. Application areas are especially automobile interiors, engine compartments and underbodies. Moreover, the business segment provides cold rolled, phosphated and hardened steel strip primarily for engine parts. </p> <p>The third business segment electronics is comprised of the group divisions DeTeWe, Francotyp Postalia, GMC Instruments and BEA. Here Gebr. Röchling ranges among the world’s leading manufacturers with their digital postage meter machines, enveloping technology for the automated processing of postal services and their metrology, drive and control technology systems. The group also holds a leading position in Europe with its comprehensive and innovative product palette for voice- and data communications. Another business segment of the group is the construction of industrial plants with a focus on electrical engineering and automation. </p>]]></content:encoded> <category>Röchling Medical</category> <category>Press Releases</category> <category>Röchling Automotive</category> <category>Röchling Industrial</category> <category>Röchling Group</category> </item> <item> <guid isPermaLink="false">news-293</guid> <pubDate>Mon, 22 Jul 2002 12:12:00 +0200</pubDate> <title>Röchling Is Right On Target </title> <link>https://www.roechling.com/news-roechling-group/news-detail-view/news/roechling-is-right-on-target/</link> <description>Mannheim (Germany), July 22, 2002 – The benchmark data of Gebr. Röchling KG for the first half of 2002 show that the company’s re-structuring measures work: The reduction of costs, discarding of unprofitable business, selling businesses with marginal activities, and last but not least increased productivity are measures that enabled the company to stand its ground in a difficult market during an instable economic situtation. </description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><b>Re-structuring measures begin to show resultsThe financial statement for 2001 and for the first half of 2002 have been published</b> </p> <p>Mannheim (Germany), July 22, 2002 – The benchmark data of Gebr. Röchling KG for the first half of 2002 show that the company’s re-structuring measures work: The reduction of costs, discarding of unprofitable business, selling businesses with marginal activities, and last but not least increased productivity are measures that enabled the company to stand its ground in a difficult market during an instable economic situtation. </p> <p>Gebr. Röchling KG’s result before taxes for the first half of 2002 is € +20 million comparedd to a loss of € -1 million for the same period of the previous year. “We are moving in the right direction; Röchling is right on target,” was the comment of Georg Duffner, Chairman of the Executive Board, on the newest figures. Admittedly the bad economic situation led to a decrease in new orders (a volume of € 732 million during the first half year of 2002 compared to € 833 million during the first half of 2001), and sales dropped from € 801 million for the first six months of 2001 to € 767 million for the first six months of the current year, but the company compensated for this development by cutting back on production capacity and by displaying aggressive innovativeness. “We are optimistic regarding our chances for a significantly improved profitability and more financial power in 2002,” Duffner adds. </p> <p>In the past business year, 2001, for which the Executive Board also presented the financial statement, Gebr. Röchling KG, which comprises all companies of the group which are not listed on the stock exchange, achieved a 3 per cent increase in sales (€ 1,6 billion). The annual surplus sank from € 18 million to € 10 million. The number of employees stayed the same as in the last year. </p> <p>The result was heavily influenced by the negative development of the telecommunications market: In the Electronics business segment the placement of new orders dropped to 745 million (2000: € 758 million), while sales dropped to € 779 million (2000: € 788 million). Likewise, in the first half of 2002, the volume of new orders decreased (by 19 per cent to € 312 million) and sales dropped (by 5 per cent to € 349 million). After a negative result before taxes of € -24 million for the first half of 2001, a profit of € +3 million was generated for the first six months of 2002. </p> <p>“During the business year 2001 homemade mistakes in the Electronics segment added to the impact of the bad economic situation. We cleaned up these mistakes by a reformation of the Boards, by strictly tightening our belts in order to reduce costs, plus we discarded of unprofitable businesses, such as Klein &amp; Partner and DeTeWe Produktionsgesellschaft mbH, while also increasing product innovativeness,” CEO Duffner elaborated. He points out that DeTeWe, a manufacturer of telecommunication installations, has developed a modern, competitive communications portal with its ‘OpenCom 1000’ product, which will also be sold in England, Austria and Switzerland from this year on. Francotyp-Postalia has launched its innovative franking machines ‘Mymail’ and ‘Optimail’. <br />In the completed business year 2001 especially the business segment Industrial Plastics stood out: The placement of new orders increased from € 262 million in 2000 to € 278 million in 2001, while sales grew from € 256 million to € 281 million at the same time. The result before taxes was € +33 million compared to € 29 million in the previous year.<br />This trend continued for the first half of 2002. The number of new orders increased by almost 9 per cent to € 158 million. Sales increased from almost 8 per cent to € 154 million. Duffner emphasizes that Gebr. Röchling KG’s Industrial Plastics segment stands out through its high quality level of production and processing technology. “Our products are appreciated worldwide,” he stated. </p> <p>In the business segment Automotive Technology, to which Seeber-Group and the Metal segment belong, the placement of new orders and sales increased in the business year 2001 (new orders from € 584 million in 2000 to € 607 million and sales from € 573 million in 2000 to € 602 million), though it should not go unmentioned that the result before taxes decreased from € 14 million to € 8 million in 2001. “Faced with less and less sufficient profit margins in the supply business, Seeber-Group did not manage to finish the business year with a satisfactory result,” judges Duffner. This trend could not be reversed in the first half of 2002. The volume of new orders (from € 306 million in the first half of 2001 to € 262 million in the first six months of the current year) as well as sales figures dropped (from € 294 million to € 264 million) for the business segment Automotive Technology. The result before taxes decreased from € 7 million in the first half of 2001 to € 3 million in the first half of this year. The companies belonging to the metal producing and working industries had a stabilizing effect on the result, Duffner said. This can be explained through high flexibility in manufacturing, experienced staff and good management. Nevertheless, even for these companies the bad economic situation led to a strong decline in new orders. </p> <p>Duffner sums up the overall results for the year 2001: “All in all, Gebr. Röchling-Group has earned a positive result, which nevertheless can and should be improved.” </p> <p>Röchling Industrie Verwaltung GmbH, which comprises mostly of Rheinmetall-Group companies that are listed on the stock exchange, was able to slightly increase its sales to € 4,630 billion (2000: € 4,598 billion) in the business year 2001. The EBITDA (Earnings Before Interests, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization) grew by 24 per cent from € 374 million to € 464 million in the same period. The number of employees sank by 7 per cent from 30,126 to 28,065. </p> <p>In the mid- and long-term the Plastics segment is supposed to gain more importance within Röchling-Group. “We are aiming at an organic growth process. If the opportunity presents itself, we will also use acquisitions,” Duffner states. It is a rule that all Röchling companies which wish to expand must do so with their own funds. </p>]]></content:encoded> <category>Röchling Medical</category> <category>Press Releases</category> <category>Röchling Automotive</category> <category>Röchling Industrial</category> <category>Röchling Group</category> </item> </channel> </rss>