Bosch Rexroth increases sales to record level

framework conditions. We are further developing our range of services in hydraulics, electrification and factory automation and strengthening it through acquisitions - both with a view to future growth and the changing requirements of our customers," says Dr. Steffen Haack, CEO of Bosch Rexroth.

Incoming orders: still at a high level

Bosch Rexroth recorded an order intake of around 7.3 billion euros (only 2.1% below the previous year's record figure). Negative influences such as the ongoing uncertainty, strict pandemic regulations in China and the war in Ukraine were offset. Incoming orders varied over the course of the year depending on the region or technology.

With a clear focus on innovation, Bosch Rexroth once again invested significantly more in research & development and its global production network. Bosch Rexroth invested around 388 million euros in research & development in 2022. This is around 5.5 percent of sales (previous year: 344 million euros; 5.6 percent) and the highest figure in the company's history. The focus was on digitalization, the electrification of mobile machinery with the Elion platform, factory automation with the ctrlX Automation modular automation system and the Active Shuttle autonomous mobile robot, and industrial hydraulics with the H4U (Hydraulics for You) software platform.

Investments in the global production network with its 46 production sites increased by 53.1% to 274 million euros (3.9% of turnover). This is the highest figure in the last ten years. The funds were used to modernize existing locations in the form of investments in buildings, machinery and tools as well as the construction of new locations.

In 2022, Bosch Rexroth acquired several companies, acquired stakes in companies and founded joint ventures. The largest acquisition in the hydraulics business was announced in July 2022: HydraForce, US specialist for mechanical and electrical screw-in valves and control blocks. In factory automation, Elmo Motion Control, based in Israel, has been part of the Automation and Electrification Solutions product area since November. In May, Bosch Rexroth acquired a majority stake in the Danish robot specialist Kassow Robots. In China, Bosch Rexroth is driving growth with market-specific products in the mid-range performance segment with two new start-ups: Le-AutomatiX in the factory automation sector and Weifu Technology Group in mobile and industrial hydraulics.

Outlook for 2023: cautiously optimistic

"I am impressed by how our global team has mastered the intense year 2022 - with great commitment to our customers and supported by our strong corporate culture. We are cautiously optimistic for 2023. Slight sales growth in our existing business will be supplemented by sales from the acquired companies," says Holger von Hebel, CFO of Bosch Rexroth.

The challenges remain: the ongoing war in Ukraine, restrictions in the availability of materials and transport capacities as well as uncertainties in the international trade environment. "This makes it all the more important to continuously improve our company. We are further strengthening our culture, which is characterized by agility and a focus on results, through numerous activities. In addition, we are intensifying digitalization in all parts of the company and placing sustainability at the heart of our actions even more than before," says von Hebel.