• 集团收入超26亿欧元,创历史新高
  • 进一步巩固燃气冷凝设备的市场先导地位
  • 热泵产品增长逾30%
  • 推出新的数字产品及服务

总部位于德国雷姆沙伊德的全球供热、通风及空调技术专家威能集团的销售收入达到创纪录的26亿欧元。相当于较2018财年增长5%,汇率调整后为6%。“尽管市场环境遭遇到一些挑战,但回顾2019财年,我们取得了骄人业绩,”威能集团首席执行官Norbert Schiedeck博士总结去年业务时表示,“集团发展战略的实施,特别是在高效的燃气冷凝设备及热泵方面的业务,为我们实现可观的收入增长和进一步提高我们的国际竞争地位做出了巨大贡献。在经历了前一年的停滞之后,2019年我们在中国的营收实现了两位数的增长。积极的盈利趋势使我们能够继续大力投资电气化和数字化的产品组合,以及正在进行的工作培训。”

欧洲及中国市场的增长

尽管欧洲的供热市场处于下降趋势,威能集团仍然在所有销售区域实现了收入增长。在东欧市场,销售收入同比实现两位数增长,其中波兰地区的强劲增势发挥了关键作用。在北欧及西欧地区,销售收入也较上年大幅增加。英国及比利时业务的蓬勃发展是决定性因素。中欧的增长主要来自于冷凝锅炉、热泵及控制技术领域的收入增加。

在南欧,由于法国和西班牙供热设备市场的积极经济表现,收入同样较上年实现增长。

在欧洲之外的市场,只有土耳其的业务低于往年水平,其原因在于土耳其里拉下降。在中国,威能集团实现了两位数的增长。为了加强在中国地区的销售活动,中国公司在2019年与更多的零售商建立合作关系,并通过开设新的用户服务中心来扩展本地业务。

热泵业务增长超过30%

2019年,威能在热泵业务方面的动态增长比上一年提高了37%,远高于欧洲市场的增长。aroTHERM plus热泵系列是威能集团启动的一系列采用创新技术的热泵产品,使用天然冷却剂。由于其不会对全球变暖产生推动影响,这种制冷剂保证环保的同时实现了高流动温度。因此,热泵也可以用来给那些隔热性能较差的老建筑提供热水和供暖。这为威能集团开拓了额外的销售和市场潜力。

燃气冷凝设备:市场地位以及对氢能源的研究

在其核心业务领域——高效的燃气冷凝设备方面,威能集团承诺进一步推动全球供暖技术的革新。2019年,该业务的收入增长达到9%。2019年春,威能推出了新一代的燃气冷凝设备,可以自动适应不同的燃气类型与质量。这确保了高能量输出,并在任何时候保证了燃烧性能。

使用氢气作为燃气冷凝设备的能源代表了威能集团的一个关键研究领域。从可再生能源获得的氢可以在建筑领域的能源转型中发挥核心作用,无论是作为现有天然气网络的补充还是纯形式。类似于目前产品的纯氢驱动无二氧化碳排放的设备正处于测试阶段。

推出新的数字产品与服务

数字化以及利用新增长领域的相关机遇,对于威能集团而言至关重要——包括整个业务运营领域。重点领域之一是通过数字商业模式扩展核心业务。这包括解决方案,如智能能源管理和针对终端用户及安装商的先进服务。通过智能控制,采暖设备用户可以在不影响舒适度的情况下减少能源消耗。非接触式、基于web的远程监控和设备诊断允许安装人员检查系统是否一直正常工作。初期阶段可识别维护需求,并在最终客户方便的时候进行工作。威能集团见证了对安装商数字服务和用户“智能”解决方案的不断增长需求。

为了能够更快地响应个人客户的需求并提供合适的解决方案,威能集团正在增加其在公司内部和IT基础设施业务流程转换方面的投资。该项目将持续数年,旨在促进整个市场和集团快速、一致地实施业务模式,从而促进业务进一步增长。另一个关键方面是物联网(IoT)、数据分析、数据安全和销售流程数字化领域的数字专业技术的扩展。

2020年开局稳健——预计第二季度将受冠状病毒影响

威能集团在2020财年开局良好,今年第一季度的销售收入较上年同期有所增长。由于冠状病毒的传播,中国市场的销量大幅下滑,但欧洲市场增长强劲,集团将能抵消这一消极影响。预测该疫情将在2020年第二季度影响欧洲业务。

“2020财年的挑战将是调整成本以适应需求,同时继续投资扩大我们的核心业务,包括热泵、高效的天然气技术和数字解决方案,” Norbert Schiedeck博士解释道,“我们依然是客户的可靠合作伙伴,我们将继续为客户提供采暖和热水产品。”

  • Revenue climbs to a record level of well above €2.6 billion
  • More than 30 per cent growth in electric heat pumps
  • Leading market position in the field of gas-fired condensing appliances further strengthened
  • New digital products and services

The Remscheid-based heating, ventilation and air-conditioning technology specialist Vaillant Group has increased its revenue to a new record level of more than €2.6 billion. This corresponds to growth of 5 per cent compared to the 2018 financial year, and 6 per cent when adjusted for exchange rates. “Despite a sometimes challenging market environment, we can look back on a successful 2019 financial year,” summarises Dr.-Ing. Norbert Schiedeck, Chief Executive Officer of the Vaillant Group, the performance of the Remscheid-based family business. “The implementation of our growth strategy, particularly our business with electric heat pumps and highly efficient gas-fired condensing appliances, has contributed significantly to achieving a considerable revenue increase and a further improvement in our international competitive position. Following the stagnation witnessed in the previous year, we also posted double-digit revenue growth in China in 2019. The positive trend in earnings enables us to continue investing particularly heavily in the electrification and digitalisation of our portfolio, as well as in the ongoing training of our workforce.”

Growth in Europe and China

Despite a declining European market for heating technology, the Vaillant Group recorded a rise in revenue in all sales regions in 2019. In the Eastern Europe region, sales revenue rose by a double-digit percentage rate year-on-year, with strong growth in Poland playing a vital role in this regard. In the Northern and Western Europe regions, sales revenue was also up considerably on the previous year. The decisive factor was dynamic business development in the UK and Belgium. Growth in Central Europe was chiefly attributable to revenue increases in the areas of condensing boilers, heat pumps and control technology.

In Southern Europe, revenue was up year-on-year by virtue of a positive economic performance on the markets for heating appliances in France and Spain.

Outside Europe, only business in Turkey remained below the previous year’s level, which was also due to the decline in the Turkish lira. In China, the Vaillant Group posted a revenue rise in the double-digit percentage range. In order to strengthen sales activities in China, the company entered into partnerships with further retailers nationwide in 2019 and expanded its local presence by opening new customer service centres.

More than 30 per cent growth in electric heat pumps

In 2019, the company’s dynamically growing business with electric heat pumps was about 37 per cent above the previous year’s figure and thus significantly above the European market growth. With the aroTHERM plus range, the Vaillant Group has initiated series production of a technologically innovative heat pump that makes use of a natural refrigerant. Thanks to its low global warming potential, this refrigerant is exceptionally environmentally friendly and enables high flow temperatures. As a result, the heat pumps can also be used to supply hot water and heating to older buildings with less insulation. This opens up additional sales and market potentials for the Vaillant Group.

Gas-fired condensing appliances: leading market position – and research into the use of hydrogen as an energy source

In its core segment of efficient, gas-fired condensing appliances, the Vaillant Group is committed to further expand its leading market position. In 2019, the revenue rise in this market segment amounted to 9 per cent. In spring 2019, the company unveiled a new generation of gas-fired condensing appliances that automatically adapt to different gas types and qualities. This ensures a high energy yield, combined with optimum combustion performance at all times.

The use of hydrogen as an energy source for gas-fired condensing appliances represents a key field of research for the Vaillant Group. Hydrogen produced from renewable energies can play a central role in the energy transition in the buildings sector, both as an addition to the existing natural gas grid and in pure form. Appliances that are similar to current products, run on pure hydrogen and therefore emit no CO2 are currently in the testing phase.

New digital products and services

Digitalisation and the associated opportunities to harness new growth areas are of crucial importance to the Vaillant Group – across the full spectrum of business operations. One area of focus is the expansion of the core business with digital business models. This includes solutions such as intelligent energy management and advanced services for end customers and installers. Heating appliance users are given the ability to reduce energy consumption by means of intelligent control – without compromising on comfort. Contactless, web-based remote monitoring and appliance diagnostics allow installers to check that the system is working properly at all times. Maintenance needs can be identified at an early stage, and the work can be carried out at a time that is convenient for the end customer. The Vaillant Group is witnessing increasing demand for both digital services for installers and for “smart” solutions for appliance owners.

In order to be able to respond more quickly to individual customer requirements and offer suitable solutions, the Vaillant Group is increasing its investment in the transformation of business processes within the company and in the IT infrastructure. The project – which is set to run over several years – aims to facilitate the rapid and consistent implementation of business models across markets and the Group as a whole, thus generating further growth. Another key aspect is the expansion of digital expertise in the areas of Internet of Things (IoT), data analysis, data security and the digitalisation of sales processes.

A solid start to 2020 – impact of coronavirus expected in the second quarter

The Vaillant Group has made a solid start to the 2020 financial year, with sales revenue up on the prior-year period in the first quarter. The company was able to offset the significant decline in China, which was connected to the spread of coronavirus, with particularly strong growth in Europe. It is expected that the pandemic will impact European operations in the second quarter of 2020.

“The challenge in the 2020 financial year will be to adapt costs to demand while continuing to invest in the expansion of our core business with heat pumps, efficient gas technologies and digital solutions,” explains Dr.-Ing. Norbert Schiedeck. “We will remain a reliable partner for our customers, whom we will continue to supply with heating and hot water.”