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1997 Annual Report
swisslog
expertise
Logistics for Champions
Swisslog is an international group
supporting its customers in every respect
in achieving supply chain excellence.
The goal of its activities is to reduce its
customers’ logistic costs and tied-up
capital.
Swisslog is committed to ongoing
improvement of productivity, quality and
profitability, and has a leading position in
its industry.
Regardless of their size, Swisslog customers are among the best in their industries.
Based on comprehensive consultancy,
Swisslog plans, develops, implements,
modernises and maintains mechanical and
computer-controlled materials handling
systems with state-of-the-art technology.
Swisslog is present in the market through
the well-known trade names of its group
companies Digitron, Accalon, Schierholz,
Translift, Cimcorp and Transnorm System.
Active in 19 countries through subsidiaries
and branch offices in Europe, USA, Asia
and Australia, Swisslog currently has
1,850 employees worldwide. The group’s
registered office is in Aarau, Switzerland.
Swisslog creates ergonomic working
environments to relieve its customers’
employees from jobs which are dangerous
and hazardous to health.
Swisslog is responsible in its use of natural
resources and implements environmentally
acceptable solutions.
Swisslog respects the laws, customs and
practices of the countries and communities
in which it operates.
1997 Highlights
January
Schierholz and Digitron Translift operations combined under Conveyor Systems
business segment.
February
Autefa-Certus in Germany orders 18 automated guided vehicles AGV from Digitron for
a Taiwanese customer in the textile trade.
March
Digitron Translift hands over to Land Rover in Solihull (UK) a turnkey end assembly line
for the new Freelander.
Schierholz exhibits for the first time at PROMAT in Chicago, the largest material
handling fair in North America.
Cimcorp, together with Matsushita Electronics of Esslingen (Germany), develops a fully
automatic gun sealing carousel.
April
Swisslog announces the acquisition of Transnorm System GmbH of Harsum
(Germany). Transnorm ranks among the global leaders in belt conveyor systems.
Digitron is awarded a contract to build a second major distribution centre for a leading
Australian retailer in Victoria (Australia).
May
Cimcorp delivers its first MultiPick, a fully automatic order-picking system.
Transnorm presents a new curve belt conveyor system at Hanover.
June
Accalon delivers its first stacker cranes of the type Vectura S32 and D22 to Australia
and Germany.
July
Tiger, the new configurable software platform from Digitron, passes initial trials at
Metroport Group in Pelangi (Malaysia).
Cimcorp opens a liaison office in Seoul (Republic of Korea), its first in East Asia.
August
Schierholz receives a contract from the Strauss dairy group in Israel to build a new
monorail system.
Accalon delivers its first Vectura S12 stacker crane to Taiwan.
Wo sind wir
September
Swisscom commissions Digitron to develop a new flexible order-based warehouse
management system for its central store facility.
Salvesen, a major manufacturer of dairy produce based near Milan (Italy) mandates
Digitron Italia to plan a computer-controlled fresh dairy produce storage centre.
Schierholz, in conjunction with Digitron Malaysia, receives a contract to build an
end assembly line for carmaker Proton/AMM.
Accalon delivers semi-automated guided vehicle systems for Iveco Soffim’s diesel
engine plant at Foggia (Italy).
October
Digitron is awarded a contract by Serete M.S.D. in Milan (Italy) to build a new
logistics centre.
Accalon is established as the groups’ s focus company for AGV products and
subsystems.
Accalon and Transnorm’s first joint pallet conveyor system project is successfully
completed.
November
Accalon sells its first mini-AGVs of the Cartura family.
Cimcorp expands its marketing activities for robot-based order-picking systems
beyond the Scandinavian market.
December
Swisslog reinforces its engineering and systems design expertise through the
takeover of OWL Logistik Systeme in Buchs, Aarau (Switzerland).
NTUC Fairprice, Singapore’s largest food distributor, chooses Digitron Asia Pacific
as systems design partner for its US $ 25 million central storage facility project.
Digitron Benelux successfully concludes retrofit contract with Dutch auto
manufacturer NedCar, the Swisslog Group’s biggest retrofit program to date.
.
Wo sind wir
Overview of the Swisslog Group
a strong
Orders received
Net sales
500 CHFm
500 CHFm
435.5
400
300
200
420.1
200
100
100
0
0
1995
1996
1997
EBIT
10
4.2
1994
1995
10
1996
1997
13.2
10.2
5
7.2
2.2
-3.9
0
-3.5
-10
-5
1994
1995
1996
1997
Employees at year-end
2000
1750
1,709
1500
1,323
1250
1,097
1,121
1994
1995
750
1006
255.6
15 CHFm
21.2
20
1000
238.1
Net income
30 CHFm
0
388.4
300
272.3
211.9
1994
474.9
400
1996
1997
1994
1995
1996
1997
D I G I TR O N- O WL
AC CA LO N
SCH I E R HOLZ
TR AN S LI FT
CIMCORP
TR AN S N O R M SYSTE M
swisslog
group
Content
4
Letter to Shareholders
12
Strategies and Innovations
16
Key Account Management
18
Industry Practices
20
Lifetime Partnership
22
Systems Design
24
Special Systems and Products
26
Customer Support & Service
28
Innovative Products
30
Investor Relations
34
Organisation
36
Adresses
Dear Shareholder
1997 was a successful year for Swisslog.
The group reported a striking improvement in sales and
earnings. Net sales rose 22.3 percent in 1997, from
CHF 388.4 million to CHF 474.9 million. Adjusted internal
growth was 13 percent.
Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) were
CHF 21.2 million, almost three times the previous year’s
level of CHF 7.2 million.
All business units contributed to the net income of
CHF 13.2 million.
4
Swisslog continued the successful implementation of the
strategy introduced the previous year of reducing project risks.
New orders are systematically reviewed before acceptance
to see if the margins are compatible with the group’s business
objectives. Thanks to the growing professionalism of project
management, the throughput time of orders from receipt to
shipment has improved. There was a significant rise of the
share of modernisation and other services in group sales and
the use of special systems and products with short delivery
times. This is also relevant to the decline in orders on hand,
whose importance as an indicator continues to decrease.
Strategic pursuit of group expansion
The four strategic key areas for the group are logistics systems,
software, special systems and products, and customer
support. Swisslog intends to support customers on queries
and requests at a local level in order to achieve supply chain
excellence. The three regional units Central and Southern
Europe (Region 1), Scandinavia, the UK, Benelux (Region 2),
and Asia-Pacific (Region 3) support the Logistics Systems
business unit. The companies Accalon, Cimcorp, Schierholz,
Translift and Transnorm are grouped under the Special
Systems and Products business unit. At the start of 1998 all the
group’s software activities were consolidated and put under
single management. In 1997 Swisslog strategically expanded
its range of products and services and know-how.
Following the take-over of the Finnish Cimcorp Oy in 1996 with
its specialist robotics systems, Transnorm System GmbH,
Hanover, joined the Swisslog Group on 1 July 1997. Transnorm
is a leading supplier in Germany of unit load conveyor systems,
and the company also has specialities, e.g. systems used in
airports, which are recognised leaders worldwide. Besides well-
5
Letter to Shareholders
established subsidiaries in France, the UK and the Netherlands,
Transnorm has its own production facilities in Malaysia and
the USA, which in future will also take over the manufacture of
more group products.
In December Swisslog acquired OWL Logistik Systeme AG,
based in Buchs near Aarau, from the Georg Fischer Group.
Besides providing a welcome reinforcement in system planning
and software development, OWL brings with it a solid customer
base, including clients in the food, paper & printing and tobacco industries in Germany and Switzerland. This rounds out
activities of the Swisslog Group to be consolidated from March
1998 in the newly-formed Digitron-OWL AG. This company is
responsible for Swisslog’s logistics systems business in
Central and Southern Europe.
The heavily fragmented growth market for computer-controlled
materials handling systems will continue to consolidate, and
Swisslog intends to play an active role in this process.
Further development of areas of expertise
Software production methods were permanently improved by
the introduction of a comprehensive quality assurance
programme. After a development period of around one year
the first of three software platforms for plant warehouse
management went into operation in July 1997 and has been
running ever since without significant disruption. In developing
the software, Swisslog teams pull together the best solutions
and procedures from the group's decades of experience
with modular platforms, which in future will supply the design
basis for individual customer solutions. To date the market
for warehouse management software and related software
platforms is characterised by a large number of small and very
6
small businesses. This means there are attractive opportunities
here for suppliers with a reservoir of experience like Swisslog.
The year 2000 problem will also generate demand for software
specialists, and Swisslog intends to take a proactive role in this
market.
In the Special Systems and Products business unit all group
areas successfully completed a range of in-house developments. The market response to the commissioning of
the new robot generation from Cimcorp was very favourable,
resulting in a number of orders in Germany, the Far East and
Australia. The Overhead Conveyor business unit expanded its
leading position in Europe. A completely new type of inverted
2-track monorail was designed in close cooperation with a
leading automotive manufacturer. Another important development is the Inverted Power & Free System for surface treatment
plants, which is made exclusively from standard components.
Several orders from the USA and elsewhere have already been
won for this system as well.
The new family of “Vectura” stacker cranes was successfully
launched. This new development spells a sizeable reduction in
commissioning times and can be integrated into the monitoring
component of entire logistics systems.
Swisslog intends to push ahead energetically with its activities
in Special Systems and Products in selected high-volume
niche markets, which also have significant sales potential outside the group.
The business segment of services and modernisations also
grew strongly and was further expanded. Many of the installed
systems currently in operation are already 15 to 20 years old.
7
Letter to Shareholders
There is a corresponding upturn in demand for replacement
and renovation worldwide, and the group expects a further
strong boost to growth in the coming years from this sector as
well.
Human resources development for employees
The internationalisation of the group made further headway in
1997. At the end of the year the Swisslog Group numbered
over 1,700 employees in 19 countries, all with highly specific
and qualified expertise. The nature of their business demands
openness and the readiness to cooperate successfully
across linguistic and cultural divides within the group and with
international customers. Swisslog intends to use special
training programmes to further hone the technical and managerial skills of its employees. This will create the foundation
for flexible project work, which will also increase the group's
ability to offset internally the fluctuation in orders which is typical
of the industry.
Stepwise increase in transparency
The reporting system introduced in the 1997 financial year
which separates “Logistics Systems” and “Special Systems
and Products” is improving the transparency of the Swisslog
Group financial statements. We intend to continue increasing
the transparency of reporting in future years.
Board of Directors
The Annual General Meeting also marks the end of René
Garo's term of office as a member of the Board of Directors.
He is standing for re-election. There are no other changes in the
board.
8
Proposal for dividend
The Board of Directors will propose to the Annual General
Meeting payment of a dividend of CHF 2 per registered share.
In future Swisslog intends to follow an income-related dividend
policy. A further consideration in setting the dividends will be
the quality of net income. The stated goal is to finance the
organic growth of Swisslog through internally generated funds.
Business in 1998 and the outlook
The aim for the current 1998 financial year is to strengthen
further Swisslog's earning power. We are convinced that
Swisslog can use its range of products and services to consolidate and expand its leading position in its market segment.
The past year again made very high demands of our employees, whose individual efforts and flexibility were instrumental in
the group’s success. We wish to thank them most sincerely for
their exceptional commitment and are counting on their future
co-operation.
We also wish to thank you, our shareholders, for your confidence
in the development of the Swisslog Group.
For the Board of Directors
Truls D. Berg
Juhani Anttila
Chairman
Delegate of the Board
Aarau, April 1998
9
11
Strategies und Innovations
s
trong internal growth and strategic acquisitions
are transforming Swisslog into a world leader
in logistics. Through its entire range of
products and services Swisslog helps its
customers achieve supply chain excellence.
our s
1997:
Operating in young and dynamic
strategically focused activities
markets
Whereas in the previous year Swisslog
With annual growth rates between 5 to
corporate activities focused on industrial
10 per cent in the various parts of the
business, with corresponding orienta-
world and customer segments, the key
tion in the organisational structures,
markets of the Swisslog Group have
1997 was the year for concentrating
evolved into an attractive industrial niche
group activities on four strategic areas:
sector which has further significant
logistic systems, software, special sys-
potential in both commercial and techni-
tems and products and customer
cal terms.
support. The basis for this was the conviction that increased customer value is
Typically for young industries the market
the only foundation for sustainable
is highly fragmented. Overall there are
corporate success and that there is
several hundred companies, mostly
further income potential in the markets
private, active throughout the world sup-
served by the Swisslog Group.
plying their specialities to local customers. Just a few industrial groups, like
Swisslog, have a reference list of several thousand installed systems and offer
their products and services worldwide.
12
olutions are
Three powerful growth factors
Swisslog has essentially identified three
Cost competition is continuing to in-
ment and operation are mostly proving to
factors determining dynamic demand for
crease, strengthening pressure to cut
have little economic point, and there is a
integrated solutions for supply chain
operating costs further through efficient
corresponding trend towards outsourc-
excellence from a single source.
materials handling and release tied-up
ing. Intensive industrial experience, a
capital by optimising inventories and out-
technologically complete range of pro-
Demands are growing in all industries for
sourcing activities which are not core
ducts and services and a secure long-
reliability, speed and customisation of
activities. Besides new installations
term presence in the world markets are
goods and services. Companies are ac-
there is growing demand here for mod-
the key competitive criteria today in the
cordingly choosing materials handling
ernisation and expansion of existing
market for integrated materials handling
concepts which integrate all manufactur-
installations (retrofitting) to optimise their
systems.
ing and distribution processes in a single
performance.
system. Such systems cover all stages
The scale and technological sophisticati-
from receipt of individual orders through
on of materials handling installations are
co-ordination and control of manufactur-
rising steadily. Not all in-house logistics
ing, and management of internal and
and technical departments have the
third-party warehousing to optimal com-
specialist knowledge needed for their
missioning of deliveries.
design, installation, operation and development. As a result, in-house develop-
13
Strategies und Innovations
b
ased on this analysis of the market
and its existing strengths Swisslog has
developed and implemented a strategic
package containing the following elements.
tomorrow’s
Entrepreneurial thinking
Key Account Management
Industry Practices
Lifetime Partnership
The best solutions are based on a global
Based on several thousand installations
Customers expect their logistic partners
entrepreneurial view. They integrate
and ties with leading companies built up
to provide not only the most modern
company-specific objectives, manage-
over the years Swisslog has developed
technological solutions but also compre-
ment philosophies and strategies to-
system planning expertise for the differ-
hensive support over the entire lifetime
gether with market characteristics and
ent requirements of individual industries.
of the installations. No solution can be
the mentality of the various cultural areas
Swisslog is convinced that comprehen-
better than its practical performance.
in which Swisslog customers are active.
sive availability of special systems and
For Swisslog, smooth operation of its
Swisslog accordingly sees key account
products together with application-spe-
systems is just one aspect, with ongoing
management as managing customer
cific expertise are the only way of creat-
optimisation and adjustment to new
relations in the broadest sense. Con-
ing solutions which are setting commer-
requirements for products and services
stant and intensive customer support at
cial and technical standards worldwide.
playing an essential role in creating
all levels of the company and all locations
Swisslog is familiar with the varying
above-average customer value.
provides the basis for the Swisslog
needs of the different industries and in
Group’s “supply chain excellence for
1997 it created the “Industry Practice
champions”.
Groups”, an internal expert network for
supply chain excellence which brings
together
specialist
knowledge
and
experience and defines industry-typical
standards to ensure technically and
commercial optimal solutions.
14
standards
Customer-oriented action
Systems Design
Special Systems and Products
Customer Support
Efficient logistics are a strategic com
Modularisation of installations is increas-
Technical availability and operational
ponent for success for all Swisslog
ing steadily. This means that customer
reliability over the entire lifetime of the
customers. Analysis, concept design
solutions will in future consist of optimal
systems directly affect income. Swisslog
and systems design are the technical
combinations of special systems which
guarantees need-driven maintenance,
foundations for efficient installations.
are configured according to specific
ensuring efficient use of resources at
Comprehensive review of variants and
customer requirements. Swisslog is ac-
budgetable cost. Ongoing Swisslog sup-
simulations lead to optimal solutions.
cordingly focusing on developing pro-
port to customers also provides the
State-of-the-art consultancy and plan-
duct platforms which incorporate the
basis for early identification of and opti-
ning expertise provide the key competi-
status of established technology. Their
mal solutions for customer needs.
tive edge, while thirty years of experi-
use significantly enhances the commer-
ence provide the basis for successful
cial value of the customer applications
business.
and also reduces installation, functional
and operating risks.
The following pages show how the Swisslog
Group consolidated its products and
services in an optimised overall package
during the past year.
15
Key Account Management
Supply chain excellence – a key
success factor
The distributor clients of Swisslog come
under constant pressure to reduce costs,
speed up distribution and improve the
services they offer. They continually
monitor their distribution networks and
reengineer the logistical processes from
source via storage to delivery. For our
clients, the efficient management of material flows is the key to success.
know
Customer satisfaction and
trust were once again the
key factors behind the
Swisslog Group’s success in 1997.
To create a platform to build such relationships, you need constant and intensive
customer management across the board.
At Swisslog we call this
Key Account Management.
The buzzword here is ECR, or efficient
consumer response. ECR defines the
close collaboration between providers
and retail traders. For optimal results you
need the right IT platform, comprehensive communication between distribution
points and providers, and early warning
systems to keep inventories to a minimum
k
throughout the material flow chain.
The systems designers of Swisslog have
risen to this challenge, and have devel-
ey Account Management comprises the
oped a deep understanding of the pro-
diverse and intertwining relationships
cesses involved. In so doing they have
between Swisslog and its clients. In
come up with a whole range of solutions,
this business area, senior managers pool
geared towards maximising the benefit
their broad expertise towards looking
for the clients. One such approach is the
after the needs and requirements of
modular distribution centre.
Swisslog’s clientele, both on a one-toone basis and in teams. No matter what
the location or the type of product, they
are the ever-present liaison officers for
our key clients. The key account managers know the problems their clients face
inside out, and also know their specific
requirements.
Being ideally placed to receive input from
clients, the key account managers can
develop new solutions for system, software and product-related problems. Let
us take two examples from the distribu16
tion and automotive segments:
Teamwork conquers Europe, Asia
Retrofitting means looking ahead:
and the Pacific rim
NedCar, Born, Netherlands
Working closely with clients in the distri-
In the summer of 1998, the Dutch car
bution business, Swisslog has in the past
manufacturer NedCar will start produc-
planned, developed and realised several
tion of the new Mitsubishi model. The
high-capacity distribution centres. Work-
production volume is estimated at 50,000
ing up from the tried and tested basic for-
to 70,000 cars per annum.
mat, we have developed a range of warehouse modules that can be configured in
Swisslog has been NedCar’s partner for
line with the client’s specific needs.
automated guided vehicles AGV since
Thanks to Swisslog innovations, ware-
the mid-1980s. In 1997, we had to re-
house costs can be cut by up to 20 to 30
vamp every single subsystem, bringing
per cent compared with conventional
them up to the latest standards, so that
systems.
your client
At present Swisslog is implementing two
they could meet the requirements of the
The successful conclusion of this
major retail projects in Australia. Devel-
new production line. Added to this, the
undertaking, the largest retrofit
oping the two distributing warehouses re-
new systems had to meet up to rigorous
project in the group’s history, high-
quires the combined know-how of the
Japanese quality standards.
lights the commitment of Swisslog
to the ”living system” concept.
Swisslog Group. Digitron is providing the
concept, detailed planning and specifica-
NedCar contacted Swisslog in 1995. In
The example of NedCar shows quite
tions, as well as project management.
1996, Digitron in Partille, Sweden, built a
clearly how Swisslog can work
Accalon is supplying the latest genera-
prototype full-scale test track where all
closely with a proactive client to
tion of stacker cranes and pallet conveyor
the system requirements could be tested,
develop and implement creative and
systems, Digitron Translift the electronic
especially energy consumption. Once all
economically viable solutions,
monorail systems and Cimcorp the
these tests had been successfully com-
which can significantly prolong a
RoboPicks. The warehouse management
pleted, Swisslog finally received the
system’s effective life.
software ”Eagle”, which is capable of
order to proceed with the system itself.
meeting the most stringent demands, will
be realised and implemented by Digitron.
Swisslog delivered the system on schedule in December 1997. A total of 85
AGVs were incorporated in the new
plant, which also featured a new steering
system using the cutting-edge software
platform “Fox” developed by Accalon.
A multinational Swisslog team comprising Accalon and Digitron Sweden as well
as Digitron Benelux worked together
with NedCar from the very first initial discussions right through to final delivery.
17
Industry Practices
Every industry speaks its own language
and every industry’s requirements vary.
Specific industry practice and state-of-the-art
technical standards are essential factors in
guaranteeing optimum customer solutions and
represent the key criteria underpinning the
market success of the Swisslog Group.
know your
t
he operating
he operating
environment
environment
of today’s
of today’s
drinks
At the same time, the further increase in
industry
drinksisindustry
shaped
is shaped
by increasingly
by increasingly
strict
follow-on orders from clients in the target
noise
strict
abatement
noise abatement
regulations
regulations
and the trend
and
industries witnessed in 1997 confirms
toward reusable forms of packaging. Dis-
the leading position of Swisslog in the
tribution solutions are determined by the
defined key markets.
principle of “efficient customer response”
– the ability to react swiftly to customer
Cheese production driven by supply
demand. The pharmaceutical industry is
and demand: Baer AG, Switzerland
characterized by clean room conditions
In 1996, soft cheese manufacturer Baer
or highly complex validation processes.
of Küssnacht, Switzerland, decided to
streamline its entire production, originally
18
Making optimum use of knowledge
a painstaking process involving intensive
gained through experience
manual operations. Baer’s plans revolved
With a view to being able to continue to
around four requirements. The individual
play a part in determining the standards
production processes need to be adapt-
of practice in selected industries, in 1997
able to daily fluctuations in the quality of
Swisslog set up the “Industry Practice
the milk supplied without this resulting in
Groups” as Group-wide networks of
any significant delay, while at the same
experts responsible for evaluating and
time total production must cover buyers’
focusing our accumulated specialist
day-to-day demand. In addition to these
technological and commercial knowledge
external operating conditions, at internal
and developing it further in line with
level the solution has to meet the highest
specific requirements. In the first phase,
of demands in terms of hygiene and com-
the focus is on the industries that make
patibility with existing quality assurance
up the principal markets of Swisslog.
systems.
Baer, a family business with a long tradi-
When the plant began operations in the
Swisslog won the order as the general
tion, decided to go for Digitron Translift’s
summer of 1997, it acted as a signal to
contractor and equipped an intermediate
plant design, which takes full account of
the rest of the industry and Digitron
car body storage facility with all the
the operational production requirements
Translift has since received orders for
mechanical installations for the handling
for soft cheese in line with new approa-
two monorail systems for what is current-
of the car bodies, the control units for the
ches to distribution and logistics in the re-
ly the biggest European plant project in
conveyor systems and the software for
tail trade. The system installed at Baer’s
the soft cheese sector.
the inventory management system. The
plant is based on a special cheese-mak-
technical superiority of Accalon’s stacker
ing concept which Digitron Translift had
cranes reduces the risk of system failure,
developed in collaboration with a strate-
as well as improving warehouse space
gic partner independently of a specific
utilization and increasing throughput
assignment.
times.
technology
Digitron Translift monorails form the
Order-driven car production: Ford
The efficiency of the logistics planning
centrepiece of the system. They provide
Motor Company, Cologne, Germany
was also enhanced, making for a steady
flexible links between autonomous plant
For the Ford Motor Company, the grow-
flow of production at the final assembly
segments such as the salt bath and ac-
ing range of optional features in today’s
stage. As a result, delivery times were
climatization tunnel for ripening the
cars has meant a sharp rise in the cost of
significantly reduced while increasing the
cheeses. Being above ground level and
maintaining intermediate inventories of
variety of model variants available to
involving fewer load-bearing structures
component supplies, e.g. seats or inte-
customers.
than conventional floor-mounted con-
rior trims, ready for dispatch to the final
veyor systems, the solution designed for
assembly line in the correct order. Ford
The co-operation and the ideal integra-
Baer offers major advantages in terms of
asked Swisslog and a number of rival
tion within the plant environment in
operation and a thorough daily disinfec-
companies to develop proposal solutions
Cologne strengthened the partnership
tion of the facilities and premises.
that would cut supply times and reduce
between Ford and Digitron. In 1997
intermediate inventory levels.
comparable systems were installed in
Genk (Belgium), Halewood (UK) and
The plant automation system designed by
Digitron for cheese production controls
Once Digitron had analysed the situation
Valencia (Spain). A further system is
the core production processes on the
at the Cologne plant, working in close
currently being installed at the Jaguar
basis of the level of incoming orders.
collaboration with the engineers and
plant in England.
Differences in the consistency of the milk
development planners, the various solu-
are compensated for by making adjust-
tion concepts were examined using a
ments at specific production stages. This
simulation model. Digitron’s proposal to
flexibility guarantees a high level of inven-
set up an intermediate storage facility for
tory availability, while maintaining a con-
whole car bodies between the paint shop
sistent standard of quality – decisive
and the final assembly line proved to be
advantages in a competitive market.
the best solution.
19
Lifetime Partnership
Swisslog and its customers:
a living system
A wealth of mutual benefits are the key
to the successful lifetime partnership
between Swisslog and its customers.
Swisslog understands its partner’s business, is familiar with the practical questions involved in installing a new materials handling system and integrates
existing customer structures into projects.
know your
Swisslog ensures that supported installations are always state-of-the-art. Taking
over maintenance integrates Swisslog
21
years of trouble-free operation
The staff of the British Airport Authority are cheering a
marathon of a very special sort. The baggage transport system
into daily operating procedures and
makes it responsible for maximum availability of the system. This also makes it a
natural partner in subsequent projects.
Ongoing expansion of the
distribution center: Grattan Mail
Order, Bradford, UK
at London’s Heathrow airport includes a Transnorm curve belt
Grattan is an established UK mail order
conveyor which has been running for 21 years without a
company owned by the German Otto
change of belt or any technically-based shutdown – and this in
group. To eliminate the inefficiency
operation over a 16-hour day in the main conveyor section.
caused by having four warehouses at
Ever since 1996 all the original parts of the installation have
four different locations Grattan decided
been functioning perfectly. Transnorm has a world market share
in 1987 to build a new distribution centre
of over 50 per cent in curve belt conveyor technology. The
at a green fields site. Digitron was picked
London marathon performer represents just one highlight in
as the system supplier. The system con-
over 50,000 supplied curve belt conveyors, many of which have
sisted of a two-part 20-metre high fully-
been in daily operation for over 15 years without a single hitch.
automatic warehouse with integrated
automated guided vehicle AGV system
and conveyor belts. In 1995 the pallet
area was expanded and equipped with
six “Vectura 22” stacker cranes from
Accalon. This increased Grattan’s capacity by 133,000 storage spaces.
20
In 1997 the system was expanded again
with 5 extra stacker cranes. The entire installation now has 43 aisles, 30 stacker
cranes, 8 AGVs and a warehouse with
607,500 spaces.
Ever since the start of the first project in
1987 Digitron service engineers have
been working full time on site. They are
responsible for both preventive and
operational maintenance work, ensuring
maximal availability of the system.
“Comprehensive support over the entire
lifetime of installations” is the message behind lifetime partnership. By ensuring
smooth functioning of its complex systems
and through ongoing optimisation and adaptation to new performance requirements,
Swisslog creates above-average
customer value.
installation
Grattan’s favourable experience with
later, Boots had organised alternative dis-
mal solution for the customer which also
customer support and the results of a
tribution channels for most products,
includes system elements from third-
Digitron development study have led to
Digitron got the order to design and in-
party specialists, and its direct access to
three major orders within 10 years. The
stall a new materials handling system for
the rich fund of specific know-how and
good relationship is continuing: Swisslog
Boots within 10 months.
special products in the Swisslog Group.
ence project, and Grattan is kept con-
The partnership between Digitron and
During project development Digitron
stantly informed of the latest status of
Boots dates back to 1990, when
received comprehensive support from
computer-controlled materials handling
Digitron’s bid for the expansion of an
Swisslog Group companies. A Schierholz
systems.
existing warehouse won. The second
chain monorail and Transnorm System
is able to use the warehouse as a refer-
project, to install a miniload store and
curve belt conveyors are key elements in
Rebuilding after the fire: Boots
picking system, followed in 1991. Based
the new installation.
The Chemist, UK
on the success of the two initial projects
The advantages of intensive cooperation
and intensive ongoing co-operation be-
are particularly apparent in a crisis. In
tween the two companies, Digitron was
October 1997, Christmas business had
commissioned in 1994 to construct a
just started, a forklift caught fire in a main
7,000 pallet position store and in 1996
Boots warehouse. The building was
to construct a 30,000 pallet position
destroyed, and the inventory along with
warehouse.
it. Supplies to 1,200 stores were threatened.
For the construction of a new warehouse
to replace the one destroyed by fire,
Digitron responded immediately: within a
Digitron is acting as system integrator.
few hours of the start of the fire, all the
Besides supplying the control system
sections of the installation affected by the
there were two reasons which made
fire were isolated and the conveyor in-
Digitron a particularly suitable candidate
stallations were re-routed. Three weeks
for this job: its ability to develop an opti-
21
Systems Design
The task of systems design and consultancy
is to co-operate closely with the customer
in order to arrive at the most economical
long-term logistics solution for production,
warehouse management or distribution
– the aim always being to enhance the
customer ’s competitiveness.
c
anticip
onsultancy for the benefit of the
The group’s system design credentials
the team in early 1995 and in 1997 the
customer:
the
onsultancy for
the benefit
of Swisslog
the ust-
are founded on a number of strengths
plant was taken into service.
serviceservice
offer offer
omer: the Swisslog
and were further reinforced with the
The consultancy of Swisslog work covers
integration of OWL on 1 January 1998.
The new logistics centre was required to
meet high standards. Available facilities
the full range of services, from the preparation of business strategies to the
Ready to deliver around the clock:
and operating conditions had to be taken
evaluation and expert appraisal of third-
brewers C.& A. Veltins, Grevenstein,
into account, the existing high bay store
party concepts and encompasses every-
Germany
and the bottling lines had to be inte-
thing in between, including location
Founded in 1824, C. & A. Veltins is one
grated into the concept. Veltins also
studies, plant planning, overall concepts,
of Germany’s biggest private brewers
expected its logistics to meet extremely
detailed planning, concepts for informa-
and has been producing pilsner-style
high standards in terms of coping with its
tion systems, computer simulations and
beer since 1926. Its total output of
routine everyday operations. Customers
animations. Swisslog experts monitor all
premium beer comes to some 2.4 million
arriving to collect consignments are
processes from the draft planning stage
hectolitres. Bottled beer makes up
served around the clock. All articles
to the final acceptance of a project and
roughly 73 per cent of the total, with
have to be available for dispatch without
ensure that planning targets are put into
draught beer accounting for the remain-
advance notification. In terms of logistics
practice successfully.
ing 27 per cent. Its bottling line has a
the task to be addressed was as follows:
maximum output of 180,000 bottles per
loading bays need to be equipped
hour. Unusually, the brewery does not
to handle a strongly fluctuating flow of
have its own fleet of vehicles. All prod-
materials as and when demanded, with
ucts are collected by customers directly
goods sorted ready for delivery and
in full pallet-loads of barrels, bottles or
facilities on hand to receive empties. At
cans.
peak times, 180 lorries arrive daily.
Faced with a period of tumultuous growth
In the fine planning phase, the Digitron
in the early 1990s, the company had to
team worked with the customer to find
decide how best to expand within the
the most economically efficient ap-
limited space available at its plant site. In
proaches. This involved using the full
mid-1993, an in-house team made a start
panoply of system planning instruments
on the planning process, Digitron joined
available: experience with comparable
22
Simulation: investing without risk
New logistics systems need to
operate without a hitch from the word
go. Any planning error is an investment error. To eliminate such risks,
Swisslog makes use of computer
simulation systems. This has three
decisive advantages for the customer:
first, the simulation enables material
flows to be presented directly and
realistically. The planned plant operations are made transparent and all
functions can be defined at an early
ating needs
systems and technologies was evaluated
stage. Second, the simulation shows
and distribution centre. The total invest-
and the planned performance was simu-
whether the planned system’s per-
ment came to 25 million US dollars.
lated. Then the system requirements
formance can actually be achieved in
NTUC needs the new centre to meet
were summarized in the specifications
practice. And finally, the simulation
three requirements: logistics costs must
for the practical implementation. Digitron
demonstrates how the system as a
be reduced, the system must operate
planned and implemented the entire
whole will work. The specific oper-
with minimum staffing levels, and its
plant control system and the logistics
ational features can be evaluated and
capacity must be geared to supplying
automation system, as well as being
the behaviour of the system can be
fresh goods reliably and subject to tight
responsible for managing the construc-
tested under different workloads.
time constraints.
tion site. Digitron Translift supplied the
monorail.
NTUC looked to the international market
in search of a logistics project partner
Bigger, better and faster than the
with a convincing track record in the food
competition: NTUC Fairprice,
and retailing sector, considerable experi-
Singapore
ence in planning computer-controlled
With 60 retail outlets, NTUC Fairprice is
systems, plus an in-depth knowledge of
Singapore’s biggest food distributor.
the Asia-Pacific region. NTUC found
Despite massive pressure in the form of
such a system planning partner in
competition from international super-
Digitron Logistics Systems Pte Ltd in
markets and despite an increasingly
Singapore. With its reference projects
price-sensitive clientele, NTUC intends
in Europe and Australia, Swisslog
to continue to pursue a policy of double-
emerged as first choice. The project is
digit growth rates. The only way it can
currently in the planning phase. Once
achieve this is by radically improving its
completed, the NTUC distribution centre
logistics.
will be the most highly automated facility
of its kind in Singapore – a showpiece
In 1997, NTUC decided to pull down its
project that will set new standards
existing 25-year old office and depart-
throughout Southeast Asia.
ment store building and build an entirely
new complex complete with warehouse
23
Special Systems and Products
vider for Procter & Gamble in Kuala
Lumpur. It has been running smoothly
ever since. In developing these platforms
Swisslog opted for a fundamentally new
approach focusing on solution-oriented
criteria. As a result, the “Tiger” team
initially reviewed the functionalities of a
range of installed systems, concentrating on the best part solutions in order to
integrate these in a final software package. The team responsible for the standardised platform “Shark”, launched on
creating
hardware and covers all the basic
schedule early in 1998, adopted a simi-
functionalities of warehouse manage-
lar approach, confirming yet again the
ment, and the modular high-end platform
strategy followed for years in upgrading
“Eagle”. This is the design base for
“Eagle”.
highly experienced software specialists
s
to develop customised solutions meeting
Clear strategy
the highest demands on technology and
The philosophy underlying the new soft-
management.
ware family is as simple as it is demanding: software expertise is the most impor-
tructured platforms help
Solution-oriented development
tant criterion in competing for supply
After just one year in development
chain excellence. Technologically, the
“Tiger” faced its first operational test on
development of a modular software fam-
21 July 1997, when, under the manage-
ily involved no major innovation for the
ment of the Swisslog development team,
group – on the contrary: in terms of its
it was commissioned as a configurable
corporate strategy, Swisslog is demon-
For Swisslog 1997 marked the start of a
software system at Metroport Group, the
strating its ability to utilise the experience
new era. “Tiger” was the group’s first
independent warehousing service pro-
built up within the group to create cus-
applications and service
configurable software platform for warehouse management. These modular products cover all needs of modern warehouse management at various levels of
complexity, from a simple warehouse to a
highly automated customer-specific distribution centre. “Tiger” is the middle
package with broad and configurable
warehouse functionality for automatic
and manual solutions. The family is supplemented by “Shark”, the basic standardised package which runs on Swisslog
24
tomer-oriented platforms and hence anticipate the growing demands of users.
Ultimately, this software development is
the result of a business-oriented group
strategy focusing in supplier terms on
repetition, standardisation and costeffective product platforms. In market
terms, the group is banking on key areas
of industry with comparable needs, substantially reducing the order-specific
engineering input required.
platforms
Response to market trends
The specific competitive advantages of
Another key advantage is the speed with
demand and expanding its customer
these software platforms can be sum-
which individual solutions can be created.
base, particularly in the field of manual
marised in five points:
In the case of “Tiger” for example, it takes
warehousing systems.
•
only a few months from receipt of the
Standardising basic functions and
order to delivery of a fully configured and
Usable in all market sectors
optional packages facilitates adapta-
installed manual standard solution. And
The integration of the software platforms
tion to specific customer needs.
finally, the use of the software platforms
into the supply chain product range of
•
for a very wide range of applications
Swisslog has far-reaching implications,
The clearly organised product docu-
generates more industry references and
marking a turning point in the group’s
mentation and presentation software
lays the basis in customer support for
evolution towards modular-based solu-
assist sales and distribution.
ongoing monitoring and adaptation to
tions. Companies of all sizes and in all
•
new customer requirements.
industries are looking to Swisslog for
The Swisslog technology, which has
capable solutions which are easy to con-
proved itself in numerous projects,
Clear structure – customer-driven
figure and can be effortlessly adapted
reduces implementation, functional
products
and expanded for future applications. It is
and operating risks.
The first results indicate very favourable
already clear that much future business
•
reception by the market. The clear struc-
will be in the installation and service of
Training new users is significantly
ture of the products facilitates presen-
applications based on modular product
simplified, reducing overall the
tation and subsequent installation. The
packages. The number of employees in
dependence on specialists.
range of solutions offered by the software
the group’s software activities was
•
packages are clearly defined in technical
accordingly further increased in 1997,
Comparatively low implementation
and commercial terms and are geared to
and at the start of 1998 these activities
costs and simple upgrade facilities
customer needs: a set price for standard
were consolidated and placed under
enhance efficiency and hence the
applications and an extra budget for cus-
single management.
commercial value of customer appli-
tomer-specific applications. The user-
cations. In this way, Swisslog is
friendly interface and openness to exist-
gaining access to further attractive
ing installations facilitate integration with
market segments.
downstream operating procedures. In
pursuing this new concept, Swisslog
is opening up additional segments of
25
Customer Support & Service
maintaining
i
range of services runs from isolated
forwarded to a largely automatic pack-
orders through to complete assumption
aging unit where they are packaged
of operational servicing on site. Profes-
ready for sale.
sional plant maintenance with preventive
maintenance and immediate correction of
For Hoffmann-La Roche the continuous
any disturbances guarantee customers
availability of this installation is crucially
optimal performance at budgetable
important. A decisive role here is played
costs.
by maintenance and servicing of the complex logistics, robot handling, electronic
n order to
stay profitable in highly competitive mar-
Thousands of active materials handling
and computer installations which ensure
kets companies are increasingly con-
installations throughout the world need
largely automatic supply and removal of
centrating on their core competencies.
to be maintained and kept operational.
material.
Swisslog acts as an outsourcing partner,
This is why after-sales support is as im-
taking over maintenance functions for all
portant to Swisslog as developing and
For this reason Hoffmann-La-Roche was
the logistics installations and systems
selling new installations. Customer sup-
in discussion with Swisslog even while
irrespective of the original suppliers. The
port is lifetime partnership in action.
the system was being implemented on
the possibility of outsourcing technical
Swisslog’s service principle is to stay
support to the installation. Digitron has
close to our customers, wherever they
the optimal solution for an installation with
are in the world. This global service
the required high availability: a specialist
organisation requires close co-operation
team takes on the responsibility for maxi-
within the group.
mum possible availability. Since 1995
Digitron has guaranteed permanent and
Guaranteed delivery: Hoffmann-La
professional preventive maintenance and
Roche, Kaiseraugst, Switzerland
fault recovery to Hoffmann-La Roche’s
In 1995 / 96 Hoffmann-La Roche AG in
total satisfaction. This approach also
Kaiseraugst commissioned a modern
ensures ongoing transfer and integration
warehousing and packaging system. The
of technological advances in the installed
general contractor was Digitron. A fully
system. Total costs of maintenance and
automatic high bay and small com-
support are firmly budgetable.
ponents store holds drugs and packaging. After commissioning, goods are
26
The commercial success
of an industrial plant depends on
its reliability and availability and can only
be ensured through a combination of
first-class maintenance and continuous
modernisation.
superiority
Maximum availability: Daimler-
Complex services: Lübeck Clinic,
ports other installations such as washing
Benz AG, Sindelfingen, Germany
Germany
machines. The specialists in the team are
The Daimler-Benz plant in Sindelfingen
At the central clinic of the Lübeck Medi-
experienced Digitron employees. The
processes some 2,000 tonnes of sheet
cal University automated guided vehicles
service contracts also cover Digitron
metal a day on over 200 presses. A high
handle all the transport of food, drugs,
suppliers, so that the customer can bud-
bay store with 12 aisles holds pressed
laundry and refuse. Digitron planned,
get exactly for the maintenance costs.
items manufactured in batches for call-off
supplied and implemented this automa-
Based on the initial good experience
by the body shop. The necessary trans-
ted material transport system, which was
Digitron was commissioned in 1997 to
port is handled by 94 automated guided
commissioned in 1992 and very quickly
add a further five automated guided
vehicles which take materials to and from
reached its planned performance in all
vehicle systems, including lifts. The entire
the various production areas through tun-
circuits. The prerequisite for smooth
control system was also upgraded to the
nels running for 5.8 kilometres, mostly
AGV operation protected against all
state of the art.
below ground.
external disturbances was the tunnel
installation. Today, 29 RoboTrailer under-
In 1981 the contract for construction of
ground tractors are in use in the sub-
the high bay warehouse was awarded to
terranean transport system. A number of
Digitron after an invitation for tenders,
freight lifts for individual vehicles carrying
and the warehouse was commissioned in
piggy-back roller containers link the sub-
1983. In 1988 the “Sindelfingen Metro”
terranean transport levels with the floors
started operations, an automated guided
in the hospitals and supplies centre. The
vehicle system linking the various parts of
system is centrally controlled, with con-
the plant.
stant CCTV monitoring of all key system
areas.
Even today after 10 and 15 years respectively in operation the system still meets
The emphasis in hospital logistics is on
the stringent demands of Daimler-Benz in
supplying patients, and high availability of
terms of functional reliability and avail-
the system is essential. For this reason
ability as ensured by a full service main-
Digitron was commissioned to provide a
tenance contract. Digitron employees in
local service team, which supports and
three-shift working ensure that electrical
maintains the automated material trans-
or mechanical disturbances are rectified
port system, is responsible for holding a
swiftly and without loss of production.
stock of replacement parts and also sup27
Innovative Products
2
1
1. TS 1600 belt curve conveyor
1997 saw Transnorm launch a new generation
of belt curve conveyor systems on the market.
Conveying light goods up to 150 kg, the TS 1600
offers a long belt life and maximum performance.
2. TS 4200 belt merge conveyor
The TS 4200 from Transnorm is a key high-performance component for permanent operation. The
new belt merge conveyor can feed in and out unit
loads of up to 60kg at a speed of 3 m/s and angles
of 30° to 45°.
materialise
3. RoboPick
RoboPick, Cimcorp’s new robotic order picking
system makes up individual orders. Its grippers pick
cardboard boxes and plastic containers direct from
pallets or shelves, allowing distribution centres
to make major time savings.
4. MultiPick
MultiPick is the new overhead robotic order picking
system from Cimcorp. The fact that MultiPick
operates independently of fixed roller conveyors
makes for highly flexible warehouse management.
5. Fully automatic gun sealing carousel
In close collaboration with Matsushita Electronics
in Esslingen, Germany, Cimcorp developed a fourphase plant with 28 processing stations. Measuring
9 meters in diameter, the plant is making a major
contribution to improving product quality.
6. Vectura stacker cranes
Accalon introduced a new family of stacker cranes
in 1997. Thanks to the modular mechanical construction and system components with systematic
parameterisation of the control facilities, the new
stacker cranes can be fine-tuned to customers’
requirements.
7. Contura pallet conveyor systems
Contura from Accalon is a modular pallet conveying
system for weights up to 1.5 tonnes. Contura is also
ideal for linking different conveyor systems within
a large-scale materials handling complex.
6
28
4
7
d expertise
5
3
29
Investor Relations
t
he Board of Directors shall propose to the
Annual General Meeting of 13 May 1998 that
a dividend of CHF 2 per registered share be
paid out. Swisslog pursues an income-based
distribution policy.
Investment policy
Registration limit
Shareholders’ duty to disclose
The Swisslog Group aims to expand its
Upon entry into force of the Federal Act
holdings
presence on the world’s logistics sys-
on Stock Exchanges and Securities
The shareholders of Swisslog Holding
tems markets. Customer proximity, an
Trading (“Stock Exchange Act”) on 1 Jan-
AG are subject to the disclosure require-
comprehensive range of services and a
uary 1998, the percentage limit (transfer
ments of the Stock Exchange Act. Under
broad geographic base are crucial to
restriction) imposed on the entry of regis-
Art. 20 of the Stock Exchange Act, any
success.
tered shares in the company’s share
shareholder who either directly, indirect-
register as stipulated in Art. 6 para. 2 of
ly or by joint arrangement with third par-
The Swisslog Group’s affirmed goal is to
the Articles of Association was automat-
ties acquires or sells shares of Swisslog
finance its organic growth through inter-
ically rescinded. The Articles of Asso-
Holding AG and thereby attains, exceeds
nally generated funds.
ciation of Swisslog Holding AG no longer
or falls below a threshold of 5, 10, 20,
contain a percentage ceiling on the regis-
33 1 ⁄ 3, 50 or 66 2 ⁄ 3 per cent of the voting
Capital structure
tration of shares. The Articles of Asso-
rights (whether enforceable or not) shall
As of 31 December 1997, 2,752,000
ciation have merely retained a nominee
be required to notify Swisslog Holding
registered shares at CHF 10 nominal
ruling (Art. 6 para. 4) which stipulates
AG and the Disclosure Office of the
were outstanding and entered in the
that no more than 5 per cent of the regis-
Swiss Exchange. Address:
Commercial Register.
tered share capital may be entered in the
Swiss Exchange, Disclosure Office
share register under the name of persons
P.O. Box, CH-8021 Zurich
The Group holds neither authorised nor
holding shares on a fiduciary basis for
+ 41 1 229 29 16 Phone
conditional capital.
third parties not known to the company.
+ 41 1 229 29 35 Fax
The object of this ruling is to prevent
In introducing a unitary share and
anyone from secretly securing control
Under Art. 21 of the Stock Exchange Act,
gradually reducing the nominal value to
over Swisslog Holding AG.
the company is for its part obliged to pub-
the minimum of CHF 10 as permitted un-
lish any such information that it receives.
der Swiss company law, the Swisslog
Group has created the conditions for a
Shareholders who as of 1 January 1998
liquid market which is also accessible to
had a holding of at least 5 per cent of the
private investors.
voting rights of Swisslog Holding AG are
granted a period of 3 years within which
30
share in our
Swisslog at a glance: an overview for investors
Key data per registered share
(equivalent of registered shares at CHF 10 nominal)
1997
1996
1995
1994
Earnings before interest, tax,
depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA)
CHF
10.4
4.5
0.3
3.2
Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT)
CHF
7.7
2.6
-1.3
1.5
Net income / registered share
CHF
4.8
0.8
-1.4
3.7
CHF
60.0
62.5
74.1
96.8
Consolidated shareholders’ equity
per registered share (Net Asset Value)
1995 / 96 capital repayments by reducing the nominal value per share from CHF 100 to CHF 84 and CHF 84 to CHF 50.
August 1997: 1:5 share split from nominal value of CHF 50 to nominal value of CHF 10 per registered share.
The figures for 1994 to 1996 were adjusted accordingly.
Dividends
1997
1996
1995
1994
Consolidated net income
CHFm
13.2
2.2
- 3.9
10.2
Dividend / capital repayment
CHFm
5.5
18.7
8.8
8.8
42
—
—
Dividend payout ratio
%
Dividend/registered share 1
CHF
Capital repayment/registered share 1
CHF
1
2
2.0 2
86
3.2
6.8
3.2
Equivalent of registered shares at CHF 10 nominal.
Dividend for the year under review in accordance with the proposal of the Board of Directors to the Annual General Meeting
of 13 May 1998.
31
Investor Relations
success
Swisslog: the market view
Share price development of registered shares from 1993 to March 1998
160
150
140
130
120
110
100
90
80
70
60
50
III
IV
I
1993
II
III
1994
IV
I
II
III
IV
I
1995
II
III
1996
IV
I
II
III
IV
1997
I
1998
For comparison purposes, prices for the period 1994 to 1996 in the above chart were adjusted to reflect the 1:5 share split.
1997
Price of registered shares 1
Gross return on registered shares
Market capitalisation (31.12.)
Market capitalisation as % of shareholders’ equity
Price-earnings-ratio (PE-Ratio) (as of 31.12.)
1
32
Equivalent of registered shares at CHF 10 nominal.
1996
1995
1994
High CHF
125
83
72
91
Low CHF
86
61
54
60
High
%
2
NA
NA
4
Low
%
2
NA
NA
5
CHFm
294
203
176
168
%
178
118
86
63
Factor
22.3
92.3
NA
16.5
to make their disclosure, provided they
Own shares and management
Listing
do not increase this holding to the next
participation plan
The registered shares of Swisslog
higher threshold during this time.
As of 31 December 1997, the Swisslog
Holding AG are traded on the main
Group held a total of 24,250 registered
segment of the Swiss Exchange.
Decision not to include opting-out
shares of Swisslog Holding AG with
and opting-up clauses
a book value of CHF 1.77 million. These
An average of 13,424 shares, adjusted
Swisslog Holding AG has consciously
shares were acquired under a stock op-
to nominal CHF 10, were traded daily in
decided against writing into its Articles
tion plan for the group’s executive per-
1997, corresponding to a volume of
of Association either an opting-out or an
sonnel and as remuneration for the Board
CHF 1.3 million.
opting-up clause which would waive or
of Directors. These registered shares are
restrict the obligation imposed on share-
carried in the books of Swisslog Man-
Key dates for the investor’s diary
holders to make an offer as stipulated un-
agement AG.
Annual General Meeting:
13 May 1998, Aarau
der Art. 32 of the Stock Exchange Act
effective 1 January 1998. Under Art. 32
Remuneration for the Board of
Dividend date:
of the Stock Exchange Act, a share
Directors
20 May 1998
holder who either directly, indirectly or by
The remuneration paid to the Board of
Publication of mid-year figures:
joint arrangement with third parties
Directors takes the form of an annual al-
End August 1998
acquires shares of Swisslog Holding AG
location of registered shares of Swisslog
and thereby exceeds the threshold of
Holding AG.
Contact
Juhani Anttila
33 1 ⁄ 3 per cent of the voting rights
(whether enforceable or not) is required
Shareholder structure
Delegate of the Board of Directors
to submit a purchase or exchange offer
Approximately 1,900 registered share-
Swisslog Holding AG
to all shareholders of Swisslog Holding
holders are entered in the share register.
Bahnhofstrasse 102
AG. Moreover, the minimum price stipu-
The shares are held by a large of individ-
CH-5001 Aarau, Switzerland
lations defined in the Stock Exchange Act
ual shareholders.
+41 62 837 95 12 Phone
+41 62 837 95 56 Fax
will also apply to any such offer.
Major shareholders are: Chase Nominees Ltd, London, with 13.7 per cent and
Co Nominees Ltd, Chelmsford, Essex,
with 5.4 per cent.
33
Organisation
Board of Directors of Swisslog Holding AG
Management Committee
and Swisslog Management AG
Juhani Anttila
President and CEO
Truls D. Berg
Chairman
up to 1999
Andreas Münch
Logistics Systems Region 1
Konrad Peter
Vice Chairman
up to 1999
Ulf Jansson
Logistics Systems Region 2, from July 1, 1997
Juhani Anttila
Delegate
up to 1999
Sigvard Karlsson
Logistics Systems Region 2, up to June 30, 1997
René Garo
Member
up to 1998
Charles Teissonnière Logistics Systems Region 3, from January 1, 1998
Hans Hulsbergen
Member
up to 1999
Göran Fredriksson
Logistics Products
Guido Patroncini
Member
up to 1999
Uwe Eckert
Overhead Conveyors
Kari Ollila
Robotics
Uwe Schöning
Unit Load Conveying Technology
Auditors
Urs Birrer
Software, from March 1, 1998
STG-Coopers & Lybrand AG, Basel
Wolfgang Maier
Customer Support
Pekka Pylkäs
Finance and Controlling
Group Auditors
Martin Strobel
Legal Services and Human Resources
STG-Coopers & Lybrand AG, Basel
Björn Berg
Business Development
Logistics Systems Region 1
Software
Andreas Münch
Urs Birrer
Logistics Systems Region 2
Customer Support
Ulf Jansson
Wolfgang Maier
Logistics Systems Region 3
Chairman
Delegate of the Board of Directors
of the Board of Directors
President and CEO
Truls D. Berg
Juhani Anttila
Charles Teissonnière
Logistics Products
Göran Fredriksson
Finance and Controlling
Pekka Pylkäs
Overhead Conveyors
Uwe Eckert
Legal Services and HR
Martin Strobel
Robotics
Kari Ollila
Business Development
Björn Berg
Unit Load Conveying Technology
Uwe Schöning
committed to
34
o excellence
Adresses
Swisslog Holding AG
Swisslog Management AG
Bahnhofstrasse 102
Bahnhofstrasse 102
P.O. Box 4003
P.O. Box 4003
CH-5001 Aarau
CH-5001 Aarau
+41 62 837 95 37 Phone
+41 62 837 95 37 Phone
+41 62 837 95 10 Fax
+41 62 837 95 10 Fax
partners for
Switzerland
Digitron-OWL AG
Digitron-OWL AG
Digitron-OWL AG
Bahnhofstrasse 96
Erlenstrasse 32
Webereiweg 3
CH-5001 Aarau
CH-2555 Brügg/Biel
CH-5033 Buchs/AG
+41 62 834 15 00 Phone
+41 32 374 22 00 Phone
+41 62 837 41 41 Phone
+41 62 834 17 99 Fax
+41 32 374 24 99 Fax
+41 62 837 41 23 Fax
Cimcorp GmbH
Digitron GmbH
Digitron Service GmbH
Monreposstrasse 53
Monreposstrasse 53
Martin-Schmeisser-Weg 6
D-71634 Ludwigsburg
D-71634 Ludwigsburg
D-44227 Dortmund
+49 7141 38 360
+49 7141 22 600
+49 231 758 9500 Phone
Germany
Phone
Phone
+49 7141 38 36 10 Fax
+49 7141 22 6055 Fax
+49 231 758 9512 Fax
Belgium
Finland
France
Digitron Benelux N.V.
Cimcorp Oy
Digitron S.A.
Kernenergiestraat 47-49
Sammontie 5
151, Avenue Aristide-Briand
B-2610 Wilrijk
FIN-28400 Ulvila
BP 2275
+32 3 830 38 00 Phone
+358 2 6775 111 Phone
F-68068 Mulhouse-CEDEX
+32 3 828 89 26 Fax
+358 2 6775 200 Fax
+33 3 89 32 65 65 Phone
+33 3 89 59 75 51 Fax
Netherlands
Italy
Digitron Italia S.r.l.
Digitron-Translift S.r.l.
Digitron Benelux B.V.
Via Columella 40
Via Barbera 66, Scala B
Landzichtweg 66
I-10135 Torino
NL-4105 DP Culemborg
I-20128 Milano
+39 2 2707 111
Phone
+39 2 2707 1150 Fax
36
+39 11 34 66 66
Phone
+39 11 34 88 283 Fax
+31 345 53 11 88 Phone
+31 345 53 07 36 Fax
a lifetime
Digitron-OWL Service AG
Digitron-OWL Service AG
Digitron-OWL Service AG
Bahnhofstrasse 96
Erlenstrasse 32
Webereiweg 3
CH-5001 Aarau
CH-2555 Brügg/Biel
CH-5033 Buchs/AG
+41 62 834 17 77 Phone
+41 32 374 22 00 Phone
+41 62 837 41 41 Phone
+41 62 834 17 96 Fax
+41 32 374 24 99 Fax
+41 62 837 41 23 Fax
Digitron Materialfluss System GmbH
Louis Schierholz GmbH
Transnorm System Holding GmbH
Ziegelhüttenweg 4
Arsterdamm 110
Förster Strasse 2
D-65232 Taunusstein-Neuhof
D-28277 Bremen
+49 6128 97 600
+49 421 8406 0
Phone
+49 6128 97 6044 Fax
D-31177 Harsum
Phone
+49 421 8406 202 Fax
+49 5127 402 0
Phone
+49 5127 402 119 Fax
United Kingdom
Digitron Benelux N.V.
Digitron Ltd.
Digitron Ltd.
14, Rue des Cinq Perches
Units 2/3, Regents Court, Far Moor Lane
706 Stirling Road, Trading Estate
F-77645 Chellex-CEDEX
GB-Redditch B98 OSD, Worcs.
GB-Slough, SL1 4SY, Berkshire
+33 1 64 21 44 33 Phone
+44 1527 517 333 Phone
+44 1753 52 85 45 Phone
+33 1 64 21 09 70 Fax
+44 1527 517 344 Fax
+44 1753 57 04 07 Fax
Norway
Sweden
Transnorm System B.V.
Digitron AS
Accalon AB
Energieweg 10
Nedre Rommen 5
Box 21
NL-3641 RT Mijdrecht
N-0988 Oslo
S-590 10 Boxholm
+31 297 285 121 Phone
+47 22 78 95 00 Phone
+46 142 555 00 Phone
+31 297 286 221 Fax
+47 22 78 95 10 Fax
+46 142 506 30 Fax
Wo sind wir
USA
Australia
Republic of Korea
Transnorm System Inc.
Digitron Logistics Pty. Ltd.
Cimcorp Representative Office
1906 South Great Southwest Parkway
30, Cowper Street, Level 1
42F, KLI 63 B D. Yoìdo-dong
Grand Prairie, TX 75051 USA
AUS-Parramatta NSW 2150
Yeongdeungpo-Ku, Seoul
+1 972 606 0303 Phone
+61 2 9895 1000 Phone
Republic of Korea
+1 972 606 0768 Fax
+61 2 9895 1095 Fax
+82 2 783 6851 Phone
+82 2 780 5802 Fax
Malaysia
Digitron Logistic Systems Sdn Bhd
Transnorm System Sdn Bhd
54-3, 2nd Floor, Jalan USJ 9/5P
Lot Plo 28 Kawasan Perindustrian
MAL-47620 UEP Subang Jaya,
Kluang, 4 1⁄ 2 Mile Jalan Mersing
Selangor Darul Ehsan
MAL-86000 Kluang /Johore
+60 3 724 4 790 Phone
+60 7787 9990 Phone
+60 3 724 5 790 Fax
+60 7787 9966 Fax
Singapore
Digitron Logistic Systems Pte Ltd.
215G Upper Thomson Road
Singapore 574349
+65 453 0192 Phone
Digitron Translift AG
+65 453 6018 Fax
Rainacherstrasse 47
CH-6010 Kriens/LU
+41 41 329 88 00 Phone
+41 41 329 88 99 Fax
Transnorm System GmbH
Förster Strasse 2
D-31177 Harsum
+49 5127 402 0
Phone
+49 5127 402 102 Fax
Digitron-Translift Ltd.
Transnorm System Ltd.
Hallcroft Ind. Estate
Ashchurch Industrial Estate,
GB-Retford DN22 7PT, Notts.
GB-Tewkesbury GL20 8TD,
+44 1777 707 511 Phone
Gloucestershire
+44 1777 860 778 Fax
+44 1684 291 100 Phone
+44 1684 291 550 Fax
Czech Republic
Digitron AB
Schierholz Svenska AB
Schierholz Dopravni Technika s.r.o.
Brodalsvägen 13
Brodalsvägen 13
Repna 20
S-433 38 Partille
S-433 38 Partille
CZ-321 00 Pilsen-Litice
+46 31 336 60 00 Phone
+46 31 336 61 70 Phone
+420 19 78 28 272 Phone
+46 31 336 08 85 Fax
+46 31 44 27 10
+420 19 78 28 272 Fax
38
Fax
the future
Impressum
Edited by:
Concept und production:
Visual design:
Portrait photographs:
Typesetting and lithography:
Printing:
Swisslog Management AG, Aarau
Haussmann, Weber-Thedy
Corporate & Financial Communications, Zürich
Martina Ott, Zürich
Thomas Schuppisser, Langnau am Albis
Colorlith, Geroldswil
Offsetdruck Goetz AG, Geroldswil
The Swisslog 1997 Annual Report comprises
two parts: the report on the activities and
the financial overview. The annual report is
published in German and English. The German
version is binding.
39
even more
Swisslog Holding AG
Bahnhofstrasse 102
P.O. Box 4003
CH-5001 Aarau
Switzerland
+41 62 837 95 37 Phone
+41 62 837 95 10 Fax
www.swisslog.com