Financial year 2013/14 is yet again another record year for PÖTTINGER: with a turnover of EUR 314 million, the family-owned Austrian company has managed to not only increase growth for the fourth time in a row, but has also reached a new record turnover in the company's more than 140-year history. The basis for this success is the unique combination of customer orientation, treating dealership partners as equals and the huge commitment of the company’s 1,575 employees. 

New record turnover

PÖTTINGER continues to reap success in all sectors

Grassland technology, accounting for 61 percent in the agricultural technology sector, is the main source of turnover, followed by tillage at around 26 percent. Compared to the previous year, the grassland sector achieved growth of around 3 percent; tillage and seed drills an increase of almost 5 percent. Original spare parts business was up around 7 percent on the previous year. This also indicates that PÖTTINGER places high value on long-term availability of its machines.  Despite a general downturn in the market, PÖTTINGER has managed to increase its turnover yet again. The main drivers of growth were product innovations in the grassland and tillage sectors as well as ongoing internationalisation. Export markets saw corresponding strong development, especially in Ireland, Great Britain, North America and Ukraine.

Austria remains strong

With a 15 percent share of overall turnover, the domestic market of Austria remains one of the strongest country markets, alongside Germany and France. Year on year, although turnover is slightly down, the high market share clearly indicates that quality from Austria is still very much in demand with Austrian farmers. That is particularly pleasing for PÖTTINGER, since the family-owned business naturally has strong roots in Austria.

Internationalisation drives success

Ongoing internationalisation is one of the cornerstones of success at PÖTTINGER. An export quota of almost 85 percent and international sales of around  EUR 266 million speak for themselves.  Around 66 percent of agricultural technology sales was attributable to six countries: Germany, Austria, France, Czech Republic, Switzerland and Poland. The top five countries for growth in turnover in terms of absolute machine sales compared to the previous year are Ireland, USA, Canada, Ukraine and Great Britain. France, with around 12 percent share of total turnover, represents one of the largest and most important markets after Germany with more than 22 percent.  In Poland, an increase of around 5 was achieved, while in the Czech Republic there was a rise of 3 percent. Germany and Switzerland remained steady with turnover at a similar level to the previous year. With an increase of 20 percent, the Scandinavian markets have been developing very positively. The new sales subsidiaries founded during 2012 in Ireland, Belgium and the UK have become very well established with sensational increases in turnover during the past year: Ireland up 96 percent, Great Britain up 19 percent, and Belgium up 78 percent. For PÖTTINGER it is clear that it is well worth investing in regional customer proximity.

Likewise, the markets in North America (up 47 percent), Oceania (up 26 percent) and the CIS (overall increase of 7 percent, with Ukraine even reaching 23 percent) were clearly riding a wave of growth last year. In Western Europe, PÖTINGER achieved an increase of around 3 percent overall despite a downturn in the market. 

Excellent working results and working conditions for the future

Managing Directors Heinz and Klaus Pöttinger share a positive outlook: "We are thinking in our customers' dimensions: sustainability and innovation, quality and stability as well as cost effectiveness and productivity. That is because it is these factors that determine the excellent working results and working conditions for our customers and that are the focus of our developments and our company philosophy. That is how we evolved into a specialist for forage harvesting, tillage, seedbed preparation and seed drill technology. The results of our efforts: world leadership in the loader wagon segment, numerous awards for the AEROSEM, an international pioneering role in mowers and mulch drilling technology with the TERRASEM and precision seed placement, as well as our innovative strength in the field of cultivation and tillage. We have plenty planned for the future, because farming and agricultural technology are always in demand."

Klaus and Heinz Pöttinger