SCHOTT maintains strength in a challenging market
Thursday 19 December 2024, Germany, Mainz
- In the past fiscal year, SCHOTT recorded a slight decline in revenue of 1%, with revenues of EUR 2.8 billion. Adjusted for currency effects, revenue increased by 3%. Business in the pharmaceutical, optics, and semiconductor industries contributed significantly.
- The company increased its equity ratio to 66%, providing a strong foundation for future investments and continued growth.
- SCHOTT expanded its global presence through significant investments in key locations, including Germany, Hungary, and Malaysia.
International expansion
The German company continued its international expansion with investments totaling approximately EUR 450 million in Europe, Asia, and the Americas to meet the demands of industry-specific global supply chains. Over the past year, SCHOTT inaugurated a new logistics center in Mitterteich, Germany and opened a new production facility for optical precision components in Kulim, Malaysia, which also supplies high-end optics for the augmented reality (AR) sector.
SCHOTT Pharma also expanded its operations, increasing capacity for polymer syringes in Müllheim, Germany, among other initiatives. Additionally, SCHOTT Pharma opened a state-of-the-art production facility in Lukácsháza, Hungary, and celebrated the groundbreaking ceremony for a new factory in Jagodina, Serbia.
Continued sustainability initiatives
In 2024, SCHOTT successfully melted optical glass using 100% hydrogen in a large-scale production environment, while meeting the strict quality standards of conventionally produced end products. This significant milestone underlines SCHOTT’s commitment to becoming a climate-neutral company in the future.
Additionally, the company began constructing an electric pilot melting tank in Mitterteich, Germany. This fully electric e-tank is expected to go online in 2026 and will use 100% green electricity to produce borosilicate glass tubing for the pharmaceutical industry.
Outlook: continued innovation for high tech markets
According to SCHOTT CFO Marcus Knöbel, the group plans to further strengthen its global presence and support future-oriented industries such as semiconductors and consumer electronics with innovative high-end materials to push the boundaries of what is possible. “We aim to invest around EUR 450 million in the current fiscal year, maintaining a similarly high level as in previous years,” says Knöbel.
Specialty glass is considered an essential component to meet the increasing demand for advanced packaging in the semiconductor market. In 2023, SCHOTT outlined a three-point plan announcing new glass substrates and expanded production and processing capacities. In the past fiscal year, the company established a semiconductor-focused division and introduced new glass types and specifications, such as SCHOTT® low-loss glass.
Augmented reality continues to be a promising field for growth and innovation. SCHOTT is significantly enhancing its processing capabilities by expanding its production site in Malaysia. With a unique AR portfolio of diffractive and reflective waveguides, SCHOTT is well-positioned to support the industry on its path to the mass market.
For the coming years, SCHOTT plans to focus on developing innovative materials, including specialty glass and glass-ceramics, that advance both science and industry thanks to tailor-made solutions.
SCHOTT launched its low-loss glass to advance the semiconductor industry. The new product is designed to help the industry create more powerful chips. Credit: SCHOTT
About SCHOTT
International technology group SCHOTT produces high-quality components and advanced materials, including specialty glass, glass-ceramics, and polymers. Many SCHOTT products have high-tech applications that push technological boundaries, such as flexible glass in foldable smartphones, glass-ceramic mirror substrates in the world's largest telescopes, and laser glass in nuclear fusion. With their pioneering spirit, SCHOTT’s 17,100 employees in over 30 countries work as partners to industries such as healthcare, home appliances, consumer electronics, semiconductors, optics, astronomy, energy, and aerospace. In fiscal year 2024, SCHOTT generated 2.9 billion euros in sales. In addition to innovation, one of its important corporate goals is sustainability, where it is pursuing climate neutral production by 2030. SCHOTT was founded in 1884 and is headquartered in Mainz, Germany. The company belongs to the Carl Zeiss Foundation, which uses its dividends to promote science. Further information at schott.com.
Salvatore Ruggiero
Vice President Marketing and Communication