Financial results exceed expectations: SCHOTT reports a successful year and increases investments

Growth strategy yields results, positive net liquidity

Through profitable growth and strong productivity increases, all business units contributed to overall earnings. Furthermore, investments from the last three years are also yielding results. "Our strategy of investing well above depreciation is paying off," said CFO Dr. Jens Schulte. "With net liquidity of EUR 79 million and an equity ratio of 41% - seven percentage points higher than last year - we are in a strong position." According to the balance sheet, the company created around 1,000 new jobs by the end of September, totaling to 17,300 current employees (+5%), with approximately 6,000 located in Germany.

Pharmaceutical solutions and products for household appliances and consumer electronics are top performers   

In 2021, SCHOTT supplied pharmaceutical vials for over 5 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines. Moreover, solutions for the pharmaceutical industry also developed well regardless of the pandemic. Pharmaceutical companies were particularly in demand for "high-value" products such as pre-fillable syringes, coated vials or ready to use packaging.

Many people redesigned their homes during the pandemic while “cocooning.” For SCHOTT, this meant double-digit growth rates for CERAN® cooktop panels and ROBAX® fire-viewing panels and flat glass used in ovens and microwaves.

Consumer Electronics also showed signs of growth. The increasing demand for premium smartphones had a positive effect on cover glass: SCHOTT’s specialty glass enables manufacturers like Samsung and Vivo to produce unique designs for extremely break-resistant covers and ultra-flexible cover glass for foldable cell phones.

Successful M&A activities and investments in focus markets

SCHOTT has set the course for the future with strategic acquisitions and divestments: By acquiring the American diagnostics company AMI, SCHOTT is building up expertise in the booming diagnostics market and strengthening its presence in the USA. The company also sold the Gemtron subsidiary in North America after deciding to focus its future flat glass business on Europe and South America. In record time, SCHOTT established a production facility in China for FIOLAX® pharmaceutical tubing, making it the company’s first fusion site in the focus region at the same time. In India, the company also expanded FIOLAX® manufacturing to supply the Indian pharmaceutical industry and neighboring countries with high-quality pharmaceutical glass.

The company also invested millions of euros in a modern manufacturing facility at the Turkish flat glass site SCHOTT Orim in Bolu, which is scheduled to operate at the beginning of 2022. In Germany, more precisely in Müllheim in Baden, the company invested more than EUR 100 million in a new manufacturing facility for polymer syringes, including those used for mRNA vaccines. As the largest investment project is the history of the company, production scheduled to start in Spring 2022. "Despite the corona crisis, all of our projects remain on track thanks to the incredible commitment of our teams," said CEO Heinricht.

Outlook: Innovation as a driver of growth

For the first time, the United Nations has dedicated a material as the motto of the year, designating 2022 as the “UN International Year of Glass.” Thanks to its versatility, glass is a pioneer in many high-tech applications, offering unimaginable possibilities for current challenges in today’s society.

• More computing power for microchips is made possible by high-precision FLEXINITY® connect glass wafers, which will replace polymer as a material.
• Leading smartphone manufacturers such as Vivo will launch the first devices with the extremely break-resistant Xensation® α cover glass.
• New CERAN® Luminoir glass ceramic cooktops will bring new lighting designs to smart kitchens.

Further steps towards climate neutrality

By switching to certified green electricity, SCHOTT has come much closer to reaching its goal of becoming climate neutral by 2030. With ambitious projects, some of which are publicly funded, the company is developing new technology that can heat energy-intensive melting tanks without using fossil fuels in the future. The company is thus setting new standards for the glass industry. 

Record investment despite increasing costs

SCHOTT expects to grow between three to five percent within the new fiscal year, which has started successfully. "The rising energy and raw material costs present us with major challenges. In order to offset these effects, we will need to increase efficiency and raise prices," predicts Heinricht. Nevertheless, SCHOTT remains committed to its profitable growth strategy and is planning another record investment of EUR 450 million. Among other things, the company aims to triple the production of pharmaceutical solutions in China. Heinricht: "We have a balanced portfolio and offer customers innovations for future technologies. Our solid balance sheet and planned investment projects leave me optimistic that we will perform well in the upcoming fiscal year once again."


Trademarks:
CERAN®, FIOLAX®, FLEXINITY®, ROBAX®, Xensation®

Pioneering. Responsibly. Together

These attributes characterize SCHOTT as a manufacturer of high-tech materials based on specialty glass. Founder Otto Schott is considered its inventor and became the pioneer of an entire industry.

Always opening up new markets and applications with a pioneering spirit and passion – this is what has driven the #glasslovers at SCHOTT for more than 130 years. Represented in 34 countries, the company is a highly skilled partner for high-tech industries: Healthcare, Home Appliances & Living, Consumer Electronics, Semiconductors & Datacom, Optics, Industry & Energy, Automotive, Astronomy & Aerospace.

In the fiscal year 2021, its 17,300 employees generated sales of 2.5 billion euros. With the best teams, supported by the best digital tools, the group intends to continue to grow. SCHOTT AG is owned by the Carl Zeiss Foundation, one of the oldest foundations in Germany. It uses the Group's dividends to promote science. As a foundation company, SCHOTT has anchored responsibility for employees, society and the environment deeply in its DNA. The goal is to become a climate-neutral company by 2030.