Strong growth through innovation

Bosch Power Tools achieved global sales amounting to € 4.2 bn in 2014, equivalent to nominal growth of five per cent. Adjusted for currency effects, the figure is even higher at six per cent.
"2014 was a strong year for Bosch Power Tools," says Henning von Boxberg, division president, in summary. Sales growth of six per cent means that the division has grown much faster than the market as a whole, which with adjustment for currency effects only grew by four per cent to € 25.6 bn overall in 2014. Bosch Power Tools is seen as the global number one in power tools, accessories and measuring equipment and as number two in the garden power tools market. In Europe, the company even considers itself the market leader in all four segments.

Around 85 per cent of sales derived from outside Germany in 2014. The division currently operates in 17 countries at 37 sites, employing around 19 000 people. Growth in western Europe was seven per cent in 2014, attributable largely to the positive trend in the German and British markets at 16 and 14 per cent respectively. In eastern Europe, sales were up by eight per cent in spite of the Ukraine crisis. The European market as a whole grew by seven per cent.
In its original home market of Germany, Bosch Power Tools is very strongly positioned in the handheld power tools segment in particular. Here it is the outright number one with regard to products for the trade and for DIY enthusiasts.
Sales were up in other important regions around the globe too: by five per cent in North America, by seven per cent in the Asia/Pacific Region and by eight per cent in Africa and Latin America respectively.
The last two regions named are regarded as up-and-coming markets with great potential at Bosch Power Tools, as are Russia, China and India.
Growth is closely linked to innovation at the company. New products that are less than two years old account for around 35 per cent of sales by Bosch Power Tools.