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An auto factory in Thailand: Car production in Asia increased by 3%. Photo courtesy Jeerawut Rityakul/Shutterstock.com.
Bodycote Group revenue for the three months ended 31 March 2013 was 3.9% higher than in the same period last year. At £156.5m, it was in line with the Bodycote board’s expectations, as stated in the 2012 annual results. Aerospace, Defence & Energy revenue was higher than in the first quarter of 2012 by 6.5% (5.5% at constant exchange rates), although organic revenue was lower by 0.5%. The Automotive & General Industrial business saw revenues increase by 2.4% (1.4% at constant exchange rates). Carpenter Technology reported net income of US$32.9 million for Q3 ended 31 March 2013, compared to US$33 million in Q3 in the previous year. “Our third quarter had gains and challenges,” said William A Wulfsohn, Carpenter Technology president and CEO. “We achieved solid growth in our aerospace
and energy markets. However, increased customer deferrals during the quarter, combined with low sales to distribution customers and a weak defence-related mix, resulted in lower sales.” H.C. Starck reported slower growth in its 2012 report, following a very strong 2011, achieving €862.9 million in sales, compared to €883.2 million in 2011. “After a very strong fiscal year 2011, growth has slowed down in 2012,” said Andreas Meier,chairman of the H.C. Starck executive board. “Nevertheless, H.C. Starck was to able expand its market position in all major industries” In 2012, H.C. Starck gained market share for high capacity tantalum powders and expanded its niobium business. Höganäs reported consolidated net sales of SEK6,712 million for 2012, down 5% year on year.This was primarily due to a demand slowdown, mainly in Europe, and destocking at the customer level, Höganäs said. Consolidated net sales in 2011 were SEK7,081 million. “Just like every other company in 2012, we were affected by the global economic downturn in the second half-year,” said CEO Alrik Danielson. Höganäs achieved good sales performance and market acceptance of new powder products in surface coating, and component manufacture was positive, he added. Then, in the spring, the company saw a clear demand slowdown as its customers, and their customers, were affected by a weak business cycle. Höganäs’ Components business reported a lower turnover in 2012 of SEK 5,119 million
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(SEK5,378 million) compared to the previous year. The Consumables business area reported turnover of SEK1,593 million (SEK1,703 million) for 2012 compared to the previous year, down by 6%. “Economic conditions in 2013 are highly uncertain, which is also affecting Höganäs’ markets,” Danielson said. “In 2012, we witnessed how the debt and liquidity crisis affected the global manufacturing market. We are convinced that this trend will continue in 2013, although the extent remains unclear.” Kennametal Q3 sales were US$655 million, compared with US$696 million in the same quarter last year, a 6% decrease. The industrial segment sales of US$374 million declined 11% from US$419 million in the previous Q3. Sales declined 12% in general engineering and 2% in transportation, while aerospace and defence sales grew 14%. “We’re navigating well in a challenging economic environment, while strengthening our business to be ready to serve our customers as growth returns,” said Carlos Cardoso, Kennametal chairman, president and CEO. Molycorp made full-year revenues of US$528.9 million, a 33% increase over the prior year, as a result of its transition from a development stage company to a producer of rare earth materials. Molycorp believes 2013 demand will be relatively robust in the automotive catalysts, fluid cracking catalysts, and the automotive and small battery sectors, while weaker or negative near-term growth is forecast in the multi-layer ceramic capacitor, glass polishing, and neodymium-iron-
boron magnet sectors. SKF posted sales in 2012 of SEK64,575 million, down from SEK66,216 million in 2011. Sales for the full year in local currencies and excluding structure decreased by 5% in Europe, by 10% in Asia and by 2% in Middle East and Africa. In North America they increased by 7% and in Latin America by 11%. “We saw a weak development in our sales in Q4 and particularly in December, due to the uncertain macro situation and inventory reductions in the market,” said Tom Johnstone, SKF president and CEO. Umicore’s revenues were down 2% in the first quarter of 2013 due to the “adverse market conditions” in many of its end markets. While Performance Materials and Recycling recorded lower revenues, Catalysis and Energy Materials recorded stable and slightly higher revenues respectively. Revenues were up in Cobalt & Specialty Materials, although lower volumes of cobalt powders were sold in North America as a result of increased competition. Electro-Optic Materials recorded lower revenues, while in Battery Materials, sales volumes and revenues were considerably higher than in the first quarter of 2012 but lower than in the last quarter of 2012. Revenues for Element Six Abrasives were down year on year, as a result of lower sales volumes in different end-markets. The revenues for Hard Materials were slightly down year on year, mainly as a result of the low activity levels in the mining sector.
May/June 2013 MPR
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