The Oerlikon Group reported a solid increase in order intake of 7 % and a sales growth of 2 % for the third quarter 2012. The Q3 EBIT margin was sustained at the same level as in Q1 (excluding one-time effects) and Q2 2012.
With 11.6 % it was lower than the exceptionally high EBIT margin of 13.1 % reported in Q3 2011, the Group’s strongest quarter last year. These positive results were driven by strong performance in the Textile, Drive Systems and Coating Segments.
Oerlikon CEO Michael Buscher said: “We have delivered a consistently competitive level of profitability every quarter this year. This is the result of the systematic execution of our agenda, reinforced in an uncertain business environment. Based on our continued progress we can confirm our guidance”, Buscher emphasized.
Textile order intake increased by 17 %
Order intake for the Group was 7 % higher at CHF 898 million than in the third quarter of 2011 (Q3 2011: CHF 837 million) with the strongest contribution from the Textile Segment (+17 %).
Following the exceptionally high order intake in the financial year 2011 as customers restocked following the financial crisis of 2009, order levels normalized quarter by quarter in 2012. Order backlog for the Group at the end of the third quarter 2012 decreased to CHF 1 240 million (Q3 2011: CHF 1 485 million).
