Miller Magazine Issue: 123 March 2020

25 NEWS MILLER / MARCH 2020 vious year: CHF 188 million). Bühler maintained a strong financial position in 2019. Net liquidity remained high at CHF 449 million (+0.3%), and the equity ratio grew to 42.8% (previous year: 42.2%). RONOA (return on net operating assets) remai- ned on par with the previous year at 14%. STABILITY AS A RESULT OF A BROAD REGIONAL FOOTPRINT The broad regional footprint of Bühler with its operations in around 140 countries, nearly 100 service stations, and more than 30 ma- nufacturing sites also supported the balancing of market variability. While Asia and Europe drove growth in the past year, in 2019 North America and Middle East & Africa took over this role. For the first time in years, Bühler re- corded a standstill in China due to market sa- turation in the automotive segment and tariff conflicts. Regardless, the company’s geograp- hic performance remains balanced: With re- gard to turnover, Asia makes up 34%, Europe 30%, Americas 22%, and Middle East & Af- rica 14%. Structurally, the company was able to further improve the breadth of its portfolio in 2019. The long-cycle plant and project business now accounts for 70% of turnover, while the short-cycle Customer Ser- vices and Single Machine Business saw a total turnover of CHF 979 million, representing a 30% share of total Group turnover. INNOVATIONS FOR A BETTER WORLD In 2019, Bühler elevated its innovation capabilities with the opening of its CU- BIC innovation campus and new application centers, by increasing R&D spending to a record high of CHF 149 million, and developing new partnerships, such as with the Future Food Initiative and World Business Coun- cil for Sustainable Develop- ment. The company launc- hed more than 20 new key solutions, with many in the area of digital applications. About 25% of the overall innovation spend focused on digital applications. With these innovations, Bühler aims to significantly decre- ase the ecological footprint of its industries: “We want to bring a 50% reduction in energy use, water consump- tion, and waste by 2025 in the value chains of our food, feed, and mobility customers,” says Chief Technology Officer Ian Roberts. To create impact in meeting these challenges, Bühler once again invited industry leaders, partners, customers, scientists, and start-ups to convene in Uzwil, Switzerland, and join the Bühler Networking Days 2019 event under the motto: “Creating tomorrow together”. The Networking Days 2019 participants rep- resented companies that provide food for 4 billion people every day and contribute to the mobility of about 1 billion people. The attendees were in agreement that continuing the status quo is not an option for dealing with today’s global challenges, and that rapid action and broad scale collaborati- on is required to ensure that food and mobi- lity industries become more sustainable. WELL POSITIONED FOR THE FUTURE WITH INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS The economic parameters for the current fiscal year are indicating ongoing – if not inc- reasing – volatility and unpredictability. While Bühler does not expect a quick upturn of the automotive industry, prospects for consumer electronics and glass coating sectors look brighter. The food and feed markets seem to remain in- tact with some booming segments, such as plant-based proteins for meat alternatives. In all markets, the increa- sing ecological challenges demand new sustainable solu- tions, thereby creating new business opportunities. “By driving innovations in the food and feed markets – for example, in new applica- tions in grain, cereal, and plant-protein processing and digital applications – as well as in applications for li- ght metal applications, new battery-processing soluti- ons, and coating applicati- ons, we are turning today’s challenges into tomorrow’s sustainable business oppor- tunities,” says CEO Stefan Scheiber. In conjunction with its strategic set-up of the th- ree segments and its global positioning, the company sees itself well positioned to benefit from these opportu- nities while managing risks. In 2020, Bühler plans for a stable and positive business development. For more information on the annual announcement, please visit: https://www. buhlergroup.com/annualre- port2019 Stefan Scheiber