Egemin Automation has had a good year. The company recorded a net profit of EUR 2.4 million in 2013, an increase of 33% on the 2012 figure. Incoming orders amounted to EUR 116 million, 6 million more than budgeted and an increase of almost 10 percent over 2012.
Strategy is paying off
"In 2010, we launched our new strategic plan, Strategy 2015. The implementation of that plan is currently running at cruising speed. And that is paying off," says Jan Vercammen, CEO of Egemin Automation. "Additionally, we have further optimized our internal processes and we are working hard on KPIs, both in terms of sales and operational processes. The past 6 years we have withstood two economic crises by achieving positive results each year," continues Jan Vercammen.
The strategy rests on three cornerstones: "Firstly, we are very strongly market-oriented where we mainly focus on the pharmaceutical industry, food & beverage and distribution, but also on niche markets such as tank terminals, chemistry, infrastructure. We are highly specialized in these sectors. We also attach great importance to account management. We don't only turn out for big projects, but we try to help our customers as well as possible in all aspects of their business. We want to act as a trusted advisor and provider of lifecycle services. Thirdly, we want to serve our customers worldwide. We literally follow them to the other side of the world to realise the projects they request."
FIFTY PEOPLE EXTRA To sustain GROWTH
Egemin aims for an order intake of EUR 125 million in 2014. This growth must come from both the four different divisions and from all the countries where Egemin has its own office. "International expansion will play a crucial role in our growth plans."
To support the strong growth, Egemin Automation has hired 50 additional employees in 2013, spread over various locations in Europe, North America, and Asia. That brought the total in 2013 to 650 employees. "By the end of 2014, we expect the total for the entire group to reach 700. So we continue to look for skilled engineers and try to reach them through various channels and initiatives, even before they finish their studies," concludes Jan Vercammen.