The AICHELIN Group, a company of Berndorf AG, is a global market leader in the heat treatment of metals and achieved record revenue of EUR 214 million in the 2023 financial year. Despite global crises and difficult conditions in Europe, the company was able to record very good overall performance and is planning further expansion steps for 2024.
The globally positioned AICHELIN Group based in Mödling increased its turnover to EUR 214 million in 2023, an increase of 16% after EUR 184 million in 2022. The Group grew both in its core segments of plant engineering - it produces industrial furnaces, industrial heating systems, control and automation systems as well as Industry 4.0 solutions – and in the service division, which now accounts for almost 40% of the total sales.
The positive development reflects the geographic diversification of the Group. AICHELIN has subsidiaries in eight countries on three continents and a distribution network in 22 countries. The Group generates 45% of its sales in the EU, 35% in Asia and 20% in North America.
"Our global footprint contributes significantly to our success. Our strong positioning was a key factor in our double-digit percentage growth in both revenue and earnings last year. We rely on decentralized local production facilities with a strong regional presence to respond efficiently to customer needs. This also makes us more resilient to unstable supply chains," says AICHELIN Group CEO Christian Grosspointner.
To increase its competitiveness, the AICHELIN Group is joining forces in Europe and has established a new, joint production site in Europe. The modern 4,125 m2 Assembly Center Europe was built in Celje, Slovenia, next to the existing site and has been operating since the first quarter of 2024. All European production activities are now carried out here.
"The market situation in Europe is difficult, especially in the area of new equipment. Customers are postponing investments, partly because of the difficult conditions for the industry, such as high inflation, increased energy costs and the lack of qualified personnel," explains Grosspointner. "However, we have a clear commitment to the location and want to remain a strong industrial partner in Europe. With our new Assembly Center Europe, we are pooling our strengths to respond even more efficiently to our customers' needs."
In addition, the Group is focusing on its core competencies with the sale of its subsidiary EMA Indutec GmbH, which specializes in induction heat treatment (see press release in March 2024). The proceeds will be invested in future-oriented projects such as modern furnace solutions for the heat treatment of battery powder, for example for e-mobility, the expansion of the product portfolio and in M&A projects.
With the consistent implementation of its long-term location and growth strategy, the AICHELIN Group is expanding its branches and business areas. Investments in production capacities will strengthen the existing presence on the European, Chinese and American markets. In order to benefit even more from the positive economic environment in North America, the comprehensive modernization of the US site in Wixom (Michigan) began last year; the Group is also planning to expand its presence in this region.
In China, AICHELIN is investing in the future-oriented markets of wind energy and e-mobility, which is having a positive impact on business development. By positioning itself in these industrial sectors, the Group has been able to establish long-term partnerships to strengthen its innovative power and further expand its own market position. Business development in India is also recording robust growth, largely driven by investments in the country. In 2024, AICHELIN will expand its market presence with a new production site and increase its capacity in the Indian market.
In the area of burner systems & components, the Group entered a new segment in the aluminum sector with the acquisition of Wiedemann Industriebrenner at the beginning of 2023 and increased sales in this business area by about one third. Most recently, the Group announced its entry into the vacuum furnace segment: The joint venture agreement signed in May 2024 (see press release) with Sistem Teknik provides for the production and distribution for industrial vacuum heat treatment technologies and their services in Europe. This completes the Group's product portfolio.
Driven by global requirements, the demand for energy-saving solutions and the use of alternative heating technologies such as electricity or hydrogen is also increasing significantly in the heat treatment sector. In addition to basic services such as maintenance, spare parts and safety upgrades, AICHELIN's Service business segment offers comprehensive consulting and implementation expertise for modernization to increase plant performance and reduce CO2 emissions. The resulting savings translate into tangible cost reductions for the customer. The AICHELIN Group is also reaffirming its own commitment to sustainability; most recently by advancing the Group’s ISO 14001:2015 certification for the implementation of a sustainable environmental management system.
"With our strong, international team of more than 1,000 employees and our investments, we are creating the basis for developing sustainable, environmentally friendly and resource-saving solutions for tomorrow’s heat treatment together with our global customers," CEO Grosspointner concludes on the AICHELIN Group’s future path.