UZWIL, Switzerland – For fiscal 2013, Bühler Group recorded very divergent results in the company’s various business units and market regions. Overall, order intake exceeded the level of a year ago by one percent. Sales revenue (turnover) was four percent lower than in the previous year. Due to one-time charges resulting from an acquisition, the EBIT margin fell to six percent.

Order intake amounted to CHF 2363 million and was one percent higher than a year ago. The Food Processing division grew by seven percent, but Grain Processing received three percent fewer orders. The Advanced Materials division increased its order intake by more than four percent despite the disinvestment of the Thermal Processes business unit.

The picture is also mixed with regard to the development of order intake by regions. In North America, it slipped 17 percent below the value of the previous year, though this was still the second-best volume ever achieved. Declines were also seen in the regions of Middle East/Africa (-14 percent) and India (-11 percent), due in part to the devaluation of some local currencies. On the other hand, Bühler booked 23 percent more orders in South America, which is a new record. Following a disappointing previous year, Europe grew by 11 percent in 2013. Asia achieved outstanding growth of 12 percent.

Sales revenue (turnover) in 2013 amounted to CHF 2322 million or 3.6 percent less than in the previous year, which was up 13 percent from 2011. In organic terms, the change was -3 percent. With CHF 139 million, or 6 percent of sales, the EBIT margin fell short of the result of the year before (CHF 168 million). This is due to the strategic optimization of the Advanced Materials division’s portfolio, which entailed integration and restructuring costs. Another one-time effect with a negative impact on Bühler Group’s profitability was unsatisfactory project management in some business units. The group result is CHF 123 million or 5.3%.

At the company’s General Meeting held on February 10, 2014, Urs Bühler and Hans J. Löliger left the Board of Directors because they have reached the statutory age limit. At the same time, Calvin Grieder was appointed Chairman of the Board in addition to his function as CEO. Peter Quadri, a present member of the Board, was appointed the new Vice Chairman. Karin Bühler, the first of Urs Bühler’s three daughters, joined the Board. Bühler Group remains 100 percent owned by the Bühler family.

Operating in over 140 countries, Bühler is a global leader in the field of process engineering, in particular production technologies and services for making foods and advanced materials.