In addition, numerous successes were recorded in various sectors, the new and digitalised trade fair presence was a hit, several products celebrated their premiere and the Eirich Group's turnover rose to almost 200 million euros. The company will continue to celebrate its anniversaries in the coming year: the site in Japan is celebrating its 50th anniversary, Eirich in China is celebrating its 30th anniversary and in India it is celebrating a quarter of a century as well as the opening of the new production plant.
"We can be very proud of our successes from last year and this year. Our appearances at various trade fairs and events such as GIFA, Interpack, the Battery Show and Powtech impressed visitors. Other sectors such as metallurgy and e-coal are important to us. The focus here was on the resource-saving processing of carbon masses and the efficient processing of ores, among other things. We are currently preparing ourselves intensively and with pleasure for new challenges. There are currently great opportunities for us, particularly in the areas of electromobility and digitalisation," summarises Managing Director Stephan Eirich.
Eirich defies tense situation and competitive pressure
The fact that 2023 was not always an easy year for the industry was also felt by the Eirich Group. Political and economic events such as the ongoing war in Ukraine, rising energy prices, the current war in the Middle East and the conflict between China and Taiwan are having a significant impact on the German economy. Climate change, raw material shortages and supply chain problems, as well as increasing competitive and price pressure, which is further exacerbated by product piracy, are also putting pressure on the company. For Eirich, this means that even faster further development of the product range through research and development is necessary. The company is focussing on its core sectors but is not losing sight of other markets either.
2024 under the sign of new industries and digitalisation
In order to tap into the food industry, the company will be at the Pro Sweets food trade fair in Cologne for the first time in the new year and will also have a stand at Anuga FoodTec to showcase its mixing technology to the industry. With its expertise, the company aims to support the confectionery and snack industry in the resource-saving production of products and demonstrate new possibilities. With the Clean Line C5, the company is also presenting a machine for hygienic and contamination-sensitive areas that fulfils the high requirements of the food industry. The mixer is a versatile food processor and carries out several process steps in one mixing chamber, which increases efficiency and reduces the risk of contamination at the same time.
The topic of digitalisation also continues to be immensely important for the Eirich Group. This is the focus of further and new product development. For example, the company launched two products this year - the EL5 and the VC2, which impress with digitalisation, among other things. The latest control software, smart data analysis and the use of AI for optimum quality control are important features.
Optimistic about Germany as a location
"We have big plans for 2024. We also need to address the issue of Germany as a business location. Germany needs to become more attractive for companies again. This is where politics is particularly important. As a family and traditional company, we firmly believe that we will survive with constantly increasing efficiency, innovative products and a strong team. In addition to our core industries, promising growth sectors are important to us. The more broadly we are positioned, the more optimistic we can be about the future," says Managing Director Ralf Rohmann.
In addition, the aim is to implement a global production strategy at all locations to secure the company's own competitiveness. Eirich will continue to invest in ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning for planning many business tasks), production, digitalisation and new test centres at several locations, including in Germany.
"Despite the often-tense overall situation this year, we can draw a clearly positive conclusion. By celebrating our 160th anniversary, we were not only able to toast the anniversary with our employees, but also a great success story that is far from over. Nevertheless, it is important to constantly scrutinise our internal structures with a view to processes and customer requirements so that we can continue to achieve success in the future," concludes the Managing Director.
About Eirich
The Eirich Group is a family-run group of companies specialising in mechanical engineering for process engineering tasks, with its headquarters in Hardheim in southern Germany. As a leading global manufacturer of machines and systems for the processing of raw materials, Eirich has been pioneering advanced technologies for mixing, granulating, dispersing, kneading, reacting, tempering and fine grinding since 1863. Under the Eirich digital label, the group of companies offers numerous services across the entire life cycle of systems, from online spare parts ordering to AI-based assistance systems. With an annual turnover of 180 million euros and over 400 patents, Eirich is one of the leading innovators in mixing and processing technology. Under the management of Stephan Eirich and Ralf Rohmann, the company, now in its fifth generation, has around 1,200 employees at 16 locations in eleven countries.
