GERMANY – Siempelkamp’s reported a good business year despite a difficult market environment. With a sales turnover of 710 million euro the Group achieved the third best figure in the history of the company.
SCM Group gets ready for inhouse fair in Italy
ITALY – “The Home Event” SCM Group’s inhouse fair will take place from August 10th to the 15th simultaneously at its sites in Rimini, Villa Verucchio, Thiene and Milan. The event is due to attract more than 2 thousand visitors from all over the world to the showrooms and factories.
HOMAG Group AG acquires Stiles, its U.S. distributor
U.S. – On February 3rd, the HOMAG Group, world leader in the manufacture of machines and plants for the wood processing industry, acquired all shares of Stiles, its U.S. distributor. Homag, which previously owned a minority stake of 26.7%, acquired all shares from Peter Kleinschmidt, who ran the company for 39 years and is now retired from active business, but will continue as a member of the supervisory board of Stiles.
Proadec to launch edgebands with metallic effect at ZOW Germany
PORTUGAL – Proadec, a renowned European thermoplastic edging manufacturer will present at ZOW in Germany its new range of edgings: ProFoil and ProAlu, two upmarket and fashionable edging solutions with a real metallic effect on the surface.
Sales of Maestro Peru up 18.5% in 2013
PERU – The chain of home improvement stores, Maestro Peru, obtained in 2013 an increase in sales of 18.5 % against the previous period, closing at S/. 1,448.9 million.
Sauder Launches Redesigned Website
U.S. – After careful consideration of the evolution of consumer behavior, Sauder Woodworking Co., the pioneer and leading North American producer of ready-to-assemble furniture, has launched a new website at Sauder.com. The design reflects the company’s updated brand image and offers a seamless browsing experience on a desktop or mobile device.
IKEA reports 3,1% Net Income Increase for FY 2013
SWEDEN – On January 28, the IKEA Group reported a net income increased of 3.1% to EUR 3.3 billion for the financial year 2013 (September 1, 2012, to August 31, 2013), as market conditions continued to improve with strong growth in China, Russia and the US.“Consumer spending is improving in many countries. While the challenging economic situation may not be over, there are positive signs. Important consumer markets such as the US are coming back and Europe in general is starting to recover. Even some of the challenging markets in Southern Europe are showing good signs of activity”, says President and CEO Peter Agnefjäll.
HOMAG Group bundles its automation activities
GERMANY – The HOMAG Group, the world’s leading manufacturer of plant and machinery for the woodworking industry and for cabinet makers, will merge its two subsidiaries BARGSTEDT Handlingsysteme GmbH, Hemmoor, and LIGMATECH Automationssysteme GmbH, Lichtenberg, into HOMAG Automation GmbH. This will create additional capacity for the systematic growth and global expansion of activities in the fields of handling, packaging and assembly. The aim is to implement the project in stages up to the end of 2014.
Via Varejo opens four Casas Bahia and reaches to 1000 units in Brazil
BRAZIL – Via Varejo, which operates the appliances and furniture stores under the Casas Bahia and Pontofrio banners, begins 2014 with 1000 brand stores in Brazil.
Sales Success for SCM compact edgebanders
ITALY – With 600 units sold in 2013, the SCM Group doubled over the previous year, sales of its compact automatic edgebanders with panel movement system: Olimpic K 230 and K 260 evo. This result confirms SCM as a leader in the compact automatic edgebanders with panel movement system range.
Binderholz Group announces MDF factory closure in Austria
AUSTRIA -The Binderholz Group will shut down operations of the MDF Hallein plant at the end of March, 2014.
Home Depot, Ikea and Cencosud looking to invest in Brazil
BRAZIL – According to reports by the newspaper Valor Economico of Brazil, Home Depot, Ikea and Cencosud have expressed interest in acquiring retail chains in order to venture or expand their business in Brazil.