The Rieter Group achieved an order intake of CHF 1 051.5 million in the 2017 financial year. This represents an increase of 16% compared to the previous year (+ CHF 146.3 million). Thus, the upturn seen in the first half of 2017 continued. Sales totalled CHF 965.6 million, up 2% on the previous year (2016: CHF 945.0 million).
In the Business Group Machines & Systems, order intake rose by 13% to CHF 668.2 million (2016: CHF 591.6 million). The growth in order intake in the Asian countries, excluding China, India and Turkey, was pleasing. Uzbekistan, Bangladesh and Indonesia in particular contributed to this growth.
Classic ring spinning systems were especially popular in these countries. Order intake in China was up on the previous year, thanks also to initial orders for the J 26 air-jet spinning machine. In India, investment restraint due to the introduction of a harmonized sales tax (GST) led to a decline in order intake compared to the previous year, even though demand picked up again slightly towards the end of the year.
After a hesitant first half of the year, demand from the key market Turkey gained increasingly in momentum in the second half of the year. The business group realized some major projects in the US and in Brazil, resulting in a higher order volume in the North and South America region compared to the previous year.
Order intake in the Business Group After Sales in the year under review improved by 14% to CHF 154.8 million (2016: CHF 135.2 million). Both the spare parts and aftersales services businesses contributed to this growth. The increased order volume in the new machines business resulted in higher demand for installation services in the Business Group After Sales. Focused sales efforts and service offerings allowed After Sales to continue the positive growth that began in 2015.
In the Business Group Components, order intake was CHF 228.5 
million, around 28% above the previous year (2016: CHF 178.4 million). The acquisition of SSM Textile Machinery (SSM) contributed CHF 42.5 million to this positive growth from the second half of the year. The order intake in the business group was broadly supported regionally and across the entire portfolio. Only the technology components business for compact spinning systems was below the previous year.
At the end of 2017, Rieter’s order backlog of around CHF 540 million was CHF 100 million higher than at the end of the previous year (December 31, 2016: around CHF 440 million).
Sales by Business Group
Group sales in 2017 amounted to CHF 965.6 million (2016: CHF 945.0 million), an increase of 2% over the previous year.
Rieter posted strong growth in the second half of 2017 with CHF 550.4 million compared with CHF 415.2 million in the first half of 2017. The acquisition of SSM in the Business Group Components and a strong increase in deliveries in the Business Group Machines & Systems led to this growth in sales. In the Business Group Components, sales (without acquisition) was 11% down on the previous year, mainly due to lower sales of technology components in India. The Business Group After Sales posted positive growth, increasing sales by 3% compared to 2016.
Sales by Region
In the Asian countries (excluding China, India and Turkey), Rieter increased sales in the reporting year by 11% to CHF 319.1 million. At CHF 184.0 million, a good level of sales was achieved in China, despite a slight decline of 1%. In India, sales fell by 5% to CHF 173.8 million, a development attributable in particular to lower sales of technology components. Sales in Turkey fell by 16% to CHF 100.1 million in 2017, mainly due to the sluggish order intake for new machines in the first half of the year. Orders in the US and in Brazil led to sales of CHF 114.7 million in the North and South America region, an increase of 32%