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Growth and New Jobs for Bosch Rexroth as Company Announces 2007 Results
| Source: Bosch Rexroth Corporation
HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL--(Marketwire - April 22, 2008) - (www.boschrexroth-us.com) Bosch Rexroth
AG, parent company of Bosch Rexroth Corporation in North America, announces
$7.4 billion (5.4 billion Euros) in sales for 2007 -- up 8.8 percent from
the previous year. The company is also expecting continued strong growth
in the mobile applications, industrial automation and renewable energy
sectors in 2008.
Despite the uncertain economic situation, 2007 sales in the Americas region
grew by 3.1 percent in dollars. Unfortunately, because of the changing
currency rate, the company recorded a 5.5 percent decline in Euros.
The U.S. will continue to be an important automation technology market for
Bosch Rexroth, a supplier to practically every branch of the plant
automation and machinery OEM business. The strong sales can be attributed
to industrial hydraulics and large gear systems for wind farms, said Berend
Bracht, president and CEO of Bosch Rexroth Corporation.
Globally, Bracht noted, "One of the key drivers of our growth comes from
the positive economic development in Central and Eastern Europe." Excluding
Germany, sales for Europe were up by more than 14 percent. In Germany,
Bosch Rexroth expanded sales by 8.3 percent. It also achieved double-digit
sales increases in China and India.
3,100 new jobs worldwide
The high demand also had a positive effect on the number of jobs created.
In 2007, Bosch Rexroth's global workforce grew by 3,150 employees, with
jobs added in Germany, the Americas, Central and Eastern Europe, as well as
in Asia.
Investments in additional capacities, growth in renewable energies
With investments in the range of $517 million (377 million Euros), Bosch
Rexroth has significantly increased its worldwide production capacity.
Bracht also indicated more capacity expansion is planned for 2008 in
Central and Eastern Europe, Germany and the U.S. With production capacity
increases for large gear systems used in wind energy plants, Bosch Rexroth
is preparing to meet the fast-growing demand for renewable energies coming
especially from the U.S. and Asia.
Bosch Rexroth's 2007 sales also grew in the solar technology sector, where
the company offers innovative installation and automation solutions for
more cost-efficient series production of solar cells.
"Overall, order volumes appear healthy and we are expanding our capacities.
Therefore, we are looking ahead to a double-digit percentage increase in
sales for 2008," concluded Bracht.