In the third quarter of financial year 2021/2022 (October 1 to December 31, 2021), the order situation at Heidelberg recovered further. This and the continuing positive effects from the Group’s transformation led to a clear improvement in the operating result, with incoming orders in the third quarter increasing by 16% to €643m. After nine months, this figure was €1,888m, which is 33% higher than in the previous year. The higher order backlog of €951m at the end of the quarter even exceeded the pre-pandemic level.
Sales were also up on the previous year – by 20% at €582m for the third quarter and by 21% at €1,565m after nine months. EBITDA rose significantly in the third quarter, by 36% to €57m. EBITDA after nine months amounted to €132m, which is 21% higher than in the previous year. The operating improvement was primarily due to an increased business volume and better margins as a result of the transformation. These successes are impressive in view of the fact that the availability of parts is creating big challenges across the industry. Heidelberg has, however, largely managed to overcome these challenges by approving alternative components and coordinating closely with suppliers on a day-to-day basis. The company’s large vertical range of manufacture is a further advantage in this regard. With the supply chain situation still critical, the focus remains on ensuring the availability of parts.
“The success of our efforts to transform Heidelberg is becoming ever clearer,” comments Rainer Hundsdörfer, CEO, Heidelberg. “Our core business is doing well thanks to our high level of innovation and our focus on customer benefits, and our digital business models are making a key contribution, too. Moreover, the healthy order backlog creates a sound basis as we look toward the start of financial year 2022/2023.”
