The Manmade Fibers Segment of the Oerlikon Group achieved strong growth, increasing its order intake during January-September 2017 by 48.0% year-on-year to CHF 567 million, and sales by 40.3% to CHF 477 million.
The order intake during the third quarter climbed 42.5% over the year before to CHF 191 million, and sales jumped 93.2% to CHF 199 million.
The filament equipment market is showing a resounding recovery, and the segment scored wins with large filament equipment customers in China thanks to its competitive market standing and technologies. The segment also succeeded in growing its business outside of China, primarily in India, and in the global staple fiber market.
The segment attained a double-digit EBITDA margin, reflecting the top-line development and the improvement in flexibility, quality of work, processes, customer projects and operating leverage, as well as strict cost discipline. However, the segment is and will remain impacted by lower-margin orders and projects from the down-cycle period. EBIT for Q3 2017 stood at CHF 17 million (Q3 2016: CHF -4 million).
In the third quarter, the segment delivered its first automated DTY (draw textured yarn) machine, eAFK HQ, to one of its key account customers in China. The eAFK machine, launched in 2016, is a highly compact and space saving machine that can offer up to a 50% increase in productivity.