Manual assembly of circuit boards for electric motors at a Ziehl-Abegg facility

Kuenzelsau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, 22 February 2018: Fan and motor manufacturer, Ziehl-Abegg said it had posted growth of around 12% in the year 2017, in a Press communiqué. The company said its turnover rose from EUR 484 million to EUR 540 million, according to provisional figures for the recently concluded financial year. The company added that the number of employees reached a new record high of 3,900.

Peter Fenkl, CEO, Ziehl-Abegg, said the growth in sales was worldwide. “Our expectations have been significantly exceeded in Asia as well as in North and South America,” he explained. However, even countries, where sales had been halved, due to political upheavals, a few years ago, have recovered well, posting increases in the double-digit percentage range, he further said. He referred in particular to the Ukraine and Russia as examples of this development. The new Ziehl-Abegg company in Dubai is proving to be a good starting point for business in the Middle East, he added. Even supposedly crisis-hit countries, like Iran, are reporting growth, especially in the elevator motor business, he pointed out.

The growth in sales is being accompanied by an expansion of the workforce, Fenkl said. A year ago, Ziehl-Abegg employed 3,550 people, worldwide; now, that figure is 3,900, he added. “This rapid growth not only poses a challenge for us in terms of production but also in the integration of new employees”, explained Fenkl, adding, “Our suppliers also need to be able to keep pace with the rapid growth in sales.” Fenkl further said that Ziehl-Abegg has also improved and expanded its production capabilities. He mentioned that in the year just past, the company had invested a record EUR 43 million.