"I look back on the 2017 financial year with great gratitude: we exceeded our financial targets, increased the number of employees and invested in the future by expanding our research and development activities at our headquarters in Ostfildern and building a new software development center in Cork, Ireland," explains Susanne Kunschert, Managing Partner of Pilz.

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).

Strong growth in the Asian market

The further increase in the export share to 71.9% (up 0.7 percentage points on 2016) underlines the strong international focus of the automation solutions provider. The strong demand for Pilz products and services 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 traditional segments such as safety relays. The continuous growth in the areas of sensor technology and services is particularly pleasing.

Service robotics in the industrial sector

Pilz will expand its robotics portfolio in 2018: 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. as