Specifically, the Group's turnover rose to 1.977 billion euros in 2016. "In Italy, Russia and India, for example, we were able to achieve very positive sales growth of between 12% and 17%," says Frank Stührenberg, CEO, explaining the different market developments and adds: "The dynamic growth of the electromobility market even resulted in a 70% increase in sales for our subsidiary Phoenix Contact E-Mobility." The industrial electronics manufacturer invested EUR 150 million in the expansion of the Group. In the course of this, 500 new employees were also hired.

Phoenix Contact expects sales growth of around 6.5% for the current year. Stührenberg is confident: "In the first quarter, we were already able to record very good sales growth of over 12%. We will exceed the EUR 2 billion mark in 2017." The company also plans to invest around 150 million euros in national and international expansion this year. For example, additional sales and training capacities of around 6,000 m² are being created at the Italian site in Milan. In India, production and logistics capacities will be expanded with an investment of EUR 5 million. And at the Blomberg site, the size of the laboratory building of Phoenix Testlab, the testing laboratory and certification institute for technical products, will be doubled to 4,000 m².

Taiwanese Ethernet specialist acquired

The investments increasingly include company participations. At the beginning of April, the company acquired 100% of Mauell Netzleittechnik GmbH from Velbert. By integrating the automation specialist for energy networks into the Group, Phoenix Contact is continuing its growth strategy in the energy market. Phoenix Contact has also recently acquired the Taiwanese company Etherwan System (around 190 employees), a manufacturer of Ethernet communication technology in automation (including media converters and switches). The two companies have already been working together for 15 years. According to Phoenix Contact, this significantly strengthens its network technology, a key technology for digitalization. In February, the Phoenix Contact Group acquired a stake in SmartB Energy Management GmbH, a Berlin-based start-up for energy management in commercial buildings, via Phoenix Contact Innovation Venture GmbH.