TK Elevator : strategic progress in repositioning for profitable future

In its third full year of independence, TK Elevator achieved major strategic progress in repositioning for profitable future growth whilst simultaneously improving its operating performance significantly. In a continuously challenging environment with high inflation and increased interest rates, the company substantially improved key financial performance indicators in the 2022/23 financial year ending September 30, further adding to the significant progress realized since the carve-out in 2020. Order intake increased to €9.2 billion, FX adjusted year-on-year up by 2 percent. Sales rose to €8.9 billion, FX adjusted up by 6 percent, driven by double-digit growth in Modernization, high single-digit growth in Service and New Installation sales up low single digits.

Despite negative FX effects and high inflation, the Adj. EBITDA increased to €1.3 billion, a year-on-year increase of 14 percent or more than €150 million and an increase of 24 percent or more than €250 million since the carve-out in the 2019/20 financial year. The group improved its Adj. EBITDA margin by more than one percentage point to a new high of 14.6 percent and continued to generate positive Free Cash Flow.

Invigorating future growth with innovative market solutions

To invigorate future growth, TK Elevator has reinforced the focus on bringing new innovative solutions to market to serve targeted customer segments and to eventually feed its continuously growing service base which increased to more than 1.5 million units under maintenance in the 2022/23 financial year. As a result, the group launched its new eco-efficient and natively digital elevator platform EOX across Europe, North America, and Brazil.

In parallel to the regional roll-out, TK Elevator introduced an ultra-flexible EOX-based refurbishment and modernization solution : EOX Renew. The newest member of the EOX family brings premium digital and sustainability features to existing, older buildings. It helps make buildings accessible for everyone, including older residents or those with disabilities, while considerably increasing value for building owners.

Creating a resilient supply chain and world-class manufacturing

The new platform EOX enables the holistic transformation of TK Elevator’s product portfolio, its global supply chain, installation and service processes and its customer experience, in addition to a major increase in its competitiveness in manufacturing. In the last financial year, the group has started the transformation of its German manufacturing footprint and over the coming years, the German elevator plant will be transformed into a future-proof, leading global excellence center for elevator technology. This will significantly increase productivity and cost competitiveness and includes the relocation to a new, state-of-the-art production site near the current location.

Increased emphasis on Service and Modernization growth

As the ever-increasing and ageing installed base drives the structural service and modernization growth globally, TK Elevator has further increased the emphasis on these market segments across all regions. Service and Modernization constituted 60 percent of the group’s revenues in the financial year 2022/23. The group has accelerated the Service growth to a new annual high FX adjusted rate of 9 percent and has finished the year recording the 11th consecutive quarter of organic Service sales growth. Moreover, the group has consistently driven the Modernization backlog to new record levels.

TK Elevator has invested into targeted service and modernization solutions and strengthened its unique resources and capabilities, such as the group’s International Technical Services network, and is leveraging its leading positions in the attractive North American, German, and Spanish modernization markets where more than 50 percent of all elevators are more than 20 years old. At the same time, TK Elevator has become one of the fastest growing companies in the Chinese service and modernization markets, where it has increased its maintenance portfolio since the carve-out by more than 50 percent and has accelerated the FX adjusted Modernization growth to 80 percent in the 2022/23 financial year.

Driving towards a lean support organization model

In parallel, TK Elevator is establishing a lean support organization model, addressing the overhead structure outside of its branches and improving speed and accountability. This is geared to create a more contemporary organization, including an increased internal service focus and efficiency.

Developing a company-wide business system

In addition, TK Elevator has launched “Branch Excellence” to drive growth and best-in-class performance within its branches. Branch Excellence is a proprietary methodology and a core element of the new TKE Business System, an enterprise approach currently being developed to leverage the scale and strengths across the company, to foster a mindset of continuous improvement, to transfer best practices, and to enable excellence at the branches, plants, and functions.

Leading role in sustainability recognized

TK Elevator is part of the solution to address climate change and enable sustainable urban mobility : moving more people with less emissions. The group’s products are at the very heart of urban mobility, improving accessibility and quality of life for a growing and aging population across cities and infrastructure worldwide. TK Elevator has always been at the forefront of technological innovation and embraces digitalization as a key enabler to drive efficiency, using resources in a more conscious and responsible manner – as exemplified by the introduction of its new EOX platform.

The group’s commitment to sustainability is highlighted by further improved ESG ratings. In addition to having been awarded an A rating by the renowned CDP organization in 2022 for the third time in a row, TK Elevator topped again the entire machinery industry in Sustainalytics’ global ESG rating in July 2023 for the second time running.

More information : www.tkelevator.com

Credit : TK Elevator