Airport Towing Trucks For Material Handling

Annual General Meeting in Hamburg/Material Handling Equipment Market Displays Dynamic Growth/Incoming Orders Increase Substantially 

Hamburg—The Jungheinrich Group successfully maintained its course for growth in the first four months of 2011. The business trend benefited from the fact that global economic framework conditions remained favourable and the size of the market in the material handling equipment sector increased considerably. The company expressed an optimistic view regarding the continued business trend on the occasion of the Annual General Meeting on June 15, 2011.

The world economy continued to recover in the first four months of 2011, recording very different momentum from one region to the next. Global demand for material handling equipment was up 35 per cent to 330 thousand forklifts compared to the market volume seen in the same period last year, which was still comparatively small (prior year: 245 thousand units). All regions contributed to this increase, with growth rates differing substantially in some cases. Europe, Jungheinrich’s core market, recorded the strongest rise, advancing by 40 per cent. While Western Europe gained some 35 per cent, demand in Eastern Europe jumped by 72 per cent. Asia’s market expanded by 30 per cent. China made a contribution, growing by 33 per cent. The North American market was also enlarged by 33 per cent.

By the end of April 2011, the value of incoming orders, including all divisions, had climbed by 20 per cent to 706 million euros (prior year: 588 million euros). In the same period, net sales were up 18 per cent to 628 million euros (prior year: 532 million euros). As of April 30, 2011, orders on hand from new truck business totalled 357 million euros and were thus 36 per cent higher than in the corresponding period last year (262 million euros). The rise in the value of orders on hand compared to the 281 million euros at the end of 2010 amounted to 27 per cent, or 76 million euros.

At the Annual General Meeting on June 15, 2011, a draft resolution was presented to the shareholders to pay a dividend of 0.49 euros (prior year: no dividend) per ordinary share to ordinary shareholders and of 0.55 euros (prior year: minimum dividend of 0.12 euros) per preferred share to preferred shareholders.

As regards the remaining course of fiscal 2011, Jungheinrich anticipates that the global economic recovery will continue, displaying regional differences. Based on the rise in demand witnessed through the end of April, Jungheinrich expects the world market to expand by more than 10 per cent to approximately 900 thousand trucks for the year as a whole. This would cause the figure to surpass the level seen before the crisis in 2008. Based on an optimistic assessment of the market’s development, Jungheinrich had lifted its forecasts for fiscal 2011 at the beginning of May this year to over 2.0 billion euros (prior year: 1,924 million euros) for incoming orders and to over 1.95 billion euros (prior year: 1,816 million euros) for consolidated net sales.

Jungheinrich furnished proof of its innovative prowess, showcasing numerous new developments at CeMAT 2011, the world’s lead intralogistics trade show, in May.  A stand-out highlight was the EJE 112i, the world’s first series-ready battery-powered pedestrian-controlled pallet truck featuring forward-looking lithium ion technology. However, research and development was not the only field in which the company made substantial investments. “We are shaping the growth of our company by investing in forward-looking projects such as the new spare parts centre, which is scheduled to be constructed north of Hamburg by the end of 2013. The best possible supply of spare parts is of strategic importance; it is a key success factor when it comes to satisfying our customers. By making this 35 million euro investment, we will lastingly strengthen the growth of our company,” said Hans-Georg Frey, Chairman of the Board of Management, on the occasion of the Annual General Meeting in Hamburg.

Jungheinrich ranks among the world’s leading companies in the material handling equipment, warehousing and material flow engineering sectors. The company is an intralogistics service and solution provider with manufacturing operations, which offers its customers a comprehensive range of forklift trucks, shelving systems, services and advice. Jungheinrich shares are traded on all German stock exchanges.

Please address press-related inquiries to:
Jungheinrich AG; Markus Piazza, Head of Corporate Communications
Phone: +49-40-6948-1550, Fax: +49-40-6948-1599, markus.piazza@jungheinrich.de
www.jungheinrich.com