Stadler boasts high turnover
Bussnang TG – Train manufacturer Stadler Rail has successfully overcome the ‘Swiss franc shock’, boasting a 14 per cent increase in turnover last year. The number of employees also reached a record high.
Stadler Rail achieved 2.4 billion Swiss francs in turnover in 2017, returning it to the same level as prior to the Swiss franc shock. Stadler expects to increase turnover to 3.9 billion francs by 2020.
Stadler was badly hit when Switzerland abandoned the franc-to-euro currency ceiling in 2015, but it survived the crisis without resorting to redundancies or reduced hours, according to a statement from the St.GallenBodenseeArea train manufacturer. It is now in a stronger position than before and even achieved a record high headcount of 7,600 employees, 3,100 of whom are based in Switzerland.
Income orders amounted to around 3.5 billion Swiss francs in 2017, with a considerable portion of this figure made up of major orders from Switzerland, Hungary, Norway, the Netherlands and Germany. The company also enjoyed a record order intake of 800 million francs for its Service Division.
Stadler will continue to invest over the course of 2018 in its facilities in Switzerland and abroad, including a new centre of expertise for double-decker multiple units in St.Margrethen in the canton of St.Gallen as well as assembly and maintenance plants in the US and UK.
The St.Margrethen investment is a clear sign of the company’s commitment towards Switzerland as a business location. “It shows that we believe in Switzerland as a business location and continue to defend it, even in difficult times,” said Peter Spuhler.
After 30 years as both Chairman of the Board of Directors and Group CEO, Spuhler handed over operational responsibility to his long-time deputy Thomas Ahlburg at the beginning of 2018. This will allow Spuhler as owner and Chairman of the Board of Directors to concentrate more on the company’s strategic development.