Wietersdorfer: Around a third of investment volume going towards decarbonisation

Michael Junghans and Hannes Gailer consistently pursue the goal of CO₂-neutral production within the Wietersdorfer Group.

External factors influence sales development

Compared to 2021, sales increased by around 22% (2021: €799 million; 2022: €974 million). This disproportionate increase was mainly due to external influences: High energy costs (electricity, gas), the shortage and the associated increase in the price of CO₂ certificates, increased personnel costs and foreign currency effects influenced the sales development of the Wietersdorfer Group in the 2022 financial year. "Among other factors, the energy crisis resulting from the Ukraine war has hit our energy-intensive businesses hard. Like many other industrial companies, we had to expand or convert our production units to be energy-resilient within a very short time and are still struggling with high energy prices today, just like consumers," says Michael Junghans, CEO of the Wietersdorfer Group, taking a look at a challenging 2022 financial year. in the past financial year," Junghans continued. Around 90% of the increase in sales is attributable to the company's involvement in international markets.

CO₂ neutral by 2035

Despite difficult conditions, the internationally active group of companies has succeeded in consistently pursuing the goal of CO₂-neutral production. For example, packages of measures were put together for all five business areas (GRP pipe systems, PP pipe systems, cement & concrete, lime and industrial materials) and a total of 20 million euros was invested in green transformation projects in 2022. In the field of renewable energy, the Wietersdorfer Group increasingly relied on PV systems last year. In the past fiscal year, PV systems in Spain and Slovenia generated a total output of 3405 MWh per year. In the USA, the construction of a 3300 MWh PV plant has begun, which will cover one third of the country's energy needs. When it comes to CO₂ reduction, the Group relies on the use of low-CO₂ energy sources. For example, it is planned to dispense with 50% of fossil fuels in regular operation at the Austrian sites in Peggau and completely in Wietersdorf.

For the implementation of the green transformation process, the Group does not only rely on established channels such as cooperation or research projects. In search of new technologies, the Wietersdorfer Group has now also invested in the venture capital scene with a focus on CO₂ reduction, energy efficiency and digitisation in 2022 with a €5 million investment in the Speedinvest Climate & Industry Opportunity Fund. "We know that our ambitious goal of CO₂ neutrality can only be partially achieved with existing knowledge. We have to find new ways and solutions," says Junghans.

GRP pipe systems are the business segment with the highest turnover

As in previous years, all five business areas of the Wietersdorfer Group developed positively in 2022. The largest revenue generator within the group is the GRP Pipe Systems business segment with €403 million. This is followed by the cement and concrete business segment with €253 million. Third place goes to the Industrial Materials business unit with €171 million. This is followed by the PP pipe systems business segment with €112 million and the lime business segment with €43 million.

In Europe, Austria is one of the countries with the highest turnover with 18.1%, followed by Germany with 17.55%. Overall, the Wietersdorfer Group generated 78.4% in Europe, followed by America (17.7%), Africa (2.8%) and Asia (1.1%).

America and Africa are gaining in importance

Sales outside Europe are growing steadily: in 2022, the Wietersdorfer Group generated €210 million (21.6%) outside Europe. The largest share of 16.9% was accounted for by the U.S. market, where the Wietersdorf-based subsidiary HOBAS USA achieved a 49% increase in sales last year. "The development in the USA confirms the investments we have made in the HOBAS site in Houston over the past three years," says Hannes Gailer, CFO of the Wietersdorfer Group. The commissioning of a new production plant for non-circular tubes in 2021 was followed by the successful opening of a filament wind turbine in Houston in the last financial year. "Our pipes are in high demand for U.S. infrastructure projects in the drinking water and wastewater sectors," Gailer continues.

Although currently still small compared to a sales share of 2.8%, the African market is developing positively for the Wietersdorfer Group: Sales in Morocco, from where the Wietersdorf-based subsidiary Amiblu currently serves the African continent, doubled from €11 million to €22 million in the last financial year. The total African turnover amounted to €27 million. "Africa holds enormous potential for us. That's why we decided last year to increase our stake in Amitech Maroc from 85 – 100% and to further advance our business in Africa," says Junghans. The Wietersdorf-based subsidiary Amiblu is primarily involved in the construction of desalination plants and water pipes in Africa.

The Wietersdorfer Group includes the companies Amiblu and HOBAS (GRP Pipe Systems Business Unit), Alpacem (Cement and Concrete Business Unit), Calcite (Industrial Minerals Business Unit), Poloplast (PP Pipe Systems Business Unit) and Intercal (Lime Business Unit).

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