OPTIMA FY2014 Summary

The OPTIMA packaging group GmbH (Germany) had performance growth of around 10% in fiscal year 2014, with consolidated revenues of more than €330 million.


 
Geographically, the U.S. remains an important market for Optima with 21% percent of revenues. The European market accounted for 40% of overall sales, and 14% in Asia. Certain segments the market in Africa continue to show new prospects for the company.
 Countries with emerging and developing markets show diverse figures: Brazil was disappointing (+0.1%), and India surprised with a growth rate of 5.8%. In the EU the gross domestic product rose by 1.4%, the U.S. economy on the other hand, by 2.4%. In China there was significant growth of 7.4%.
 
The company introduced new service technologies in 2014, such as condition-oriented maintenance of machines and digital replacement parts catalogues with additional information and video instructions. In February, a new integrated packaging plant technology was introduced whereby carton packaging can be produced, filled and closed on one line, meaning empty packages no longer need to be transported and stored.
 
In 2014 major investments were made primarily in the purchase of the latest metal processing lines and software solutions. For 2015, the company plans to begin a major investment in its infrastructure so that purchasing, materials management and logistics departments can be centralized in Schwäbisch Hall. Also, the company is currently undertaking a 1,000-m² workshop expansion to the nonwovens manufacturing area.  
 
“There are considerably larger mechanical engineering companies but only a few of these can offer a comparable spectrum of individual technological solutions,” said Hans Bühler, executive director of Optima. “Our capacity for 2015 confirms the ongoing growth trend. In particular in the U.S. we expect further revitalization on the grounds of economic recovery. Optima is structured as totally flexible, such that all the competitive advantages of one field can be incorporated and utilized as appropriate in other fields, where and when applicable.”