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Tag: conveyors

Ferag launches to UK market

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Ferag, a global leader in advanced conveying and sortation solutions, has launched its hi-tech, Swiss engineered overhead pouch and sorter systems to the UK market. The technology offers retail, ecommerce, automotive and general merchandise businesses reliable, high-performance conveying and sortation at speeds of up to 12,000 units per hour.

Based in Zurich, Ferag has its origins in the international print industry, where ultra-reliable, high-speed conveying technology is essential to the time-critical production of newspapers with daily print runs in the millions. With over 60 years’ experience designing, engineering and fabricating, high-speed overhead conveyor systems for mission-critical interlogistics operations, Ferag has now secured a strong presence in the UK intralogistics market by winning three new contracts for solutions in the apparel and retail sectors.

Heading up Ferag’s UK operations, Darcy de Thierry, Managing Director, Ferag UK Ltd, says: “British retailers and manufacturers are experiencing huge structural change. The growing focus for most is on ecommerce orders, which places a heavy emphasis on high-performance fulfilment operations capable of handling thousands upon thousands of single or few-item orders a day.

“Automated systems, such as overhead pouch and sortation solutions, facilitate fast picking, making them increasingly critical to maintaining and growing order volumes. But businesses cannot afford for them to fail – they need well engineered solutions using only the best, hard-wearing components and low-friction materials. That’s where Ferag’s extensive experience within the newspaper industry – where reliability is paramount – will be a tremendous advantage to the UK market.”

Principle products in Ferag’s extensive range of innovative sorters and conveyors include: Skyfall, an overhead pouch system that combines conveying, buffering, sorting and consolidating, suited to a wide variety of goods weighing up to 20kg. The solution makes efficient use of available overhead space; Denisort, a tilt-tray sorter that provides order picking, conveying and sorting in one seamless and scalable solution; Denisort Compact, a modular vertical sorter designed for items weighing up to 12kg; Deniway, a plate chain conveyor with low-friction rollers for long conveying distances, offering smooth transfers with the minimum number of drive units; and Easychain, a largely maintenance-free continuous and seamless conveying system with an ultra-narrow curve radii, making it well suited to complex, 3D layouts.

Ferag has installed intelligent conveyor and sortation systems for some of the world’s largest brands, such as: DHL, Auchan, Nestle, Zeiss, Cewe, Zalando, Mayoral, Viapost, Peerless Clothing International, Dumoulin, AstraZeneca, Stage, VW, Shoebox, along with many more.

The launch into the UK’s intralogistics market plays to the strengths of Ferag’s international maintenance and support network, where remote and condition monitoring are provided 24/7 and replacement components are readily available to a UK based nationwide team of service engineers.

Ferag AG employs around 550 people worldwide and is represented in more than 18 countries with its own sales and service companies. The business has installed over 3,000 systems on five continents and holds in excess of 9,000 registered patents.

Interroll releases strong 2021 figures

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Interroll achieved significant growth in the financial year 2021: sales increased to CHF640.1m/€616.6m (+20.6% year-on-year, +21.0% in local currencies). Order intake climbed significantly to CHF788.4m/€759.4m (+43.9% year-on-year, +44.2% in local currencies).

The result is expected to show a substantial increase compared to the previous year. Based on the positive order development in the full year 2021, the Group is cautiously optimistic about the financial year 2022.

Sales in consolidated currency reached CHF640.1m/€616.6m (+20.6% year-on-year) and exceeded the previous year by 21.0% in local currency. Compared to the first half of 2021, Interroll was again able to increase its sales momentum. In the second half of the year, a disproportionate growth in the project business in particular contributed to this.

Order intake in 2021 rose to CHF788.4m/€759.4m in consolidated currency (+43.9% year-on-year) and grew by +44.2% year-on-year in local currency. The second half of the year saw continued strong business momentum in the markets.

In terms of the result, Interroll expects an increase. According to preliminary figures, the company was also able to increase EBITDA and EBIT. Margins are slightly below the record year 2020 due to increased material prices and the strained supply chains.

“Interroll convinces with its innovative technology platform for material flow solutions. We have significantly expanded our market presence in 2021 and have started the new year with a record order backlog,” explains Ingo Steinkrüger, CEO Interroll Worldwide Group.

“We expect positive demand momentum, while at the same time we continue to closely monitor strained supply chains and rising material costs worldwide. Against this backdrop, we remain cautiously optimistic overall, but maintain our cost discipline and continue to do everything we can to further improve our delivery times for customers.”

The complete Interroll Annual Report 2021 with the final audited figures will be presented on 18th March, 2022.

Interroll receives large South Korea order

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Interroll has received a large order for delivery to a South Korean e-commerce company. It comprises the delivery of Interroll’s Modular Conveyor Platform (MCP), which is designed for highly efficient and flexible material-flow processes. The contract amounts to a lower double-digit million Swiss franc figure.

The new order comes after Interroll received other large orders from the same customer in 2018 and 2019 as well as a previous first and smaller order in 2017.

Based on the customer’s specifications, Interroll will deliver a complete conveyor platform that includes Interroll MCP modules, high-performance diverters, belt conveyors and transfers as well as roller conveyors and belt curve spiral lifts. The solution covers a total length of 4.8km of conveyor technology at one of the customer’s distribution centres in South Korea. The project is scheduled to be completed by the end of June 2022.

“The installation will support the further continuous growth of this successful customer,” says Dr. Ben Xia, Interroll Executive Vice President and Head of Operations Asia. “We are proud to continue contributing to the productivity of their distribution centres with our proven material-handling solutions.”

Intelligent conveying and sorting system empowers automation evolution

Posted on by David Priestman

With the continuous development of the express delivery industry, the demands and requirements of various platforms for automated logistics and transportation is also increasing. An intelligent sorting and conveying system has become rigid requirements for companies in various industries to enhance their competitiveness.

Normally, the efficiency of the current semi-automated sorters (taking the cross-belt sorter as an example) is more than three times that of manual, and the efficiency of an automated sorter is more than six times that of manual sorting. An  intelligent sorting and conveying system can fully reduce manual identification and manual operation. The accuracy is much higher than manual sorting, and it also greatly reduces the loss of goods. Especially when the processing capacity reaches tens of thousands of pieces per day, manual sorting takes up a large area, high errors, and efficiency drops.

According to Logistics IQ, by 2030, the global next-generation supply chain market will reach more than US$100bn. Under such circumstances, China’s automated sorting industry is actively promoting innovation, accelerating product optimisation and equipment iteration, and enhancing user experience.

According to statistics, from 2012 to 2019, China’s automated logistics equipment market has an average annual compound growth rate of 26.8%, and the market size in 2020 had reached RMB175bn, with a compound annual growth rate of more than 25%, of which the market size of automated sorting equipment is about RMB21.35bn, the annual growth rate is about 29%.

China is transforming to a strong country on manufacturing. The automation of the manufacturing industry is increasing, coupled with the rising cost of labour and the declining demographic dividend. It is expected that the scale of domestic automated logistics equipment demand will continue to grow rapidly in the next few years, and the domestic market for automated logistics equipment will reach RMB368bn until 2025.

Kengic, a professional smart logistics and intelligent manufacturing solutions provider, focuses on providing domestic and overseas customers with smart logistics and intelligent manufacturing system and products with R&D, design, manufacturing, sales and services. It has many mature and successful conveying and sorting cases around the world, saving labour costs, saving operation space and improving the operational efficiency for many customers.

Take the E-commerce Distribution Project in South Korea as an example. The project covers an area of about 8,500 sq m where 763.2m loop sorting lines, 636 carriers, 10 automatic inductions and 138 spiral chutes are provided. By applying cross-belt sorter system, belt conveyor system, and telescopic belt conveyor system, the project is fully automated from unloading to infeeding and sorting.

In India, Kengic is also involved in the e-commerce and logistics industries. The project combines customer requirements and actual conditions to provide a complete solution. The conveying speed is 2.1m/s, the sorting efficiency is as high as 25000pph, and the accuracy rate is as high as 99.9%.

In addition, it also has very mature experience in the design and implementation of unmanned warehouses, such as the RRS Logistics Unmanned Distribution Center project. Covering an area of 18,000 sq m, the total number of goods is 14,000 and the picking and shipping area is 10,000 sq m.

Relying on a series of interconnected and autonomously controlled intelligent facilities and equipment such as intelligent AS/RS, robots, and AGV, under the scheduling of business operation systems such as WMS, WCS, TMS, etc., the intelligent and efficient operation of various operations in warehousing, transportation and distribution is realised to assist intelligent unmanned transformation and upgrading of bulk logistics.

At present, Kengic’s customers now cover many industries such as express & logistics, e-commerce & new retail, home appliances, furniture, automobiles, communication electronics, equipment manufacturing, national defence and military, medicine and health, materials, energy and chemical industries, etc. It says it has provided stable, flexible and cost-effective solutions for its customers worldwide and that it is committed to building strong partnerships with them in long-term cooperation.

The Intelligent Conveying and Sorting system, comprising a conveying system and sorting system, is an important part of material handling systems. The main equipment selected varies among the goods conveyed. Kengic’s conveying and sorting system is able to accommodate the conveying and sorting needs for a broad range of applications. By designing reasonable routes, Kengic can help customers improve sorting efficiency and accuracy and reduce labour costs.

Kengic says in the future it will continue to adhere to the development concept of “Gathering industry elites, Creating a world brand”, committed to the innovation and development of smart logistics and intelligent manufacturing, insisting on intelligent technology as the driver, independent R&D and innovation as the orientation, and realising smart logistics and intelligent manufacturing for customers to upgrade the system and make every effort to promote the transformation and long-term development of industrial digital intelligence era.

Aicobotix demos QiCHECK-2 at WOF Expo

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Slovakian start-up Aicobotix launched an upgraded version of its QiCHECK Solutions recognition system at the recent WOF Expo in Bratislava. QiCHECK-2 uses a camera for object recognition and the entire system learns on the spot based on the recognition of good samples.

In this way, the conformity of the product, assembly, type and quality can be checked by accurate comparison with good samples. If an incorrect sample is detected, the operator is informed immediately.

The camera sees the scene, recognises it then evaluates the category in which it is to be placed. The whole learning process is quick and can be handled by a normal operator, which is a good feature when production changes.

All recognition results are also available online via a standard web browser. Deployment does not require significant intervention in the existing line and the production data is processed in an easy-to-understand format. In addition, the entire solution can also be rented and its features tested.

At the WOF EXPO 2021, Aicobotix demonstrated stock recognition using QiCHECK-2 in this way. It recognised the categories ‘empty place’, ‘pallet in the right place’ and ‘pallet with sweets’. The categories were recognised by a camera placed above the test area and the system quickly interpreted the visual image of the virtual warehouse.

Here again, the company demonstrated how quickly QiCHECK-2 could learn what was good housekeeping when changing the desired behaviour.

The camera as a smart sensor represents a visual system with an extremely fast implementation. In doing so, the camera sensor identifies changes in the scene with the support of machine learning. The entire system is suitable for plants with conveyors and can inspect multiple parts at once. It only needs a moment to evaluate and no special knowledge is required to learn it on-site at the production site.

WATCH THIS VIDEO to learn more.

 

Conveying the right solution

Posted on by David Priestman

Japanese engineering specialist Itoh Denki believes it can help integrators and OEMs looking to find intralogistics conveying solutions for the new economy. Logistics Business magazine editor Paul Hamblin reports.

In a logistics world in which there needs to be room for businesses of all shapes and sizes, it follows that the conventional logistics model needs to be challenged. Yes, the big players will still need their large Build-to-Suit warehouses, and vast, multi-tenanted logistics parks are undoubtedly here to stay. But what about ecommerce providers looking for professional, fast logistics?

These companies might be small – but they might grow very fast, in which case they need agility, flexibility. Most of all, they want ease of payment alongside ease of use. Not for them the vast capital expenditures on logistics of those giants who can make such facilities so cost-effective. Ideally, they want state-of-the-art logistics capability without necessarily needing the building asset that goes with it.

Japanese-founded engineering specialist Itoh Denki, which has worked with integrators and OEMs in logistics for many decades in the supply of rollers and conveying components, has recognised this pattern. It has identified a trend, notably in Japan where land use is at a premium, but increasingly in Europe, for multi-storey, multi-tenanted logistics spaces deployed with a pay-per-use sharing model.

“Think of it as Hotel Logistics,” quips Tatsuya (Ted) Akashi, Itoh Denki MD Europe. “You come and go as agreed, you can stay for longer if you wish and you only pay for those times.”

Recognising that reliable, flexible sortation is key to this business model, Itoh Denki has brought its Diverter-Centric Sorting to the market. Best known for Motorised Driver Roller (MDR) technology, Itoh Denki’s footprint in Europe has now expanded to include a fully capable Amsterdam Tech Centre to complement its base in St Pierre, France where the MDRs are given final assembly.

Alexander Gigerl, Technical Sales Manager, explains the Diverter-Centric sorting business case by pointing out that the high throughput of the traditional crossbelt sorter comes with a correspondingly high cost. He says that Itoh Denki’s F-RAT (Flat Right Angle Transfer) will bring down those costs dramatically, but without necessarily the very high throughputs some customers require. The company’s MABS (Multi Angle Ball Sorter) also brings with it considerable cost savings versus the cross belt but with three times the throughput of the FRAT. The combination means that Itoh Denki can offer a powerful hybrid solution to suit a variety of budgets and requirements.

An enormous variety of package sizes can be smoothly transported, even the most fragile loads. The list of benefits includes the flexibility and scalability that comes from a fully modular system. Maintenance and service is another plus, because faults can be sourced and fixed quickly via this modularity, without unnecessary and profit-killing downtime. Safety and comfort of workers is promised by the optimised footprint of the layout and the super-quiet, no pneumatics, 24v DC power source.

It is fully CE compliant, which means costs will not be incurred in installing extra safety facilities or barriers in the vicinity. Energy efficiency is assured by on-demand operation, the motor driven only when a load enters the zone.

The central 90° technology of the F-RAT offers the benefit of transfer without changing levels. Meanwhile, the MABS solution offers 30, 45 and 90° transfer.

Itoh Denki emphasises that it will not be selling direct to end users and will continue to work with its established OEM partners to ensure end user customer delight.

Interroll automates Imnasa’s DC

Posted on by David Priestman

Interroll and Toyota Material Handling have installed a powerful and efficient conveyor system for Imnasa in Campllong near Girona, Spain. Core components of the new material-handling solution are the Modular Conveyor Platform (MCP), the RollerDrive EC 5000 and the MultiControl from Interroll.

The state-of-the-art system, which spans around 360m, automates the flow of goods between two buildings, increases productivity, and improves customer service as well as the working environment of the personnel deployed.

The automated conveyor system for Imnasa was fully designed and installed by Toyota Material Handling. Imnasa manufactures and distributes nautical equipment from numerous brand manufacturers to businesses and private customers. With a range of over 30,000 different products, it is one of the leading players in its sector in Europe.

The starting point for the new solution was the construction of a new building complex of 9,000 sq m expanding the capacity of Imnasa’s distribution centre. To seamlessly integrate the different work processes within the already existing and new buildings, the two sites were connected by a 360m-long conveyor system in a tunnel. Using a zero-pressure-accumulation material-handling solution, the diverse goods are thereby automatically routed between the picking area in the existing building via the respective packing stations to the shipment area in the new building.

“The new solution has not only enabled us to significantly increase the capacity and productivity of our distribution centre. We have also succeeded in further increasing customer satisfaction through faster and more reliable deliveries. In addition, the new solution now offers our employees significantly improved work ergonomics,” explains Pol Revuelta, Project Manager at Imnasa.

A total of around 250 EC 5000 RollerDrive and 120 MultiControl from Interroll are used for the energy-saving transport of boxes and totes via driven roller and belt conveyors.

Frequency inverter for high-efficiency conveyor technology applications

Posted on by Keith McKinley

NORDAC FLEX frequency inverters from NORD DRIVESYSTEMS are true allrounders: They not only offer a wide power range, but also work very economically. The NORDAC FLEX SK 205E series has been specially designed for use with baggage transport systems at airports or conveyor systems in parcel distribution centres.

The large power range, up to 22kW, is characteristic for the frequency inverter. In addition, the NORDAC FLEX SK 205E is compact and enables high precision in synchronous and positioning applications via the integrated POSICON control. Another advantage is the precise and rapid current vector control: It ensures constant speeds in case of fluctuating loads. The NORDAC FLEX SK 205E also offers maximum flexibility and due to its high energy efficiency enables energy savings, especially during partial load operation. This even applies to applications that technically do not require an inverter.

Users are provided with complete flexibility when it comes to installation: Inverters can be both installed close to the drive in the field and integrated into the motor. Power and data cable connections are available as plug-in versions. The decentralised system enables short motor and encoder cables as well as short supply cables to sensors. The inverters can be used to control standard asynchronous motors, high-efficiency synchronous motors and brake motors. Encoder feedback can be realised, for example position-controlled transport systems.

NORDAC FLEX SK 205E series frequency inverters feature 4 digital inputs and 1 digital output (e.g. for error messages). The inverter can be monitored via an optional Bluetooth interface using the NORDCON APP software. This way, possible errors can be quickly diagnosed and remedied. Drive parameterisation is possible as standard via the integrated diagnostic interface with the free NORDCON software tool.

The inverter features a total of six digital and two analogue interfaces, two encoder interfaces and one integrated PLC for programming of functions close to the drive. A wide range of extensions through option modules are possible as accessories, for example a communication interface that supports commercially available Ethernet dialects as well as extensions for functional safety such as PROFIsafe and STO.

STILL wins major automation contract

Posted on by David Priestman

Beiersdorf AG is relying on the expertise of STILL for the design and implementation of the production and warehouse supply of its state-of-the-art production centre for cosmetic products in Seehausen near Leipzig.

This is the first major joint project for the two long-standing Hamburg-based companies. In a six-month selection process, the STILL automation experts impressed the jury with their extensive experience in internal logistics and in-depth expertise in the automation of logistics processes. STILL also brought KION’s sister company Dematic on board. As part of this project, Dematic is supplying a conveyor system for pallets that links all subsystems together.

“I think that in addition to our technical concept, we were able to impress above all with our solution-oriented approach and the constructive teamwork with the customer and his planning partner,” says Florian Kratzer, International Key Account Manager Automated Solutions.

This is also confirmed by Beiersdorf’s logistics team: “Right from the start, the communication was open, appreciative and very results-oriented. The team repeatedly presented us with alternative approaches and made competent suggestions during the planning process. This eye-to-eye exchange and the excellent consulting services were key factors in our decision to choose STILL as a partner. We are very much looking forward to working with them in the future.”

The new facility near Leipzig is one of Beiersdorf’s largest investment projects in Europe. In order to make the plant sustainably fit for the future, the production supply processes are to be integrated according to the latest standards of efficient warehouse organisation. Here, automation in particular is of decisive importance.

For where driverless transport systems interact perfectly with each other, with manually operated equipment and intelligent warehouse elements to ensure a flawless flow of materials, productivity can be increased, processes optimised, costs reduced and capacities increased.

“Projects of this dimension are not commonplace in Germany. They offer specialists like us an outstanding opportunity to contribute their entire spectrum of know-how,” explains Florian Kratzer. “We are all the more pleased to be a partner in this innovative project at a structurally important location like Leipzig.”

Specifically, it is about goods receiving, quality control, internal transport and storage of incoming materials. The next step is to make them available and transport them on to production. For this purpose, STILL has designed an integrated system in close cooperation with Beiersdorf.

For goods receipt and dispatch, manual STILL electric forklift trucks and warehouse technology equipment are used. Conveyor technology from the group’s sister company Dematic provides the link between the goods-in area and the narrow-aisle warehouse, where six fully automated STILL MX-X iGo systems very narrow-aisle trucks are in operation.

In addition, the conveyor system ensures onward transport from the narrow-aisle warehouse to production, where six STILL EXV iGo systems high lift stackers take over the goods. These provide fully automated transport to Beiersdorf’s production facilities.

“The special challenges of the project arise from its volume and the resulting complexity,” explains Florian Kratzer. “We have heavy loads in different dimensions, high racks and long distances that have to be covered quickly and safely.” Thus, around 140m of conveyor technology are installed and about 25 manual and automated vehicles are used. A large number of different load carriers weighing up to 1,250kg each had to be taken into account and a storage height of up to 12.7m in the fully automated VNA narrow-aisle warehouse had to be made possible.

Interroll records record growth

Posted on by Keith McKinley

In the first half of 2021, Interroll, a leading provider of material handling solutions, reported a significant increase of 60.1% in order intake (+61.0% in local currencies) and a significant increase in earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of +39.5% and result of +40.4%.

  • Order intake amounted to CHF 421.6 million (+60.1%)
  • Sales increased strongly to CHF 272.0 million (+16.7%)
  • EBIT reached CHF 45.0 million (+39.5%)
  • The result increased by 40.4% to CHF 33.4 million (previous year’s period: CHF 23.8 million)
  • The result margin reached 12.2% (previous year: 10.2%)

Positive trends from the second half of 2020 continued. Sales reached CHF 272.0 million (+16.7% compared to CHF 233.2 million in the same period of the previous year). In local currency, sales grew by 16.4%.

Order intake increased significantly by 60.1% to CHF 421.6 million (previous year: CHF 263.4 million). In local currency, the increase was even slightly better at 61.0%.

Interroll again succeeded in increasing EBIT at a disproportionately high rate of 39.5% to CHF 45.0 million (previous period: CHF 32.3 million).

“In the first half of 2021, Interroll recorded record growth in order intake, EBIT and profit,” says Ingo Steinkrüger, Chief Executive Officer of Interroll Worldwide Group. “In addition to investments in technology platforms and capacities, our high cost and investment discipline also contributed to this positive result.”

At CHF 63.9 million, consolidated sales in the Rollers product group were 21.7% higher than in the previous year. All regions contributed to the growth. In terms of incoming orders, the product group recorded a strong recovery of +47.2% to CHF 79.7 million (previous-year period: CHF 54.2 million). This excellent performance was driven by highly efficient manufacturing processes and the high quality of Interroll products.

However, Interroll also proactively anticipated and exploited the potential of market trends, such as the continued strong development of e-commerce and user investments in modernisation and outsourcing to third-party logistics (3PL) providers.

Consolidated sales of the Drives product group amounted to CHF 93.2 million in the first half of 2021, up 17.8% on the previous-year period (CHF 79.1 million). Thanks to innovative products such as the EC5000 RollerDrive, which is successful in the market, consolidated order intake rose to CHF 119.6 million compared with CHF 77.4 million in the prior-year period.

The Conveyors & Sorters product group recorded consolidated sales of CHF 88.1 million in the first half of 2021, 8.9% higher than in the same period of the previous year (CHF 80.9 million). Order intake rose significantly to CHF 186.6 million, an increase of 67.4% compared to the previous year period with CHF 111.4 million.

At the end of the first half of 2021, Interroll generated consolidated revenue of CHF 26.9 million with the Pallet Handling product group, up 30.6% on the same period of the previous year (CHF 20.6 million). Consolidated order intake increased by 74.7% to CHF 35.7 million (previous year: CHF 20.4 million).

At the end of the first half, the regions accounted for 60% of total sales in Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), 27% in the Americas, and 13% in Asia-Pacific.

In the EMEA region, consolidated sales amounted to 162.2 million, 15.7% above the previous year (CHF 140.2 million). Consolidated order intake increased by 53.3% compared to the previous year (CHF 144.2 million) and reached CHF 221.1 million. The EMEA region thus recovered strongly in the first half of 2021.

Sales in the Americas region amounted to CHF 74.5 million, 17.4% higher than in the previous year (CHF 63.5 million). With growth of 95.8% in order intake to CHF 151.3 million (previous year: CHF 77.3 million), a very strong dynamic was noticeable. New orders for sorters doubled, which also include orders for the new High-Performance Crossbelt Sorter (HPCS) and two major projects.

Interroll’s consolidated sales in the Asia-Pacific region grew by 19.8% to CHF 35.3 million (previous year: CHF 29.5 million). Order intake achieved growth of 17.3% to CHF 49.1 million (previous year: CHF 41.9 million). Rollers and RollerDrive in particular recorded an increase in demand. The sorter demand recovered strongly, but demand for conveyors declined.

Results with significant growth

At CHF 56.3 million, Interroll significantly exceeded the previous year’s level (CHF 43.5 million) by 29.3% in terms of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) in the first half of the year- The EBITDA margin increased to 20.7% (previous year: 18.7%). EBIT reached CHF 45.0 million and were 39.5% above the previous year’s figure of CHF 32.3 million. Result increased by 40.4% to CHF 33.4 million (previous year : CHF 23.8 million). The result margin reached 12.2% (previous year: 10.2%).

Gross capital expenditures amounted to CHF 32.0 million (previous year: CHF 26.0 million). Free cash flow thus decreased to CHF 5.0 million (previous year: CHF 20.0 million ). The construction of the new plant in Mosbach, southern Germany, was completed in the reporting period and the new plant in Suzhou, China, is already under construction.

Total assets increased to CHF 541.3 million by 30th June, 2021, 15.5% higher than at the end of last year’s period (CHF 468.8 million). Equity amounted to CHF 312.6 million, while the equity ratio was 57.8% (31.12.2020: 66.5%).

Operating cash flow decreased by 44.5% to CHF 25.3 million (previous year: CHF 45.6 million).

Outlook

Due to a high order backlog, the company has a positive outlook, but at the same time the situation on the raw material markets and for precursors such as semiconductors remains very tense. The company thus remains cautiously optimistic overall for the rest of the year.

Thanks to its strong market position, innovative products and dynamically growing end markets (e-commerce and courier, express, and parcel [CEP], food and beverage, and warehousing and distribution), Interroll also sees long-term growth potential.

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