Höxter, 9 September 2020. With a turnover of €276 million, the Arntz Optibelt Group reported slightly lower sales in 2019 than in the year 2018. The current year 2020 is dominated by Corona.
"The current year 2020 has been strongly influenced by the pandemic and has also left its mark on us. Sales up to the end of August 2020 are almost ten percent below the comparable period of the previous year. "For the year as a whole, we are expecting a similar magnitude if there is no second wave with an extensive lockdown," comments Reinhold Mühlbeyer, Chairman of the Management Board. "We reacted quickly and in good time to the deteriorating development and so were able to partially offset the decline in sales and earnings through cost-saving measures. At the same time, we are sticking to our strategic investment projects and consistently pushing them forward."
Konrad Ummen, second managing director, adds: "In addition to capacity adjustments, we have taken measures to significantly improve our liquidity and so are well prepared for difficult times."
At the beginning of the year, the newly built mixing room for rubber compounds at the Höxter site was successfully integrated into series production. This investment was implemented as planned and confirms the company's commitment to the Höxter site.
In spite of the difficult economic circumstances and the rather gloomy outlook due to Corona, the Arntz Optibelt Group is continuing to pursue its broad training programme. At the beginning of August 2020, a total of 18 apprentices started their professional career at Optibelt in Höxter. At the Höxter, Rinteln and Bad Blankenburg locations, training is offered not only for industrial management assistants, technical product designers, process technicians, industrial mechanics and skilled warehouse operators, but also for dual study programme students in the fields of business information technology, digital logistics, industrial engineering, production technology and mechanical engineering. In addition to the classic apprenticeship occupations, the focus on digitisation is reflected increasingly in the training opportunities offered at Optibelt.
Photo material:
Optibelt trainees 2020; Photo credits: Arntz Optibelt Group
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