A hundred-year balance Annual Report 2010 - Uzin Utz AG

More documents

Recommendations

Info

» Other essential requirements – particularly with regard to sustainability, environmental protection and ecological orientation – have also been created, in order to enable us to face current and future challenges successfully. » Sustainability must not simply be a label, but is seen as an indication of company responsibility, and must characterise the attitude of the whole company. » The Uzin Utz Group is one of the forerunners in the field of sustainable building products. Sustainability is not regarded as one-dimensional in our company, but always includes ecological, economic and social considerations: » Firstly, the objective is to develop products which contribute to healthy room air. Secondly, it is not only the emissions which are important for building products. Manufacturers are increasingly required to provide environmental product data. The Uzin Utz Group is the first company in the sector to enable the sustainable assessment of the complete floor construction with its environmental product declarations. » In a challenging economic environment, characterised by uncertainties caused by the financial market crisis, tougher competition and negative currency effects, the Uzin Utz Group has maintained its position very well, and come off better than the competition in many important aspects. Internal company success factors Now as before, our long-standing and long-term strategy, the combination of the four internal company success factors −− highly qualified and highly motivated employees, −− leading, high-quality products in an intelligent system structure, −− unique service and logistics concept, −− successful brands that create confidence, is demonstrating its sustainable effectiveness. With regard to these four convincing focal points of our company culture, which form our basis for profitable growth, nothing has changed in the past, nor will it change in the future. » We are flexible and adaptable. We also work continually on new and benefit-orientated products which convince our customers. We operate an excellent risk management system, which contributes to our sustainable value creation, and therefore to long-term business success. The Uzin Utz Group can also rely on the special dedication of skilled employees and management teams. All this, together with highly satisfied customers, contributes to stability and repeatedly offers new opportunities, for which the Group is well-prepared. » Started in October 2009, the construction of the new central building for Research & Development was almost completed by the end of 2010, so that from early 2011, our employees have even more room for their ideas for the development of innovative top products. The new building also represents a commitment to the headquarters location of Ulm, and is a visible confirmation that we continue to rely on the location of Germany. » The average number of employees in the Group fell to 841 (859). Of these, 474 (486) were employed in Germany and 367 (373) abroad. 38 (46) young people were also taken on as trainees. This underlines impressively the efforts that have been going on for many years to train our own qualified specialist personnel throughout the group, and prepare them for future positions in the company. The Group will continue in future with this important business policy task, offering future prospects to young people by means of special training opportunities, and at the same time ensuring qualified future employees for the company. The Uzin Utz Group wants their outstanding dedication to remain in the company in the future. Everything is therefore being done to foster this potential in the best possible way. » Uzin Utz AG and Unipro B.V., Haaksbergen, Netherlands, are certified to the DIN ISO standards. The branch in Vaihingen and Herrmann Frank GmbH were newly certified in the business year 2010. Both locations produce machinery for floor laying and treatment. Further internal auditors were also trained in these companies in 2010, and comprehensive audit programmes instituted. The external repeat and re-certification audits once again confirmed the high quality and the correctness of the previous certification. » In the business year 2010, production throughout the group was carried out at the production locations in Ulm, Vaihingen/Enz, Oberderdingen, Würzburg, Meckenheim, Buochs (Switzerland), Sursee (Switzerland), Haaksbergen (Netherlands), Legnica (Poland), Soissons (France), Shanghai (China), Ljubljana (Slovenia) and Jakarta (Indonesia). The total utilisation of all Uzin Utz works was around 87.5%, thereby increasing by around 1.9 percentage points over the previous year (85.6). There was no notable increase in production capacities in the Group in the year 2010. » There were no major changes in the production range. Now as before, every batch produced throughout the 50
group is subjected to strict quality control. Deliveries only take place following release of the products by the responsible laboratory. » There were some minor changes with regard to raw materials suppliers in the reporting year, although the procurement structures remained essentially unchanged. » In the year 2010, nothing changed with regard to the group-wide principles of long-term disposition, long-term contract partnerships or comprehensive quality controls in the area of procurement. » The financing strategy is explained in the “Financial situation” section of this report. Internal organisation and decision-making The internal group organisation follows the principle of direct decision-making channels and the flattest possible hierarchies. All major decisions are prepared in departmental and divisional committees, and then submitted to the relevant director or board with a decision-making recommendation. All major decisions are discussed by the relevant director or board of the shareholding company with the Board of Uzin Utz AG. All decisions requiring approval are presented by the Board of Uzin Utz AG to the Supervisory Board of Uzin Utz AG for approval. Important events and developments in the reporting year In the business year 2010, preparations were made for the strategic re-positioning of individual brands, and these were communicated, amongst other means, at the exhibition ‘BAU 2011’ in January: new products were also added to the brand ranges of Uzin Utz AG. » The Qeshfloor brand has been trading since January 2011 under the name ‘Arturo’. Previously specialising in the manufacture of industrial flooring, Arturo promotes itself as an expert in individual synthetic resin flooring – whether for industry, commerce or residential properties. The floors adapt themselves perfectly to the function of the room, and can be applied to a concept with a unique design. » The Pallmann brand now offers for the first time a complete range covering all aspects of parquet flooring – from the right substrate preparation through to the cleaning and care of parquet floors. As a partner to the parquetlaying business, the trade and decision-makers in interior design, Uzin Utz AG felt itself duty-bound to combine its range and services covering all aspects of the new laying, renovation and value preservation of parquet flooring. » codex reacted early to the consumer trend, and tested and certified most of its products to the demanding requirements of the GEV – Gemeinschaft Emissionskontrollierte Verlegewerkstoffe, Klebstoffe und Bauprodukte e.V. (Association for emission-controlled laying materials, adhesives and building products). The brand is taking another consistent step forward with the new EcoTec product line: the products comply with the requirements of the Emicode EC 1 PLUS certification, and are therefore even lower in emissions. A complete system construction can be carried out with EcoTec, from the substrate preparation to the jointing of the tile or natural stone flooring. » The investments instituted at the end of 2009 at the Ulm location were progressed in 2010: the central Research & Development building, which brings together our previously separated laboratories, was largely completed by the end of the year. Internal control system The group-wide internal control system is based on a number of mechanisms and key figures, which illustrate specific departmental procedures and make them measurable. All internal control systems for all areas are based on the following key financial figures: −− Cash-flow from ordinary activities, −− Sales revenues, −− Result from ordinary activities, −− Return on sales, −− Return on capital and −− Equity ratio. Events, decisions and factors significantly affecting the further development of the company » All events, decisions and factors significantly affecting the further development of the group which were already known in the year 2010 are contained in the relevant part of this report. All such matters which became known between the end of the year 2010 and the compilation of this report are contained in the section “Significant events following the end of the business year”. Deviations from earlier reported expectations In the year 2010, there were no major deviations in business developments in the Group from earlier reported expectations. 51
Page 1 and 2: A hundred-year balance Annual Repor
Page 3: Investor Relations Overview The Sha
Page 6 and 7: Brief presentation of the Group Sin
Page 8 and 9: Values and substance Dear sharehold
Page 10 and 11: Striving for success and stability
Page 12 and 13: »» Were there also possible alter
Page 14 and 15: Dynamism and Sustainability “100
Page 16 and 17: Structure and Direction 1951 1952 1
Page 18 and 19: UZIN For more than 50 years the est
Page 20 and 21: Loyalty to the Location and Growth
Page 22: Wooded area near Heidenheim
Page 25 and 26: TRANs PA RENCY 1976 1977 1978 1979
Page 28 and 29: Adaptation and Synergy Learning fro
Page 30: Banks of the Danube near Elchingen
Page 33 and 34: Ex Pan 1996 Sion 1997 1998 1999 200
Page 36 and 37: Development and Earning Power Prepa
Page 38: Field between Erbach and Ulm
Page 42 and 43: Consolidated Financial Statement of
Page 44 and 45: Uzin Utz Aktiengesellschaft, Ulm (D
Page 46 and 47: Uzin Utz Aktiengesellschaft, Ulm Co
Page 48 and 49: Equity Holdings (figures according
Page 52 and 53: Situation of the Group* * (all figu
Page 54 and 55: Risk Report Main risks Environment
Page 56 and 57: Internal control and risk managemen
Page 58 and 59: the year 2010 was the real crisis y
Page 60 and 61: stone are convincing above all for
Page 62 and 63: for foot traffic and loading. Thank
Page 64 and 65: a complete laying materials system
Page 66 and 67: WOLFF brand The year 2010 also saw
Page 68 and 69: Existing branches The shareholding
Page 70: 2010 Dieselstrasse 3 D-89079 Ulm Ph

A hundred-year balance Annual Report 2010 - Uzin Utz AG

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?