In the fiscal year of 2000/2001 (31st July), after a sequence of five record years, EPS technology group Hirsch Servo AG (A-9555 Glanegg; www.hirschgruppe.com) has achieved the best results in the company´s history. Turnover figures rose by 9% to EUR 55.8m, the EBIT increased by 2% to EUR 6.4m.

The highest turnover was procured by the company´s machine and line engineering division with EUR 25.9m (+13%). The company reports that the slumping demand for machines in the US market was compensated for by the development of customer-specific solutions, the tough competition however, led to a slight drop in profit margins. This is the reason why the company´s EBIT margin is slightly regressive. Engineering components are the group´s second mainstay. Turnover figures in this business rose by only 3% to EUR 24.1m however, net profits grew by 5% to EUR 4m. The business division of “Presentation Systems” experienced a 5% increase in turnover to EUR 7m. Due to an occurrence of production shortages over the past few years, the company invested almost EUR 10m in buildings and real estate, a substantially higher figure than that of previous years.

For the first quarter (30th September) of the current fiscal year, the company recorded a slump in turnover of approximately 30%. This development affects the machine and line engineering business above all since this particular area is at the receiving end of a low demand by its main consumers, the construction and electric industries. The company does not expect this situation to improve before the middle of next year. Corporate stragegies involve a stronger focus on niche products as well as a heightened marketing effort for regular products. Hirsch expects this year´s K exhibition to generate additional business, since after the events of September 11th of this year, many companies had postponed orders until after the exhibition.