 The products of the Special Forgings Division are manufactured by Böhler Schmiedetechnik GmbH & Co KG in Kapfenberg (Austria) and Buderus Edelstahl Schmiedetechnik GmbH in Wetzlar (Germany). Aircraft and jet engine manufacturers represent the most important single market for this division. Other key customers are the producers of steam and gas turbines, utility vehicle manufacturers and selected niche segments in the machinery and plant construction sector. The Special Forgings Division sells its products throughout the world, but records slightly more than one-half of its sales in Europe. Other major markets are found in North America and Asia. The aggregates used by the division produce technically demanding forged products in small batches to meet specific customer requirements and in accordance with a comprehensive ISO 9001-certified quality control system.
Aircraft Construction.
Aircraft manufacturers are the most important customer segment for the Special Forgings Division, and are responsible of roughly 40% of division sales. The major customers in this sector are Boeing, Airbus (EADS), Embraer and their component suppliers as well as the jet engine manufacturers General Electric, Volvo Aero, Snecma, MTU and Rolls-Royce. BÖHLER-UDDEHOLM supplies these companies with structural components, forged disks made of titanium and nickel-based alloys and special aircraft steels. The delays in the delivery of the A380 had an unfavorable effect on sales for the 2007 calendar year, but a noticeable increase in deliveries was recorded during the first quarter 2008. Both of the major producers (Boeing and Airbus) began to gradually increase the volume of aircraft produced. This positive operating environment was also reflected in higher sales of forged components for helicopters, business jets and regional jets. Turbine Construction.
Precision forged blades for steam turbines and stationary gas turbines are the main products in this segment. The most important customers are Siemens, Alstom, General Electric, Toshiba, Mitsubishi and Ansaldo. Sales to the power plant construction sector remained high throughout the entire reporting period. However, limited production capacity prevented the division from fully utilizing the strong demand during the 2007 calendar year. The start-up of operations with the second screw press and the related expansion of capacity remedied this situation, and had a positive effect on the development of business during the first quarter of the 2008 financial year.
Utility Vehicles.
Precision forged blades for steam turbines and stationary gas turbines are the main products in this segment. The most important customers are Siemens, Alstom, General Electric, Toshiba, Mitsubishi and Ansaldo. Sales to the power plant construction sector remained high throughout the entire reporting period. However, limited production capacity prevented the division from fully utilizing the strong demand during the 2007 calendar year. The start-up of operations with the second screw press and the related expansion of capacity remedied this situation, and had a positive effect on the development of business during the first quarter of the 2008 financial year.
Other Special Forgings.
Forged marine diesel valves represent the most important product group in this segment. The business climate for special forgings cooled noticeably during the first half of 2007, but demand grew stronger toward the end of the 2007 calendar year and into the first quarter of the 2008 financial year. Sales of forged components to machinery and apparatus manufacturers remained at a satisfactory level during the entire reporting period.
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Main markets:
Europe, North America and Asia
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BÖHLER Schmiedetechnik GmbH & Co KG