The 2023 financial year was characterized by the expansion of geopolitical conflicts, a slowdown in the global economy, more difficult financing conditions with high inflation rates and key interest rates and a resulting reluctance to invest. Nevertheless, Sick 's sales increased by 5.4% to EUR 2,307 million compared to 2022. Adjusted for exchange rate effects, it rose by 8.8%. The overall financial and earnings position developed positively. Sick thus achieved its forecast targets. Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) increased by 15.1% year-on-year to EUR 189 million. The EBIT margin increased to 8.2 percent from 7.5 percent in the previous year.

In terms of application areas - factory, logistics and process industry - Sick recorded sales increases in all three business segments, with factory automation showing the strongest growth of 6.9% to EUR 1,185 million. Process automation grew by 5.8 percent to EUR 348 million in sales. Following the record years of the coronavirus pandemic and high growth in e-commerce, logistics automation continued to show solid growth of 2.8% to EUR 747 million.

In the home market of Germany, turnover grew by 4.2% to EUR 380 million despite a slight economic downturn. In the EMEA region, sales increased disproportionately by 12.2% to EUR 823 million. This positive development is reflected in many countries, particularly in large European markets such as the UK and Italy. Sales growth in the Americas region of 7.1% to EUR 545 million was achieved in particular in the major markets of the USA and Brazil. Sales in the Asia-Pacific region fell by 4% to EUR 559 million. This is attributable to the Chinese market, which was impacted by negative changes in the exchange rate of the Chinese renminbi and general market uncertainties in the region.

As at the reporting date of December 31, 2023, the Group employed 12,185 people - an increase of 2.3% on the previous year. The company focused on the area of research and development when expanding its workforce. The number of employees in this area was increased by 9.2% to 1,760.