The pharmaceuticals market was a major driver of growth for German packaging machinery specialist Bosch Packaging Technology in 2013.
Friedbert Klefenz, President of Bosch Packaging Technology, attributed this to growth in the market for generics. 'We’re proud that our technology can make a contribution toward improving people's quality of life,' he said.
The company increased its sales to more than €1bn for the first time and continued to grow faster than the packaging machinery industry. Sales in fiscal 2013 rose by 22% to €1.1bn from €914m.
Without the effect of exchange rates, internal growth in the company's Packaging Technology segment reached 10%. By comparison, figures from the German association of mechanical engineers (VDMA) put growth in the German packaging machinery industry at only 4%.
In 2013, the company employed around 5,600 people at more than 30 locations, 12% more than in the previous year.
'We are exactly on track,' said Klefenz. 'We expect to maintain our growth rate in the current business year as well and reach the target we have set ourselves of €1.5bn in sales by 2015.'
Bosch Packaging Technology is among the fastest-growing divisions of the Bosch Group. In addition to its main markets of Europe and North America, the company reported above-average growth in Asia, while Africa and the Middle East continue to gain in importance.
The company will present its full results on 8 May at the Interpack trade fair in Düsseldorf, Germany.
