Sennheiser achieves strong increase in billing and profits

With a growth rate of 13.5 percent, the German group's turnover increased significantly, from 468.2 million euros in 2010 to 531.4 million in 2011. Profits after tax increased by 93 percent in the same period.

In 2011, and compared to the previous year, the audio specialist company Sennheiser has achieved a strong increase in turnover and profits. With a growth rate of 13.5 percent, the group's turnover increased significantly, from 468.2 million euros in 2010 to 531.4 million. Profits after tax increased by 93 percent in the same period, from 23.6 to 45.7 million euros.

Volker Bartels, spokesperson for the executive management, has been proud of "this result that was achieved in all markets and product groups. This increase in volume is the direct result of a clear focus on our business divisions, together with careful cost management. In particular, the extraordinarily positive results obtained in terms of business volume, within the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) region and Asia, have more than offset the challenges faced by the region due to the dollar exchange rate."

Regions

Al igual que en años anteriores, la región EMEA se consolidó como el mercado más fuerte de la compañía. Sennheiser registró un crecimiento general constante del 14,8 por ciento, y alcanzó, además, un volumen de negocios global de 324,8 millones de euros. 88,7 millones de este se han generado en Alemania.

Una importante contribución positiva provino del Norte de Europa, que logró un crecimiento del 22 por ciento, y Europa del Este, donde el volumen de negocios aumentó un 52 por ciento en comparación al año 2010.

The APAC (Asia-Pacific) region also grew significantly above average: there was growth from 59.7 million to 73 million euros, an increase of 22.3 percent.

In the Americas region, Sennheiser maintained constant growth of 6.4 percent, despite the changing exchange rate trend throughout 2011. Overall, the company's export share was 83.3 percent in 2011.

Further growth in headphones and microphones

La mayor parte de la facturación del grupo, con un 32,9 por ciento, sigue siendo el negocio de los auriculares. Por detrás, se ubican los micrófonos inalámbricos (26,4 por ciento), los productos de Sennheiser Communications (9,2 por ciento) y los micrófonos alámbricos (7,4 por ciento).

Los productos de audiología, por su parte, contribuyeron en un 6 por ciento, y la proporción de micrófonos de estudio y altavoces de monitor Georg Neumann se situó en el 3,6 por ciento. Además, el producto del grupo Installed Sound ha alcanzado un 3,3 por ciento de la facturación total.

The reason behind the constant evolution in the headphone business is the growing trend of a lifestyle supported by large personal hearing systems. “Despite intense competition from the US, Sennheiser is clinging to its top position as market leader with a 21 percent share in Europe, in addition to a stable recorded growth of 12 percent in 2011, just as it was in 2010,” explained Volker Bartels. Superior performance and a high range of products for well-defined applications, such as the CXC 700 travel headphones or the HD 200 road headphones, contribute to this development.

Sennheiser also sets new standards in wireless audio transmission, with the RS 220 wireless digital headphones. In addition, this year the company launches original and high-quality products. “In terms of headphones, we are adding the HD 700 and IE 800 to our current line of HD 800 and RS-220, in order to reinforce and continue the brand represented by our slogan: perfection in sound,” summarizes Volker Bartels. “For its part, we are introducing the Amperior, an innovative hands-free portable headset, which currently represents the greatest growth in the market segment.”

Sennheiser Communications

With 30 percent growth, the highly successful Sennheiser Communications is also benefiting from innovative developments. Last year, the Bluetooth headset portfolio was strengthened with the introduction of the award-winning VMX 200. The launch of the X 320, a portable hands-free headset for Xbox, developed in collaboration with video professionals and PC gamers, also sets the trend. Special Microsoft Lync, for its part, certifies variants that were added in 2011 to the DECT Wireless DW Office series, which began in 2010. “The alliance with Microsoft is very important for us and opens new channels and business opportunities for Sennheiser,” explained Volker Bartels.

Professional Business Division

As in the previous year, the additional offer for professional users showed superlative growth. New recording products, such as the MK4 long-diaphragm microphone, and the expansion of the successful “wireless evolution” product family, located within the wireless transmission segment, generated substantial growth in the professional audio market.

The same was true for the two new shot microphones – the MKH 8060 and 8070 – whose natural sound makes them ideal for sports broadcasts and film production. Compared to 2010, Sennheiser achieved an overall average growth of 20 percent, thanks to its range of professional headphones and wireless microphones. For the aviation market, Sennheiser launched the S1 Digital; a new headset for pilots with adaptive noise compensation.

The ADN discussion and conference system was expanded and improved with important functionalities. The product can now be used to organize large events, which can include up to 400 participants, offering the possibility of recording the conference directly from electronic storage media.

I+D

For Sennheiser, in 2011, research and development (R&D) remained important fields for investment. Spending on R&D, with the aim of maintaining the innovative power that characterizes the company, continued to be high, covering 6% of turnover.

Sennheiser will also continue to invest in its employees. Around 60 inaugurations are planned for 2012, mainly in the field of technical sectors. The company currently employs a total of 2,183 workers, of which 1,177 work in Germany.

Outlook for 2012

El año pasado, el Grupo Sennheiser reestructuró su organización en las divisiones de “Consumer Electronics”, “Sistemas Profesionales” y “Sistemas Integrados”, con el fin de atender más atenta y eficientemente a sus diversos grupos de clientes. Volker Bartels expresó su optimismo en relación al desarrollo continuo de la empresa: “Creemos que la reestructuración finalizada en 2011 contribuirá a incrementar nuestro éxito, y fortalecerá de manera sostenible el enfoque hacia nuestros diferentes grupos de clientes. Esta situación, contribuirá a una rotación positiva continua, y a su vez, hará visible los beneficios que genera el desarrollo”.