The Waldviertler Pollmann Group is on the eve of its next sales leap with e-mobility and automation technology. The world market leader for sliding roofs also wants to get started in the USA.
The fact that sales of electric cars in Europe are currently weakening “is not a damper for us. We are only at the beginning, every new project means growth,” says Stefan Pollmann optimistically. He is head of sales and part of the founding family of the eponymous car supplier Waldviertel, which has started an electric offensive.
CEO Christian Schreiberhuber is picking up the pace: “We now achieve almost 5 percent of turnover with e-mobility, and in five years this should be a quarter. That means a total of 230-240 million euros.” That is ambitious, but Pollmann increased turnover by eight percent to 171 million euros last year.
The family business is an international leader in flexible copper rails that are provided with a plastic coating. “Our advantage: we can do everything – from development and tool production to the final production itself.”
New orders should boost US business
There are already orders from a major European automotive supplier, including for the US. Names are secret, “but we are also involved in research and design. These parts are 3 to 5 times more expensive than our core products. “So we need fewer orders for a higher turnover,” beams Stefan Pollmann. If the American activities take off, the factory in Mexico will probably be expanded.
Currently, 1,400 employees worldwide also produce the mechanisms for sliding roofs in the main plant in Karlstein/Thaya, in the Czech Republic and China, where Pollmann is even the world market leader. In addition to door locks, sensor housings and fuel pumps, around 90% of the large automotive companies use Pollmann technology. There are also components for household appliances and prostheses. In recent years, 60 million euros have already been invested in factory expansions. And another new pillar is automation technology. The local specialist Maxxom was acquired for this purpose. This area now has a turnover of 10 million euros and is expected to double soon.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
