The company recorded a solid business development in the first quarter of 2015, including a growth in sales, which were significantly higher than the reference figure for the previous year, showing a 15.2% increase from EUR 1,219.5 million to EUR 1,404.3 million. All business areas, particularly Pulp & Paper, recorded a significant increase in sales.

Results

The order intake, at EUR 1,430.6 million, reached a satisfactory level. However, it was 17.9% below the extraordinary high reference figure of the previous year, which had included large orders in the Hydro and Pulp & Paper business areas and amounted to EUR 1,742.2 for the first quarter 2014.

The order backlog as of 31 March 2015 slightly increased to EUR 7,785.6 million, compared to EUR 7,510.6 million as of 31 December 2014.

The EBITA amounted to EUR 73.4 million, compared to EUR 48.6 million for the same period last year. Earnings were thus 51% above the low reference figure of last year, but still failed to reach a satisfactory level, as did the EBITA margin at 5.2%. This is mainly attributable to temporary exchange rate differences from negative market values from project-related currency hedges that will balance out by the time the orders are completed/paid.

Outlook

On the basis of the current order backlog, the company expects a slight increase in sales and net income in 2015 compared to the previous year.

International technology Group Andritz, headquartered in Graz, Austria, employs approximately 25,000 people worldwide. It is a leading supplier of plants, equipment, and services for hydropower stations, the pulp and paper industry, the metalworking and steel industries, and solid/liquid separation in the municipal and industrial sectors.

In addition, Andritz offers technologies for certain other sectors including automation, the production of animal feed and biomass pellets, pumps, machinery for nonwovens and plastic films, steam boiler plants, biomass boilers and gasification plants for energy generation, flue gas cleaning plants, plants for the production of panelboards (MDF), thermal sludge utilization, and biomass torrefaction plants.

www.andritz.com