Press releases - archive

Komax achieves further strong sales growth

The Komax Group achieved pleasing growth once more in fiscal 2011. New orders totalled CHF 380.4 million (+7%), while revenues rose 9% to around CHF 370 million (2010: CHF 340.2 million). The Group's annual financial statements and Annual Report will be published at the media conference and analysts' presentation to be held on 20 March 2012 in Zurich.

From 15 to 18 November 2011, Komax Wire will present its wide range of product inno-vations and optimizations at this year's Productronica trade fair in Munich, the most important event of its kind for the wire processing industry. The company’s presence will punctuate its standing as industry leader and further strengthen its market pole position.

Strong operating performance from all business units – operating profit and Group profit after taxes doubled

Komax was able to improve its results further in the first half of 2011. Net sales amounted to CHF 183.6 million, corresponding to a 16.7% increase. On a currency-adjusted basis, growth was as high as 23.5%. The operating profit (EBIT) rose by 117.7% to CHF 26.7 million, while the EBIT margin came in at a high 14.5%. Group profit after taxes (EAT) amounted to CHF 17.0 million, an increase of 98.9% on the first half of 2010. Komax is expecting a very good result for the full year 2011 too.

Continuous robust demand, improved structures, operating efficiency and a higher proportion of repeat orders in the Medtech business unit are leading to profitability that exceeds expectations. Komax anticipates revenues of approximately CHF 180 million and an operating profit of more than CHF 24 million in the first half of 2011. The half year results and the outlook for the second half of 2011 will be published on 23 August 2011.

Komax shareholders approve all proposals

At the Ordinary General Meeting of Komax Holding AG, held in Lucerne on 5 May 2011, the company’s shareholders approved the annual report, the consolidated financial statements and the company statements for the 2010 financial year. In line with the proposal of the Board of Directors, a dividend of CHF 2.00 from capital contribution reserves will be paid for the 2010 financial year. As a result, the payout ratio for the financial year 2010 comes to 38 percent. Ex-date is 9 May 2011 and payment date is 12 May 2011.

Strong increase in revenues and significant improvement in profitability
Revenues came to CHF 340.2 million, which represents an increase of 61%. The operating profit (EBIT) amounted to CHF 29.1 million (2009: CHF -22.7 million), while the EBIT margin came in at 8.6%. Weighed down by non-recurring tax effects and higher financial expenses – the result of the strong Swiss franc – Group profit after taxes (EAT) amounted to CHF 17.8 million. The equity ratio stood at 67% at year-end. On the balance sheet date the Group had net cash of CHF 12.0 million, putting it on a very solid financial footing. The Board of Directors and senior management expect a good result for the first half of 2011. The payment of a dividend of CHF 2.00 from capital contribution reserves will be proposed to the General Meeting.

Komax and SLE quality engineering have decided to strengthen collaboration. Under the agreement Komax acquires a 30% minority holding in SLE quality engineering. SLE quality engineering has extensive know-how in the production of semi-automatic systems for processing coaxial cables and four-wire lines, in micrograph laboratories and in crimp force monitoring systems. As such it is an excellent fit for the product and service offering of Komax’s Wire business unit.

Komax - successful 2010

The Komax Group achieved pleasing results for the year ended 31 December 2010. New orders totalled CHF 357.0 million (+62%) and net sales rose by approx. 60% to approx. CHF 340 million (2009: CHF 208.4 million). For the year as a whole, the Group's management anticipates a further rise in the EBIT margin compared to the first half of the year. The healthy order backlog at year-end promises a good start to the 2011 business year. The Group's annual financial statements and Annual Report will be published at the annual media conference and analysts' presentation to be held on 22 March 2011 in Zurich.

Marco Knuchel will be responsible for Investor Relations and Corporate Communications at Komax from 1 November 2010. He succeeds Dominik Slappnig, who left the company at the end of August.

The Komax Group is strengthening its management team by appointing Matijas Meyer as the new Head of the Wire business unit. Meyer will take up his post at Komax Holding AG’s headquarters in Dierikon in November 2010.

Convincing first half

The Komax Group substantially improved sales and new orders in the first six months of 2010. First-half sales came in at CHF 157.7 million (previous year: CHF 103.0 million). New orders more than doubled to CHF 168.5 million (previous year: CHF 82.7 million). Following the previous year's loss, the business staged a clear return to profit.

With a view to bundling resources, Komax will in the medium-term be integrating its thin-film activities into its new plant in York, USA. Up to 45 jobs will be cut in the coming months at the plant in Rotkreuz, Switzerland. Business is continuing to develop very well in the crystalline segment, which accounts for around 85 percent of Komax's solar business.

At their Ordinary General Meeting in Lucerne on 7 May 2010, the shareholders of Komax Holding AG approved the annual report, the consolidated financial statements and the statements of Komax Holding AG for the 2009 financial year. They also approved the Board of Directors’ proposal that – for the first time in Komax’s history – no dividend be paid.

The Komax Group expects sales of around CHF 150 million and an EBIT margin of around 8 percent in the first half of 2010 on the back of persistently strong demand in the Wire segment.

Challenging year of recession, return to profitability in 2010

Komax has posted a year-on-year decline in sales of 38 percent and a loss of CHF -19.8 million for the 2009 financial year. The company is nonetheless expecting to return to profit for the first half of 2010.

Considerable drop in sales in crisis year

The last business year has proven very difficult for the Komax Group. The Group suffered a drop in sales of around 40% and - for the first time in its history - a negative operating result.

The Komax Group is announcing 15 redundancies at its Rotkreuz plant as a result of the unsatisfactory order situation in its Solar business unit’s thin-film segment. By contrast, the crystalline segment’s order situation has improved in recent months.

Komax is presenting a host of new products at the Productronica, the top trade show for the wire processing industry held every two years. In doing so, the global market leader in wire processing is underscoring its potent powers of innovation.

This week, Komax and a consortium of banks led by Credit Suisse signed a credit agreement valid until 31 January 2013, with credit lines totalling CHF 100 m. The agreement creates the necessary flexibility for the company, while providing financial security for operations and guaranteeing the further implementation of the business strategy. The successful conclusion of the agreement demonstrates the trust the banks are placing in Komax and in the positive outlook for the Group's future.

Following its announcement of 25 August, the Komax Group is now concretizing its restructuring plans for its automotive-related wire processing business. A total of 40 jobs will be eliminated; some 25 of these will be at Komax’s Dierikon and Stans sites in central Switzerland, the remainder at sites abroad.

Huge decline in sales and new orders

The Komax Group generated sales of CHF 101.2 million in the first half of 2009, a fall of 40.6 percent on the previous year’s figure of CHF 170.2 million. For the first time ever, the six-month consolidated result is negative at CHF -11.0 million (previous year: CHF +14.5 million). Komax also expects to report another, albeit smaller, loss in the second half. The equity ratio stands at around 70 percent.

The Komax Group is expecting a huge decline in sales and new orders for the first half of 2009, resulting in a negative operating profit (EBIT). The cost-reduction programmes already in place will therefore be systematically continued and extended.

Sound results in a difficult climate

Despite the economic downturn in the second half of the year, the Komax Group achieved a solid result for 2008. Komax posted sales of CHF 341.9 million, 2.0 percent down on the previous year. Group earnings after tax (EAT) came to CHF 23.2 million. A dividend of CHF 2.00 per share is expected for 2008.

Solid result expected for the year as a whole

Despite the economic downturn in the second half of 2008, the Komax Group expects a solid result for the year as a whole. Sales in 2008 fell slightly from CHF 349 million to about CHF 342 million. Order intake is also only slightly down, at CHF 380 million compared with CHF 389 million in the previous year. Currency effects have had an impact on the result.

Komax Group to introduce short-time working to its wire processing machines activities at Dierikon as of January 2009.

The Komax Group can look back on a successful photovoltaic exhibition in Valencia, having landed orders worth over CHF 30 million. This figure includes one major order to outfit a 160 megawatt modules factory for German customer Algatec Solar AG.

Higher sales and strong order intake

The Komax Group lifted sales by 2.6 percent in the first half of 2008 to CHF 170.2 million. Order intake was up by 15.6 percent, pointing to a healthy result for the year as a whole.

We are very pleased to announce the commencement of operation of the new subsidiary, Komax Automation India Pvt. Ltd. with effect from July 01, 2008 and would like to welcome our new colleagues from India into our Komax Group.

Over the past six months, the Komax Group was able to raise its order intake by around 16 percent compared with the previous year. The Group is building a new production facility for photovoltaics in order to continue increasing capacity.

General Meeting approves all motions of the Board of Directors

Continued growth targeted – EBIT margin at 12.4 percent

The Komax Group generated sales of CHF 348.8 million in fiscal 2007, which equates to a rise of 9.3 percent. The Group raised its EBIT margin to 12.4 percent with a 13.6 percent increase in operating profit. Finally, order intake rose a full 18.6 percent, to CHF 389.1 million. Komax is confident of achieving continued growth in 2008, and is targeting sales of CHF 600 million in 2012.

Strong growth in the wire processing and photovoltaic sectors

According to its provisional figures, the Komax Group lifted sales in the 2007 financial year by 10 percent from CHF 319 million to about CHF 350 million. Order intake even rose by 19 percent from CHF 328 million to CHF 389 million. Europe and particularly Asia grew particularly strongly in 2007. The traditional wire processing business and the photovoltaics business both developed well.

In advance of the Productronica, Komax has once again made a substantial invest-ment in the development of innovative wire processing solutions. The main focus is on the new Kappa automatic cut-and-strip machines and the new Alpha fully automatic crimping machines. These models accommodate a large selection of processing sta-tions, reduce changeover times and allow long cables to be processed in a minimal amount of space. A further highlight is the new Zeta block loader with its unbeatable cost-benefit ratio for one-ended loading.

General Meeting approves motions of the Board of Directors - Beat Kälin new CEO

Marked improvement in sales and profit

Marked growth in all markets

Sharp rise in sales and profit – bright forecast for the year as a whole

General Meeting approves motions of the Board of Directors – Payout ratio now 39%

Sales appreciably higher – market clearly recovering

Sales appreciably higher – clear improvement in second half

Ismeca Automation, a member of the Komax Group, announced that it has landed another major order worth CHF 15 million. The customer is a world-leading computer and electronics manufacturer from the United States.

Cutting-edge solutions in wire processing

Ismeca Automation, acquired by the Komax Group in April 2005, has landed a major order worth CHF 14 million. The client is an Israel-based company that applies cutting-edge technology to the production of power packs.

Higher sales, less profit – second half expected to be better

General Meeting approves motions of the Board of Directors - Daniel Hirschi elected as new member of the Board

The Komax Group is taking over the Ismeca Automation division of Schweiter Technologies.

Komax is to acquire Sigma, a Stans-based firm, from Bossard AG. Sigma is active mainly in small-scale systems, manufacturing transfer systems and mechanized assembly workstations. The acquisition marks a strategic move by Komax to continue growing its system business and to fill gaps in the market.

Sales down slightly – profit strong

The Komax "In-house Show", held every two years, welcomed 890 visitors this year, an all-time record. Tremendous interest was shown in the 70 products displayed. Independently of the show, Komax landed a major order from a Japanese wire-harness manufacturer for about 40 crimping machines.

Net income surges by 54.1%; EBITDA margin at 18.7%

Annual General Meeting approves Board's proposals
Good first half of 2004 anticipated

The Komax Group in fiscal 2003
Sales up 16%, EBITDA margin of 17.1%

Sales up 15% - EBIT margin over 12%

Strong increase in earnings – operating profit margin 11%

Annual General Meeting approves Board's proposals - First half of 2003 expected to be good

Komax receives international technology award

Currency-adjusted sales and earnings above previous year

Sales of 150 fully automatic crimping machines

Sales and profit at previous year's level

Good order intake

Result below previous year - Noticeable uptrend - Stronger second half anticipated

Annual General Meeting approves proposals by the Board of Directors - Annual General Meeting approves proposals by the Board of Directors -
Komax AG suspends short-time work

Growth affected by difficult economic environment

Effective 1 April 2002, Komax AG based in Dierikon/Switzerland is planning to introduce short-time working for its production staff. The reduction in working hours will amount to 20%-40% and is likely to affect some 150 employees. This action is in response to an unsatisfactory order intake at the time being.