As years go, fiscal 2022 was not at all bad for the Wittmann Group. The company saw a high order intake — well above average, in fact, especially during the first half of the year. However, the tight situation in terms of the supply of purchased parts, particularly electronic components, put any growth in sales on hold. The 376 million euros ($397 million) in sales for 2022 was roughly on par with the figure for 2021.
For the current fiscal year, President Michael Wittmann is expecting a return to growth. From today’s standpoint, a 10 percent increase over last year is a realistic estimate, in his opinion. The group started 2023 with a high order backlog, while the supply situation is also starting to show signs of improvement. the market beginning to show signs of improvement in the supply situation.
WittmannGroup reported considerable progress on its numerous investment and building projects. Not only did Wittmann invest in new machining centers at three of its production plants in 2022, but the group also completed the expansion work at Wittmann Battenfeld in Kottingbrunn, Austria and Wittmann Robottechnikai Kft. in Mosonmagyarovar, Hungary.
The additional production floor space will be used to boost the company’s injection molding machine production and, in Hungary, to increase the production of new Tempro temperature controllers and robots equipped with R9 control systems.
At Wittmann’s Torrington, Conn., subsidiary, another expansion project is in progress; this is expected to be completed on schedule within the next two months. Here, more space is being created for automation solutions and complete injection molding cells.
A completely new building is currently under construction in Törökbálint, near Budapest which will house Wittmann Battenfeld Kft, the Hungarian sales and service organization. Completion is planned for the end of the second quarter of 2023.
Last year, too, saw the opening of a production facility in Dilovası, Turkey. Here, the main focus is on sheet metal and metal processing and complete products from the Wittmann Group’s range of auxiliaries. Series production of the first auxiliaries began Jan. 1. The activities here will steadily be increased over the coming months and years to support the operations of the production plants in Austria and France. Turkey offers the added advantage of a growing labor market that will continue to provide a reservoir of skilled industrial workers to support Wittmann’s needs for future growth.