Leuze Records Strongest Order Intake in Company History

Despite a decline in plant and mechanical engineering and the Corona pandemic, Leuze looks back on a successful business year 2020. But that’s not all: In 2021, the company is experiencing a real boom, recording a stronger order intake worldwide than ever before in its company history and looking confidently into the future.

(Owen) The year 2020 was globally marked by the Corona pandemic and a recessionary economy. Nevertheless, Leuze looks back on a quite successful business year 2020 in comparison to the industry and competitors. Since the beginning of 2021, the company has really stepped on the gas: The Leuze electronic group is currently achieving all-time highs in order intake and sales worldwide, growing above average.

Leuze with Clear Growth Objectives

Managing Director Ulrich Balbach is pleased with high order intakes and sales growth that he has not experienced in his over 23 years with Leuze. And this despite the health crisis, Corona lockdowns, and the scarcity of resources, especially in the semiconductor industry and electronic components, which comes with longer delivery times. According to Balbach, this success is primarily based on early, far-sighted, and also boldly counter-cyclical actions. “One can only shape change if one has a clear vision of the future and a concrete goal in mind. And Leuze has that,” he says, explaining: By the end of 2025, the company aims to double its sales.”

Leuze is on a good path and is building on its successful course from previous years. “Already a year ago, we always maintained the opinion that Corona is not an economic but a health crisis and we prepared well for it. We have always operated with our alternating shift model with foresight, relaxed when and where it was possible and allowed, and we started back up early with full throttle when the order intake became noticeable. It already picked up in August 2020 and continues to this day. A strong growth is also emerging for the next quarter,” Balbach says with an optimistic outlook for the future.

Full Order Books and Worldwide Sales Records

With a current worldwide sales increase of 20%, Leuze is on a real growth hunt. Business is particularly good in Asia, but also in the Americas, followed by Europe. “Compared to the previous year, sales in China specifically increased by 60%,” says Balbach. “There, electromobility in the automotive industry is currently a driving factor. The topic of photovoltaics is also significant. But the sectors of laboratory automation and intralogistics, which Leuze focuses on, are also performing very well,” he explains. Leuze has invested and continues to invest worldwide in new structures: The new international distribution center in Unterlenningen near the company headquarters in southern Germany, which opened in July 2020, has doubled logistics capacities.

Thus, the high order intakes and stocks can be managed well. In Melaka, Malaysia, Leuze is building a new production site along the new Silk Road to better meet the needs of Asian customers and further shorten delivery times. Its completion is planned for the end of 2021. The company is hiring new employees worldwide. “The best employees are our most important capital. Only in this way can we master future growth together,” explains Balbach.

Photo: © Leuze