Growing order intake and sales

In the first half of 2018, Rotating Equipment Services reported growing order intake and sales. Operational EBITA increased marginally and operational ROSA decreased slightly due to price erosion in the power market. The division introduced its first paperless parts manufacturing center in the UK.

Adapting to new digital standards

Rotating Equipment Services is adapting to new digital standards to become faster and better. In the first half of 2018, the Parts Manufacturing Center in Leeds, UK, went fully paperless. All information needed, including manufacturing drawings, is now available digitally on the shop floor. The paperless factory has improved the speed of delivery of spare parts to customers and saved cost and effort. The division will continue to roll out this concept to all parts manufacturing centers across the globe.

By digitalizing our service centers, we support our growth with faster project execution.

Daniel Bischofberger Division President Rotating Equipment Services

The parts manufacturing centers are now ramping up the use of rapid casting patterns created through additive manufacturing to make spare parts for pumps. Wax and plastic casting molds are made by directly printing them from the digital 3D CAD model. This approach facilitates the servicing of Sulzer and third-party pumps by avoiding the high cost of tooling. Customers benefit from faster delivery times, and Sulzer has greater flexibility in its supply chain.

Order intake increased

In the first half of 2018, order intake increased. Growth was most pronounced in pumps services.

Order intake increased in the regions Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) as well as Asia-Pacific, whereas it decreased in the Americas compared with the same period of last year.

Sales increased, operational EBITA increased marginally and operational ROSA decreased slightly

The division reported an increase in sales in the first half of 2018. This is mainly due to a good order backlog at the beginning of 2018, particularly in the EMEA region and in pumps services.

Operational EBITA increased marginally on the back of higher sales. However, operational ROSA showed a slight decrease because of pricing erosion in the gas turbine service business, particularly in the Americas.

If not otherwise indicated, changes from the previous year are based on currency-adjusted figures. These are reported without consideration of IFRS 15, applying the same accounting policies as in the prior year.

Sales by market segment
Sales by region

Key figures Rotating Equipment Services (January 1–June 30)

millions of CHF

2018 (new accounting policies) 1)

2018 (previous accounting policies) 2)

2017

Change in +/–% 3)

+/–% adjusted 4)

+/–% organic 5)

Order intake

572.1

572.1

537.2

6.5

6.5

3.1

Order intake gross margin

37.4%

37.4%

38.1%

 

 

 

Order backlog as of June 30/December 31

431.5

427.5

364.4

17.3

 

 

Sales

512.6

504.7

474.1

6.4

6.5

2.5

EBIT

65.2

56.5

57.8

–2.2

 

 

opEBITA

69.9

61.3

60.9

0.6

1.6

–2.8

opROSA

13.6%

12.1%

12.8%

 

 

 

Employees (number of full-time equivalents) as of June 30/December 31

4’610

4’610

4’485

2.8

 

 

1) According to IFRS 15, see financial review and note 13 of the interim consolidated financial statements for details.

2) Without consideration of IFRS 15, applying the same accounting policies as in the prior year.

3) Comparing the previous accounting policies 2018 with 2017.

4) Adjusted for currency effects. Comparing the previous accounting policies 2018 with 2017.

5) Adjusted for acquisition and currency effects. Comparing the previous accounting policies 2018 with 2017.

Abbreviations

EBIT: Operating income
opEBITA: Operating income before restructuring, amortization, impairments and non-operational items
opROSA: Return on sales before restructuring, amortization, impairments and non-operational items (opEBITA/sales)