Hans-Georg Frey

Jungheinrich AG has announced that its 2014 financial year production figures have exceeded pre-financial crisis levels for the first time.

The world's third-largest forklift manufacturer reported that 2014 production at its plants totaled 83,500 forklifts, 15% higher than the 72,500 forklifts produced in 2013 and beating the record set in 2007 (82,400 units) before the global financial crisis.

New truck orders jumped 9% group-wide to 85,600 units, compared to the previous year's 78,200 units.

Consolidated net sales were also 9% higher at EUR2.498 billion (USD2.675 billion) compared to the prior year's EUR2.290 billion (USD2.452 billion). Earnings before interest and taxes rose 12% to EUR193 million (USD207 million) compared to EUR172 million (USD184 million) in 2013.

According to the company's market intelligence, in 2014, the world materials handling equipment market expanded by 8% to 1.09 million units, driven by positive development in the markets of Western Europe, Asia and the Americas. Europe, Jungheinrich's main sales market, posted a 9% growth to 344,500 units, with demand in Western Europe climbing 11%, while the market volume of Eastern Europe was dismal (-0.4%).

Jungheinrich board chairman Hans-Georg Frey says the group is a step closer to its net sales target of EUR3 billion (USD3.2 billion) by 2017. "Furthermore, in view of the order trend in the first two months of the year, we are confident that 2015 will be another successful year for Jungheinrich."

In 2014, Jungheinrich expanded its workforce by 709 employees. Personnel were added in the sales roles in Europe and Asia as well as in its logistics systems business. As of December 31, 2014, the group employed 12,549 people (2013: 11,840), 6,911 of whom worked abroad (2013: 6,484), with 5,638 in Germany (2013: 5,356).