Brembo S.p.A. Business Report FY2006
Business Highlights
in million euro | Dec. 2006 | Dec. 2005 | Rate of change | Remarks |
Overall Sales | 806.0 | 711.6 | 13.3% |
See below: Note (1) |
Gross Operating income | 119.0 | 111.8 | 6.4% | See below: note (2) |
Note (1) :
-Net sales for 2006 amounted to 806.0 million euros, up 13.3% compared
to 2005.
The sectors that most contributed to the growth in sales were commercial
vehicles and car applications. The motorbike and racing business areas
also recorded positive results. Development was concentrated mainly
in Europe, especially in Germany and Italy, and in the NAFTA countries.
Consolidated sales generated abroad accounted for 76% of total sales,
with Germany and Italy representing 50% of total revenues. Development
continued in Brazil( +37%), while the Asian area recorded a contraction,
with a slight recovery in the last quarter thanks to the positive performance
of applications for automobiles supplied to Japanese customers and the
launching of operations in China. Revenues in the NAFTA area also increased.
Note (2) :
-Gloss operating profit totaled 119.0 million euros (14.8% of sales),
compared to 111.8 million euros (15.7% of sales) an increase of 6.4%.
-In FY2006, the cost of goods sold and other operating costs totaled
530.4 million euro, with a 65.8% ratio to sales, against 64.6% of the
previous year.
-The higher incidence was due to different factors: a penalizing sales
mix compared to 2005; other exceptional costs related to the closure
of Italian facilities and the launching of operations in China
In October 2006, Brembo Performance S.p.A. was incorporated in October 2006. The Company, which is 100% held by the Company is still in the start-up phase. It designs, manufactures, and sells components and accessories for cars and both road and racing vehicles; subscribed share capital amounts to 120 thousand euros.
Acquisition
In November 2006, the Company subscribed the 500 thousand euros increase in the share capital of Petroceramics S.r.l., thereby acquiring 20% of share capital in the company engaged in the research and development of technologies for the production of technical and advanced ceramic materials.
R&D
(in million euro) | Dec. 2006 | Dec. 2005 |
total | 25.3 | 18.3 |
-The Company's R&D center was transferred
to the Science and Technology Park "Kilometro Rosso" in Stezzano
(Bergamo). In the end of December 2006, the new Brembo R&D Center
was already operational, and involved both mechatronics and sensortronic
sciences. This is a joint-venture laboratory with DaimlerCrhrysler (involving
composite and ceramic base materials); these two concerns alone hosted
about 650 employees in R&D by the end of 2006.
Major R&D activities implemented during 2006
The Company presented a new concept in brake discs, which reduces weight
by around 20% and whose thermal performance is significantly higher
than the best product currently available. Five applications had been
developed with customers.
Structured research operations were launched on new
alloys for cast iron discs with a damping effect that helps improve
acoustic comfort of the braking system.
As planned, the Advanced R&D department continued to develop the
mechatronics projects licensed in early 2006.
Electromechanical braking systems with an electric button control managed
by a control unit that converts the driver's request into a braking
force applied to the brakes.
This project had successfully been presented to the customer by the
end of 2006.
The Commercial Vehicle braking
system (electric cable puller for combined caliper and/or DIH) was developed
in collaboration with an Austrian partner.
The Car braking system (fixed caliper with integrated electronic braking
via motor on caliper) will be developed with electronics partners to
be confirmed during the early part of 2007.
Investment Activities
(in million euro) | Dec. 2006 | Dec. 2005 | Dec. 2004 |
total investments | 84.1 | 95.8 | 92.3 |
-In 2006, the sum of 84.1 million euro
was committed to all the operating units, of which a total of 69.7 million
euro were purchased.
-The parent company Brembo S.p.A. invested 41.5 million euro in property,
plant and equipment, mostly relating to the construction of a new industrial
shed in Mapello (Bergamo) where several disc manufacturing operations
will be relocated. Other investments
were allocated to the purchase of machinery and the development of equipment
to increase production levels for the car sector and, more in general,
to increase the capacity of manufacturing plants.
-Further major investments were made by the subsidiary Brembo Poland
Sp. Zo.o. The subsidiary completed construction on the new cast-iron
foundry in Dabrowa Gornicza for the manufacture of discs for both the
aftermarket and original equipment market, and it upgraded the mechanical
disc processing plants. The foundry became fully operational in 2006.
-Again in Poland, investments in the Czestochowa plants were allocated
to increasing production capacity.