Pandemic remains to be major challenge for industrial manpower

Ziehl-Abegg maintains sales in the first year of COVID-19 and gets 2021 off to a flying start

Ziehl-Abegg was quickly forced to abandon its original sales plans in the previous year. The fact that sales performed very well in early summer in some areas, such as elevator drive technology, failed to compensate for the slump in ventilation systems. Ventilation systems only started to catch up in the fourth quarter, enabling Ziehl-Abegg to ultimately post slight growth in annual sales. “This is thanks to the tireless efforts of our colleagues who have done a really good job during the pandemic in Germany and worldwide,” emphasizes the company’s CEO.

The company located in Southern Germany generated sales of EUR 639 million in 2020; that’s an increase of around 1 percent. In the current year, the performance to date suggests the company will post a good increase in sales. “During the crisis, we started up a number of major construction projects worldwide and invested in machinery – so Ziehl-Abegg is now able to absorb the growth,” says Fenkl. However, the COVID-19 regulations place a significant obstacle to production as well as sales. This is compounded by a global shortage of components. And the sword of Damocles of the pandemic hangs over everything – “no one knows if we’ll see the beginning of another downward trend next week”.

The number of employees remained constant in 2020: Ziehl-Abegg employs 2,400 people in Germany, globally the total figure is 4,300. However, this figure is not intended to stay at the same level: “At present, we are constantly searching for employees to join us and ‘lend a hand’ in the production plants at our three locations in Germany,” says Fenkl.

For more info, visit: https://www.ziehl-abegg.com/