Manz Automation with Strong Revenue Growth

Manz Automation AG, one of the world's leading providers of production systems for the photovoltaic and flat panel display (FPD) industry, almost tripled its revenue in the first three months of 2011. With the view to the upcoming months, all indicators point to further growth, too. Thus it has been possible to win orders in the volume of around EUR 50 million. Along with systems to produce touch panels, automation and process systems for the manufacture of crystalline solar cells, the company has successfully tapped synergy effects in the thin film area with a first order from SAGE, a US manufacturer of dynamic window glass that changes tint to optimize daylight and improve the human experience within buildings. Overall, the order backlog of the company meanwhile increased to more than EUR 150 million.
Martin Hipp, CFO of Manz Automation, attributes the positive trend on both the revenue and earnings sides to several factors: "Along with a significant expansion of our operating business, we are increasingly benefiting from the cost-reduction measures that we successfully launched during the past years, including in the purchasing function, for example, as well as in the components standardisation area. The marked year-on-year improvement in capacity utilisation in all of our business areas also contributed to our return to the profitability zone."