Bühler has proved reliability and robustness in 2020

Uzwil (Switzerland), February 15, 2021 – In 2020, Bühler proved to be a reliable partner to all its stakeholders and showed robust business performance in 2020. Protection of the health of employees, securing supply chains for customers, and keeping the innovation rate high were the top priorities. Despite adverse conditions, Bühler fulfilled all customer contracts and delivery agreements without interruptions. And the company launched major innovations for key markets. The Group gained additional financial strength, with equity ratio reaching 44.2% (+1.4 percentage points) and net liquidity soaring to CHF 749 million (+66.8%). Turnover was CHF 2.7 billion (-17.0%), with order intake amounting to CHF 2.6 billion (-16.7%). “With high agility we adapted quickly to the new situation to ensure continuity on all levels,” says CEO Stefan Scheiber. “In light of our global set-up and innovation power, we are looking into the future with bounded optimism.” |
Bühler assured the health of its employees and its daily operations throughout the year. Supply chains proved remarkably solid, as Bühler was able to absorb the pandemic’s waves thanks to its global network of 33 factories, 100 service stations, and digital tools such as remote customer trials or commissioning, to bring much needed food capacities online worldwide. “We have seen a sharp rise in customer demand for digital solutions, but also for sustainable solutions, such as CO2-reduced emissions, nutritious and healthy food, high-end deposition technologies, and clean mobility,” says Stefan Scheiber.
Increased financial strength
Turnover was CHF 2.7 billion, down 17.0% from CHF 3.3 billion. The 2020 figures are impacted by the development of currency exchange rates, specifically of the Chinese yuan, euro, and US dollar against the Swiss franc. Adjusted for the impact of the foreign exchange rates, the reduction of the top line versus last year was 13%.
Robust business performances
Summing up, the highlights from the businesses were strong growth of the Value Nutrition business due to high interest in meat alternatives from plant-based proteins; the build-up of large food parks such as in Egypt where Bühler built complete industrial infrastructures comprising of mills, biscuit, wafer, chocolate, and pasta lines; and the strong growth of Bühler Leybold Optics’ optical coating solutions, addressing the high demand for computer chips.
Success in China mitigated low volumes in other regions
Continuation of innovation roadmap
All innovation efforts of Bühler are aligned to the company’s commitment to lower energy use, water consumption, and waste in the value chains of its food, feed, and mobility customers by 50% until 2025. These sustainability goals have been anchored in the new Destination25 strategy, which was developed and agreed in 2020 and is valid until 2025. Furthermore, Bühler intensified its initiatives to provide training and education programs for customers and partners, as well as for employees worldwide. The global apprentice program was further developed, and the successes of the top apprentice talents at the 2020 SwissSkills competitions – with eight medals in four key disciplines – were lighthouses for the nearly 600 apprentices the company employs, coaches, and develops globally.
Outlook: bounded optimism
For more information on the annual announcement, please visit Bühler’s annual report 2020 web page.
For more pictures of Bühler executives and the full annual report 2020, please visit Bühler’s media download section. |
PDF to download: Results at a glance |
PDF to download: Regional performance |
Image to download: Stefan Scheiber, CEO at Bühler Group |
Image to download: Mark Macus, CFO at Bühler Group |
Image to download: Bühler Group’s Executive Board made even greater use of digital communication channels in 2020. |
Image to download: Bühler headquarters outside view, Uzwil, Switzerland |
Media contacts:
Burkhard Böndel, Head of Corporate Communications Bühler AG, 9240 Uzwil, Switzerland Phone: +41 71 955 33 99 Mobile: +41 79 515 91 57 E-mail: burkhard.boendel@Bühlergroup.com
Dalen Jacomino Panto, Media Relations Manager Bühler AG, 9240 Uzwil, Switzerland Phone: +41 71 955 37 57 Mobile: +41 79 900 53 88 E-mail: dalen.jacomino_panto@Bühlergroup.com
Markus Reber, Media Relations Manager Bühler AG, 9240 Uzwil, Switzerland Phone: +41 71 955 12 44 Mobile: +41 79 864 29 41 E-mail: markus.reber@Bühlergroup.com
Trade media contact:
Tracey Ibbotson, PR Executive, Bühler UK Limited, London, England Phone: +44 (0) 1992 537 421 E-mail: tracey.ibbotson@Bühlergroup.com |
About Bühler
Bühler is driven by its purpose of creating innovations for a better world, balancing the needs of economy, humanity, and nature. As a relevant solution partner for the food and mobility industries, Bühler is committed to reduce energy, waste, and water in its customers’ value chains by 50% by 2025. Billions of people come into contact with Bühler technologies as they cover their basic needs for food and mobility every day. Two billion people each day enjoy foods produced on Bühler equipment; and one billion people travel in vehicles manufactured using parts produced with Bühler technology. Countless people wear eyeglasses, use smart phones, and read newspapers and magazines – all of which depend on Bühler process technologies and solutions. Having this global relevance, Bühler is in a unique position to turn today’s global challenges into sustainable business. Bühler contributes to safely feeding the world and is doing its part to protect the climate, producing solutions that make cars, buildings, and machinery more energy efficient. Bühler invests up to 5% of turnover into research and development. In 2020, some 12,500 employees generated a turnover of CHF 2.7 billion. As a Swiss family-owned company, Bühler is active in 140 countries around the world and operates a global network of 100 service stations, 33 manufacturing sites, and application and training centers in 24 locations. |