"The result we achieved last year is thoroughly satisfactory," says Dr. Jochen Kress, Managing Partner of the Mapal Group. Consolidated Group turnover rose from 610 million euros in 2017 to 640 million euros in 2018. The number of employees at the precision tool manufacturer also increased: The company now employs 5,500 people worldwide, including more than 3,600 in Germany.

Stability in Asia and America

According to the company, it was also able to consolidate and expand its position in all key regions. To achieve this, the company invested in its locations last year. "In Asia, we founded a new joint venture in Vietnam and acquired a majority stake in Adico, a manufacturer of PCD and PcBN cutting materials, among other things," explains Kress. After Germany, Asia remains the most important market for Mapal, even if - in line with the country's economic growth - growth rates in China have fallen somewhat.

The company is also expanding its presence on the American continent. "We have expanded our site in Fountain Inn, South Carolina," explains Dr. Jochen Kress. A completely new plant was also opened in Mexico in February 2019. In Germany, the capacity of the competence center for solid carbide tools in Altenstadt is currently being increased with a new production hall. In addition to the new buildings and expansions, there are ongoing investments in new machines worldwide to maintain quality and productivity at the highest level.

Tapping into new sectors

In the current financial year, the precision tool manufacturer is stepping up its activities in various sectors. For this reason, Mapal exhibited at Moulding Expo for the first time this year to showcase its expertise in the field of tool and mold making. Challenges also await in the automotive industry, says Kress: "We want to further expand our leading position in the machining of components for electrically powered vehicles."

Digitalization will continue to be a focal point. For example, the focus of Mapal subsidiary c-Com has expanded. "In practice, we have seen what many companies, especially small ones, are missing - an offer for easy entry into the digital world," says Kress. For this reason, c-Com offers numerous modules that enable precisely this entry. These include the module for efficient regrinding handling and the new c-Connect Box for simple machine monitoring.

"2019 will certainly be an exciting year - both economically and politically," concludes Dr. Jochen Kress. "That makes it difficult to predict. In any case, we rely on our innovative strength and flexibility, which are rooted in the skills of our employees."