Service robotics
Pilz: further growth with robotics
In the 2017 financial year, the automation company Pilz increased its turnover to 338 million euros and the number of employees to a good 2,300. In 2018, the family business is also focusing on a new, modular range for service robotics.
Susanne Kunschert, Managing Partner of Pilz, explains: "I look back on the 2017 financial year with great gratitude: we exceeded our economic targets, were able to increase the number of employees and invested in the future with the expansion of research and development activities at the headquarters in Ostfildern and a new building for the software development center in Cork, Ireland".
Pilz achieved a turnover of 338 million euros in the 2017 financial year. This corresponds to an increase of 10.6 percent compared to the previous year. As of December 31, 2017, Pilz employed 2,346 people in 40 subsidiaries worldwide. Pilz created 174 new jobs worldwide in 2017. This represents an increase of eight percent compared to the 2016 financial year. 1,067 people were employed at the headquarters in Ostfildern on 31.12.2017 (plus 42 employees compared to the previous year).
High demand on the Asian market
The further increase in the export share to 71.9% (up 0.7 percentage points on 2016) underlines the company's international focus. The strong demand on the Asian market played a key role in the good result. Asia was Pilz's fastest-growing region in 2017, accounting for over 30 percent, and shows great potential for the future.
In terms of product areas, Pilz was able to grow in classic segments such as safety relays. Continuous growth in the areas of sensor technology and services is also pleasing.
Modular range for service robotics
In 2018, Pilz will expand its portfolio in the field of robotics: Pilz now offers modules for service robotics in the industrial sector. The range initially consists of a mobile operating module, a control module and a manipulator module, i.e. a robot arm developed in-house. Pilz is thus addressing pick & place applications and modular, semi-automated small robot cells. The company will present the service robotics modules to the public at the Automatica trade fair in June. "We are thus continuing to develop into a technology company that now also offers complete solutions for safe robotics," says Susanne Kunschert.
The family business remained true to its innovative character in 2017: Pilz once again invested around 20 percent of its turnover in research and development. The company is creating the best possible conditions for further innovations with the current conversion of the former production facility at its headquarters in Ostfildern into a modern R&D center and the expansion of software development with a new building in Cork, Ireland. Pilz is investing around seven million euros at each of the two sites.
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