Autoneum Holding Ltd. (Formerly Rieter Automotive) Business Report FY ended Dec. 2018
Financial Overview |
(in million CHF) |
| FY ended Dec. 31, 2018 | FY ended Dec. 31, 2017 | Rate of change (%) | |
| Net Sales | 2,281.5 | 2,205.4 | 3.4 |
| Net Profit | 74.7 | 118.9 | (37.2) |
New Company
-On September 3 ATN Auto Acoustics Inc. (ATN Auto Acoustics), a new joint venture established by Toyota Boshoku Corporation, the Company and Nihon Tokushu Toryo Co., Ltd. to undertake noise and vibration (NV) evaluation of automobile systems, unveiled an evaluation facility to the press at Toyota Boshoku's Oguchi Plant in Aichi Prefecture. ATN Auto Acoustics was established in March 2018, and since then, it has undertaken NV evaluations under commission from automakers. The three companies are strong in technology with regard to interior and exterior systems. Since electrified vehicles need to improve quietness in their cabins, the three companies pooled their expertise and built a system to comprehensively evaluate materials, components, and vehicles. The three companies started cooperation in 2012 and entered into an agreement in 2017 to establish the new joint venture. Toyota Boshoku, which primarily handles interior and exterior parts, the Company, which excels in acoustical material and simulation software, and Nihon Tokushu Toryo will collaborate to analyze noise effects and optimize the performance of automotive parts.(From an article in the Nikkan Jidosha Shimbun September 4, 2018)
Awards
| Car maker | Awarded Facility | Name of Award |
| GM | - | Supplier Innovation Award |
| PSA | Katowice, Poland | Best Plant Award |
| GAC Fiat | Taicang, China | Excellence Supplier Award |
| Hyundai | Behror, India | Appreciation Award |
| Honda | Monroe, US | Honor of Distinction |
Outlook
-The Company is aiming to achieve sales of CHF 2,600 million by 2020. In addition, by 2020, the Company expects to have emerging markets comprise at least a 20% share of its net sales, and an EBITDA margin of 12%.
R&D Expenditure |
(in million CHF) |
| FY ended Dec. 31, 2018 | FY ended Dec. 31, 2017 | FY ended Dec. 31, 2016 | |
| Overall | 66.6 | 62.8 | 64.5 |
-The Company invests in innovative materials and products, and in new efficient production technologies to support vehicle manufacturers in meeting challenging targets in acoustic comfort, fuel consumption and environmental emissions.The focus of the Company is in the development of lightweight and acoustically efficient solutions for vehicle engine bay, underbody, interior floor and body treatment.
R&D Facilities
| Country | City | Facility Type |
| Switzerland | Winterthur (HQ) | -Acoustics Center -Center of Excellence |
| Sevelen | -Development Center | |
| France | Aubergenville | -Acoustics Center -Development Center |
| Germany | Rossdorf-Gundernhausen | -Acoustics Center |
| Poland | Katowice | -Development Center |
| U.S. | Farmington Hills, Michigan | -Acoustics Center -Development Center |
| Tinley Park, Illinois | -Acoustics Center -Development Center |
|
| Brazil | Sao Bernardo do Campo | -Acoustics Center -Development Center |
| China | Shanghai | -Acoustics Center -Development Center |
| Japan | Kita-ku, Tokyo (JV with Nittoku) | -Acoustics Center |
| Shizuoka (JV with Nittoku) | -Acoustics Center |
Product Development
Clean-Tuft for tufted carpets
-The Company has developed a Clean-Tuft for tufted carpets, a premium technology for compact and medium class vehicles. Clean-Tuft meet increased requirements for comfortable vehicle interiors due to its outstanding cleanability and resistance. It has light and water-repellent fibers that are especially suitable for use in durable carpets. Clean-Tuft is therefore particularly resistant to liquids and small particles. The Company has developed the “Carpet Cleanability Analyzer” measurement system. With the methodology, it is possible to analyze and compare the cleanability of different carpet surfaces. The measurement system calculates the cleanability and dirt resistance of the respective carpet technology based on the residue on the carpet surface and the weight difference of the samples. The Company will deliver the first “Carpet Cleanability Analyzer” to a French vehicle manufacturer in the spring of 2018. (From a press release on March 8, 2018)
Capital Expenditure |
(in million CHF) |
| FY ended Dec. 31, 2018 | FY ended Dec. 31, 2017 | FY ended Dec. 31, 2016 | |
| BG Europe | 44.2 | 37.6 | 32.7 |
| BG North America | 69.0 | 113.0 | 74.7 |
| BG Asia | 39.1 | 33.7 | 19.0 |
| BG SAMEA | 10.1 | 6.4 | 6.5 |
| Corporate | 4.0 | 7.4 | 5.5 |
| Overall | 166.3 | 198.1 | 138.4 |
Investments Outside Switzerland
<China>
-The Company announced opening of two new plants in China in addition to the eight existing ones. The ninth its production facility was officially opened in Pinghu (Zhejiang Province). A further plant in the northeastern city of Shenyang Tiexi (Liaoning Province) is already in the ramp-up phase. The 9,000 square meter-plant in Pinghu will manufacture underbody systems made of Ultra-Silent for European, US-American and Chinese customers. These textile underbodies will be installed, among others, in various hybrid models and a fully electric vehicle of a new Chinese car manufacturer. When operating at full capacity, around 5.5 million underbody components made of Ultra-Silent will be produced in Pinghu each year. Pre-production has already started in Shenyang Tiexi. Around 7.5 million carpet systems, inner dashes, floor insulators and heatshields will be produced there annually for German and Swedish vehicle manufacturers on a site measuring 23,000 square meters. (From a press release on September 13, 2018)
<Czech>
-The Company is expanding its development and production site for tooling in the Czech city of Hnatnice owing to high demand and capacity utilization. The high-precision tools and molds manufactured in the workshop are the basis for the production of lightweight components for noise and heat protection in vehicles. As of summer 2019, injection molding, bending and foaming tools will be produced on 6,000 square meters based on state-of-the-art production processes. These tools are customized for the manufacture of carpet systems, inner dashes and heatshields among others. To model and optimize such tools in a cost-efficient way already in pre-development, Industry 4.0 applications are implemented in cooperation with its Swiss research center in Winterthur. (From a press release on July 11, 2018)
<Hungary>
-The Company has opened a plant for the manufacture of lightweight components for acoustic and thermal management in Komarom, Hungary. From its 12,000-square-meter plant, it will in future supply German and British manufacturers with carpet systems, inner dashes and wheelhouse outer liners as well as other NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) components just-in-time at their nearby production sites in Hungary and Slovakia. The first carpet systems for the models of a German premium car manufacturer will roll off the production line in a few weeks. Furthermore, lightweight textile wheelhouse outer liners produced in Komarom will be built into a fully electric SUV of a British manufacturer, thereby contributing to noise and weight reduction of this model. (From a press release on May 16, 2018)