• Oerlikon posts strong quarterly results: +61% in order intake, +17% in sales and +26% in operational EBITDA vs. prior year. Group operational EBITDA margin of 16.8%.

• Polymer Processing Solutions achieved record Q3 order intake (+93%) and sales (+19%), and robust growth in operational EBITDA (+15%), driven by continued strong demand in filament and successful execution of diversification strategy into non-filament.

• Surface Solutions increased Q3 order intake (+29%), sales (+15%) and operational EBITDA (+41%), supported by recovery across end markets and implemented cost savings.

• 2021 Group Guidance confirmed. 

Key figures for the Oerlikon Group as of September 30, 2021 (in CHF million)

“Our robust Q3 results confirm our strategy of focusing on sustainable innovation, profitable growth and disciplined capital allocation,” said Dr. Roland Fischer, CEO Oerlikon Group.

“Polymer Processing Solutions achieved record order intake and sales and is on-track with the integration of INglass. In Surface Solutions, we continue to drive margin expansion, underscoring our commitment to maintain the low fixed cost base we have achieved. Following our strong Q3 results, we reiterate our Group guidance for the full year of 2021. On that basis, we expect that our broad portfolio of solutions and technologies will allow us to generate higher sales and margins in 2021 than in 2019 before the pandemic,” added Dr. Fischer. “Supply chain disruptions are expected to extend into the first half of 2022. We will continue to actively manage and mitigate the impact of these challenges.”

“Dr. Helmut Rudigier, our Group CTO, will retire at the end of 2021. Helmut joined Oerlikon in 1986 and has been the company’s technology expert, particularly for innovative surface solutions, for many years. He has contributed greatly to R&D, innovative technologies and the management team. On behalf of the Board and my colleagues, I would like to thank Helmut for his valuable contributions and technological leadership at Oerlikon and wish him all the best in his retirement,” said Dr. Fischer. “To enable closer alignment of R&D with market and customer needs, the Division CTOs will lead and manage the R&D and technology innovation of their respective Divisions from January 1, 2022 onwards." 

Robust Q3 2021 Performance

Group order intake increased significantly by 61.0% year over year to CHF 835 million, driven by the record level of order intake in the Polymer Processing Solutions Division and market recovery in Surface Solutions. Sales improved across all regions, rising 17.2% to CHF 695 million. At constant exchange rates, Group sales increased by 15.7% to CHF 686 million.

Operational EBITDA for the third quarter improved by 25.9% to CHF 117 million, and the EBITDA margin improved by 110 basis points to 16.8%. Q3 operational EBIT was CHF 61 million, or 8.7% of sales (Q3 2020: CHF 42 million; 7.1%). The margin improvements are attributed to higher sales and the benefits of cost actions executed by the Group.

Group Q3 EBITDA was CHF 115 million, or 16.6% of sales (Q3 2020: CHF 88 million, 14.8%), and EBIT was CHF 58 million, or 8.3% (Q3 2020: CHF 36 million, 6.0%). The reconciliation of the operational and unadjusted figures can be seen in the tables below. 

Table I: Reconciliation of Q3 2021 and 9M 2021 operational EBITDA and EBITDA1

Table II: Reconciliation of Q3 2021 and 9M 2021 operational EBIT and EBIT1

1) All amounts (including totals and subtotals) have been rounded according to normal commercial practice. Thus, an addition of the figures presented can result in rounding differences. 2 Since Q2 2021, operational EBITDA and operational EBIT are additionally adjusted by acquisition and integration costs. For comparability, prior period figures have been adjusted accordingly. In addition, prior year figures have been adjusted retrospectively for activities that have recently been discontinued.