Due to continuing high demand and use of capacity in the core segments, both Greiner Bio-One and its suppliers invested significant sums in the enlargement of global production.
The bulk of this €44.8m investment flowed into new production facilities for existing core products. It represents a platform for further expansion in the core area of blood collection.
The storage space available in Frickenhausen (Germany) was more than doubled. After a construction period of only a year, a new, fully automated high-bay warehouse fitted with the latest storage technology was put into operation thereby replacing the facility used to date.
The warehouse is part of an extensive infrastructure project that forms the basis for greater efficiency in the material supply and logistics areas and will be concluded in 2019 with an increase in production capacity.
Focus on further growth
In spite of difficult market circumstances, currency effects and stagnation with regard to individual key accounts and major orders, business volume achieved the level of the preceding year and profitability maintained at an excellent level. The turnover amounted to €473m.
In particular, solid growth was achieved in the safety products area and the company gained ground in the regional markets in southern/eastern Europe and South America. However, rising material and raw material prices, as well as higher freight costs, all served to hinder even better business development.
CEO Greiner Bio-One International Rainer Perneker said: “We are preparing for further growth through a significant increase in our production capacities.”
The Asian region is one of Greiner Bio-One’s most important growth markets. In China, the company has been able to establish a solid position in the preanalytics field within the Beijing area. In October, a second major step followed with the foundation of an additional branch in Shanghai staffed by a focused and specialised team. The joint aim is to step up efforts in the biosciences market and move closer to the customers in this business segment.
