SMS group reports record order intake

With an 86 percent increase, SMS group almost doubled its order intake to reach 3,507 million euros in the 2021 financial year, recording the highest level in ten years.

According to SMS, the reasons for this substantial rise are catch-up effects in the wake of the previous year’s slump triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic and the growing demand for decarbonization and recycling technologies.

SMS group experienced a significant increase in the order backlog coming in at 3,944 million euros. Due to delays caused by the pandemic in the schedules for acceptance, the 2021 financial year closed with sales down 6.8 percent from the previous year at 2,559 million euros.

Earnings before taxes (EBT) amounted to 87 million euros. With this result, SMS has returned to a post-pandemic situation of profitable growth. HR costs in Germany have been sustainably reduced by 75 million euros as a result of the extension of the future-oriented collective agreement and socially acceptable staff reductions. The free cash flow rose significantly to a total of 145 million euros. Net liquidity climbed to 978 million euros. Investments were also higher than the year before, totaling 151 million euros.

Circular economy – the new growth area

Under the hashtag #turningmetalsgreen, SMS not only supplies solutions and systems to the steel industry, but also develops technologies that enable the recovery and reuse of nearly all types metals. In November 2021, a long-term, strategic partnership agreement was concluded with copper producer Aurubis, covering the development and construction of several modular recycling plants in Europe and North America. These modern multi-metal recycling plants will recover valuable metals, such as copper, nickel, tin, zinc, platinum and various precious metals, for reuse in the value creation cycle.

Environmental technologies for tomorrow’s mobility

The LIB (lithium-ion battery) recycling process from Primobius has secured its first commercial successes. After the start of commercial operation of the demonstration plant in Hilchenbach in spring 2022, Mercedes-Benz was one of the first customers to decide to use this process in its operations. Primobius will be building its first industrial-scale plant at the Mercedes-Benz location in Kuppenheim (Baden-Württemberg), Germany.

Positive outlook

SMS expects a sustainable and perceptible increase in incoming orders and a marked improvement in results over the next few years. The order intake in 2022 is expected to level out at the previous year’s figure, even in view of the Russia-Ukraine war.