EQS-News

STRATEC REPORTS RESULTS FOR 2023 FINANCIAL YEAR - Seite 4

Due to diverse downstream effects of the pandemic, customers’ order behavior continues to be marked by increased volatility. As a result, STRATEC’s planning for 2024 is subject to greater uncertainties than usual. These also relate to the potential development in the product mix, the degree to which systems in the market are utilized, and the impact of further measures to enhance efficiency and make structural adjustments to the supply chain that are planned but not accounted for in the forecast.

For the 2024 financial year, STRATEC has planned investments in property, plant and equipment and in intangible assets corresponding to a total of 6.0% to 8.0% of sales (2023: 6.7%).

PROJECTS AND OTHER DEVELOPMENTS
STRATEC made progress in numerous proprietary development projects and in its development cooperations with partners in the 2023 financial year. Furthermore, new products were again launched onto the market. One example worth mentioning is the first-time launch in June 2023 of a system solution extended to include additional functions in the field of flow cytometry. New products were also transferred to serial production for partners in the smart consumables business in the financial year under report. In addition, new development cooperations were agreed with partners in the 2023 financial year. We would refer here to a major software project and a development cooperation for a modular analyzer system including consumables in the field of highly sensitive immunodiagnostics procedures for applications in blood banks and clinical diagnostics.

DEVELOPMENT IN PERSONNEL
Given the acquisition of Natech Plastics, Inc., the workforce of the STRATEC Group grew slightly in 2023. As of December 31, 2023, STRATEC had a total of 1,522 employees. This corresponds to a year-on-year increase of 2.8%. Adjusted to exclude the acquisition of Natech Plastics, Inc., the workforce showed an organic reduction of 4.1%. The temporary slowdown in workforce growth is due in particular to the earnings enhancement program initiated in March 2023.