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While the sector continues to shrink, Märklin is gaining ground: Against wider sectoral trends, model railway manufacturer Märklin managed to increase sales, achieving revenues of EUR 49.2 million in the first half year to end June 2006. "This represents an increase in sales of 4% over the equivalent period in the previous year, demonstrating that Märklin has growth opportunities and can successfully combat industry trends", said Paul Adams, chairman of the Märklin management board. "Orders are 6% above the same period last year, and operating results have also improved. So we have a good foundation for moving towards long-term growth." In 2005 Märklin posted turnover of EUR 123 million. Since the ownership change last May, measures implemented at Märklin included the following:
Perraudin also announced the appointment of Ursula Lindl to the Märklin advisory board. The advisory board is chaired by Michel Perraudin, and the two Kingsbridge managers Dr. Mathias Hink and Dr. Ion Florescu. Perraudin: "Ms Lindl brings with her 10 years’ experience in the industry and trading sector, from her work as a board member at Vedes, Europe’s largest specialist trading organisation in toys. We are very pleased that she will provide her expertise in support of our growth plans." Adams hands over chair of the management board to Dr. Ulrich Wlecke The chairman of the advisory board also announced that Paul Adams was voluntarily resigning as chairman of the management board at the end of September after four years in office, but would continue to advise the company until the middle of 2007. "Paul Adams steered the company successfully through several industry crises since 2002 and has carried out decisive cost reduction measures", said Michel Perraudin. "We thank Paul Adams for his commitment. Paul will continue to provide us with his advice and input due to his intimate knowledge of the company as well as the sector." Paul Adams said: "Since May, together with the new management team, we have started to redistribute responsibilities. The restructuring of the company is now on track and I will support this process as an advisor up to the middle of next year." Clear management responsibilities Adams hands over as the chair of the management board to Dr. Ulrich Wlecke who also remains as Chief Restructuring Officer with responsibility for personnel. Märklin thus continues to have a complete and stable management board with clear responsibilities. Among the other directors besides Dr. Wlecke, Dr. Jan Kantowsky has responsibility for finance, Mr Stephan Unser for marketing and distribution, Mr Dietmar Mundil, an executive manager, for technology, and Mr Michael Weyrich, also an executive manager, for action management. Märklin is the leading model railway manufacturer. At four locations, three in Germany and one in Hungary, the company produces model engines in four track gauges. Besides Germany, Märklin’s core markets are Switzerland, Benelux, Austria, France and USA. |
Michel Perraudin said: "Märklin will remain the leading brand, and we will now take the decisions to solve the sales problems of recent years once and for all. Only a profitable company can survive in this sector’s difficult environment. We will move quickly and efficiently to use the breathing space, the new owner Kingsbridge has given us through its investment."