Net sales rose by 24.2 % and also reached a new company record of CHF 559.9 million on a consolidated basis (previous year: CHF 450.7 million). The Conveyors & Sorters product group made a particularly strong contribution to this with an increase of 54.6 % and Drives with an increase of 16.5 % compared to the previous year. The ratio of incoming orders to net sales reached 1.06 (previous year: 1.02).

Interroll produced record volumes of conveyor rollers and RollerDrive in the 2018 financial year. The good performance of the conveyor roller product group is reflected in sales and order intake in 2018. Consolidated sales of CHF 108.0 million (2017: CHF 105.8 million) and order intake of CHF 109.0 million (2017: CHF 105.6 million) were 2.1 % and 3.2 % respectively above the record figures of the previous year.

Overall, sales in the motors and drives for conveyor systems product group amounted to CHF 170.9 million, up 16.5 % on the previous year (CHF 146.7 million). Consolidated order intake rose by 17.6 % to CHF 175.9 million compared to CHF 149.6 million in the same period of the previous year. The flow storage product group recorded growth in the current year: consolidated sales increased by 8.8 % to CHF 60.5 million (previous year: CHF 55.6 million). Consolidated incoming orders also rose by a strong 26.4 % to CHF 64.3 million (previous year: CHF 50.9 million).

The conveyors and sorters product group achieved record growth rates in the 2018 financial year: consolidated sales amounted to CHF 220.5 million, up 54.6% on the previous year (CHF 142.6 million). Order intake rose by a strong 60.1% to CHF 243.3 million compared to CHF 152.0 million in the previous year. In 2018, Interroll concluded follow-up orders to equip the distribution centers of a leading parcel delivery company in North America. Numerous orders were also received in Europe in the postal and logistics sectors as well as in the food and beverage industry. In Asia, Interroll received a follow-up order with a record volume for a record number of conveyor modules with a total length of 12 km as well as eight Spiral Lifts for the distribution center of a customer from the e-commerce sector in South Korea.

Net profit also reaches new high

Despite around CHF 5 million in additional research and development costs, the operating result (EBITDA) increased by 40.6 % to CHF 93.2 million (previous year: CHF 66.3 million). Interroll's continuous productivity increases and cost reductions contributed significantly to this. The EBITDA margin was 16.6 % (previous year: 14.7 %). Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) rose by 46.4 % and amounted to CHF 69.4 million (previous year: CHF 47.4 million). The EBIT margin reached 12.4 % (previous year: 10.5 %). Net profit increased by 32.6 % to CHF 51.8 million (previous year: CHF 39.1 million). The net profit margin reached 9.3 % (previous year: 8.7 %).

Good balance sheet development

The Interroll Group's balance sheet developed solidly and had total assets of CHF 417.6 million at the end of the period on December 31, 2018 (previous year: CHF 355.3 million). The company is debt-free and has a net financial balance of CHF 52.0 million. Equity increased by 8.8% to CHF 284.8 million (December 31, 2017: CHF 261.7 million). The equity ratio reached 68.2 % compared to 73.6 % at the end of 2017. Operating cash flow grew by a significant 45.8 % year-on-year (CHF 46.2 million) to CHF 67.4 million. Gross investments amounted to CHF 28.6 million and thus increased again compared to the previous year (CHF 25.4 million). Free cash flow more than doubled to CHF 40.9 million (previous year: CHF 20.1 million).

The Interroll share once again improved its performance compared to the previous year and, with a closing price of CHF 1,452.00, was +0.6% higher than the 2017 year-end price (CHF 1,443.00). The good annual result for 2018 prompted the Board of Directors to increase the distribution once again and propose a dividend of CHF 22.00 per share (previous year: CHF 16.50) to the Annual General Meeting (+33.3 %).

Outlook: Positive and determined for the future

Thanks to the record order intake in 2018, the Group made a positive start to the new 2019 financial year in all regions and with all product groups. There are no signs of a slowdown in the core sales markets. The sustained expansion in the market goes hand in hand with the need to expand capacity. For example, a new plant in Thailand is about to be commissioned.

"The Group's solid financial position allows it to invest decisively in capacity expansion in the 2019 financial year and beyond," says Paul Zumbühl, CEO of the global Interroll Group and LT Manager of the Year 2015.