R. STAHL on course for growth

Since clearly focussing on explosion protection and safety technology, R. STAHL has elaborated a growth strategy aimed at doubling turnover in the medium term while maintaining rate of return.

Expansion is to take various directions: into new industries, into new markets and into new products.

Besides the classic customer industries, there are new industries on which R. STAHL is increasingly focussing. For instance, the latest Dust Explosion Protection Directives require food manufacturers and mill operators to pay attention to the safety of their installations. The aspiring shipbuilding industry also needs explosion protected products, for example, when transporting liquefied natural gas (LNG). The importance of biofuels increases daily and, consequently, bolstered production will offer further growth potential for R: STAHL.

The company still has a relatively low share of the market in Asia and North America. This share is to be expanded successively.

The company also wishes to forge ahead into systems business and build up expertise. Since operators and plant constructors are outsourcing more and more tasks to suppliers, R. STAHL sees this as an important opportunity to offer its services as a partner for system solutions.

In addition, there are numerous approaches for renewing the range of products with innovative products and also adding related sideline products.

Planned growth can be fuelled both under the company's own steam and also by acquisitions. Quality of buy-ups will be given higher priority than fast growth.