Success with digital services and startups
Digitalisation continued to determine a substantial amount of fischer’s activities. Particular highlights included new digital services such as the “fischer Professional” app and the FIXPERIENCE design software. The use of BIM (Building Information Modelling) in numerous fixing systems and projects shaped the past financial year. BIM allows constructions to be depicted with all the relevant information in a digital building model.

fischer also successfully launched startups and spinoffs. fischer is supporting its digitalisation strategy with its new tradespeople app myCraftnote. The app compiles all the information on a construction contract and makes it available to all those involved.

The NO TOOLS, JUST HANDS concept saw the introduction of 25 products providing quick and easy solutions to fixing problems in private households to the German DIY market. The entire range can be used without tools. fischer’s NO TOOLS, JUST HANDS range is available in almost 300 DIY stores across Germany and will be available through German specialist retailers this spring. On an international level the product is also already available in Austria. This year will also see the range being launched in Italy, Spain, Great Britain, France and Brazil.

With myCraftnote and NO TOOLS, JUST HANDS fischer is continuing to pursue the strategy of setting up young and successful companies in order to be able to react to developments in various markets in an even faster and more flexible manner.

5,200 employees – award-winning training
By the end of 2018, the fischer Group of Companies employed 5,200 members of staff, 200 more than at the end of 2017. fischer therefore underlines its reputation as an excellently positioned medium-sized family business.

Education has been of utmost importance at fischer since the beginning. 109 apprentices and dual education students are currently employed by the company. Overall, fischer provides training for 29 different technical and commercial jobs. 650 young people applied to 42 apprenticeship and dual education study places during the past financial year. fischer once again received multiple awards during the past year for its excellent training, which offers far more than other training companies with its various seminars, initiatives and placements abroad: The company received the award for “Germany’s best training company” by Capital magazine as well as the award for “excellent training company” by the German chamber of commerce.

fischer also received numerous other awards, including “World Market Leader Champion 2018”, the “German Sustainability Award, TOP 3 large-scale companies” and the award for “Germany’s best canteen” for fischer’s staff restaurant at its headquarters in Tumlingen.

The Klaus Fischer BildungsZentrum, the company’s in-house centre for further education and training, recorded 1,725 registrations over the past year, more than in any previous year. The overall number of registrations since the centre first opened in 2010 has therefore risen to over 10,200 registrations for around 700 free events which fischer employees can attend outside of working hours.

Expansion of international activities
The fischer Group of Companies has successfully operated at an international level for several decades and continues to expand its presence in the global market. A new production facility for the fischer automotive systems company division (10,500 square metres of usable floor space) was opened in Taicang near Shanghai in June. fischer is therefore compiling its manufacturing capacities in order to be able to serve the Asian region even more efficiently. Particular value was placed on a sustainable construction method for the new structure.

fischer automotive systems is also expanding its existing production and logistics area in the USA at the site in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The project is due to be completed this spring.In Romania fischer acquired its previous importer Profix S.R.L. and is running it as an independent subsidiary. The Group of Companies is thereby increasing its presence as a fixings specialist in the Eastern European growth market. fischer is now represented by 47 subsidiaries in 35 countries and sells its products in over 100 countries

Forecast: Similar turnover growth expected as 2018
The fischer Group of Companies is planning a similar turnover growth for the current financial year as in 2018. In addition, further companies will be joining fischer.

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