"Overall, after a weak start, we achieved sales of EUR 680.4 million in 2016, which corresponds to sales at the previous year's level when adjusted for foreign currency effects," explained CEO Jörg Timmermann at the annual press conference during the Hannover Messe trade fair. "We already experienced a significant upturn in business in the final months of 2016, which even intensified in the first quarter of 2017." After the project business in Asia in particular had led to declining sales at the beginning of 2016, Weidmüller had taken the right measures. This is illustrated by the very good business performance since the fourth quarter of 2016.

After China in particular had been one of the most important growth markets for the Detmold-based company with its 4,500 employees worldwide in recent years, "we felt the effects of the 'China slowdown' and the postponement of major projects in the photovoltaic and wind sectors as well as transport technology very strongly in this region in 2016," says Chief Sales Officer José Carlos Álvarez Tobar. The other regions remained relatively stable in 2016. "In order to stimulate business, we reorganized our sales regions in mid-2016. This has already led to positive results after a short time. At the same time, we are intensifying our activities in South America and South East Asia and adapting our business in China to the changed conditions," says Álvarez Tobar. The foreign share of sales in 2016 was 78.4%, the same level as the previous year.

In 2017, Weidmüller intends to focus more strongly on the areas of Industry 4.0, digitalization and automation. "Data is the gold of the 21st century - its importance and the demand for components and solutions that record, evaluate and contextualize this data will continue to grow in the coming years," explains Timmermann. Weidmüller is developing numerous communication-capable components for this area. In addition, a new business unit was established at the beginning of the year that specializes in recording machine and system data, evaluating it using intelligent processes and thus reliably detecting anomalies and inefficiencies.

The Detmold-based company is optimistic that it will achieve the targets it has set itself for 2017. "We are planning for sales growth in the region of five percent - the very good first quarter confirms our plans," says Timmermann, looking ahead to the coming months.