Business Development

Sales in 2003 totalled 32.0 MEUR, a 9.2% increase over 2002 (29.3 MEUR).  EBITDA was 3.2 MEUR, significantly less than in the previous year (2002: 7.4 MEUR), due to processing of a high-margin order during the third Quarter of 2002.

Order Intake reached an historic record level: 37.3 MEUR.  This represents an increase of 31.8% compared to the previous year’s value (2002: 28.3 MEUR).  Especially in China, some major orders for water turbines were booked, and the favorable development of the stock pumps business in China also contributed to this success.  

The 60:40 Joint Venture Andritz-Kenflo is the undisputed market leader for stock pumps in China.  In 2003 once again, the number of stock pumps sold to paper mills was markedly increased compard to the previous year.  Since its foundation in 1998, Andritz-Kenflo has increased the number of pumps sold more than 10 times, reaching a new record level in 2003.  The outstanding business development of Andritz-Kenflo in China over the past years has made Andritz one of the leading manufacturers of pumps for several applications.

Andritz Technologies Ltd., China, founded in 2001, also showed a very positive development. Initially established to sell products for the Enviroment and Process Business Area, it continuously extended its business scope to include products for the pulp and paper industry as well as pumps for municipal and industrial applications.  For the latter, the Business Area was able to conclude the first contracts with renowned customers.

In 2003, the service business - modernizations and rebuilds of turbine controls, spare parts supplies for nuclear power stations, and centrifugal pumps for the pulp and paper industry - again proved to be a strong pillar of the Business Area’s business development.

At Großraming power station, Austria the second turbine set was successfully taken into operation.

The second set of pumps for the water supply of Hong Kong was started up at the beginning of the year.  Andritz supplied the entire mechanical engineering services for this project as well as core parts for 16 large-scale pumps.