Solid results despite major economic challenges

SCHOTT's financial stability in the fiscal year 2022/23 is demonstrated, among other things, by a significant increase in its equity ratio from 51% to 63%, according to CFO Dr. Jens Schulte. The company’s net income of EUR 277 million, as well as the successful initial public offering (IPO) of SCHOTT Pharma AG & Co. KGaA at the end of September 2023, were contributing factors to these results. Gross proceeds of around EUR 935 million, gained from the placement of 23% of the ordinary shares on the public market, had a major impact on net liquidity.  Products and solutions for the pharmaceutical industry and high-end optics were important sales drivers. SCHOTT intends to use the proceeds to further invest in its ambitious sustainability commitment and strategic growth in Europe, the US, and China.

International production network expansion

In fiscal year 2022/23, the company continued to expand its international production network with around EUR 450 million of investments. Last year saw the groundbreaking ceremony for a new pharmaceutical production facility in Hungary, and the inauguration of a state-of-the-art diagnostics facility in the US. In addition, the company secured the necessary supply of alternatives to natural gas and important raw materials. This year, SCHOTT intends to invest another record sum of over EUR 500 million. Plans include expanding the production area of its optics competence center in Malaysia and constructing a climate-neutral administration and production building in Landshut, Bavaria. Its subsidiary SCHOTT Pharma plans to expand its manufacturing capacities, including a new production line for polymer syringes in Müllheim, Germany, a glass syringe plant in Hungary, and a new production site in Serbia. Furthermore, SCHOTT plans to strategically strengthen its business with a focus on the semiconductor industry.

Major progress on the path to sustainability

As an energy-intensive company, SCHOTT aims to achieve climate-neutral production by 2030. To that end, the company reached important milestones in the past fiscal year, including successful laboratory tests with hydrogen – a technology that will now be tested further in large-scale production this year. SCHOTT has also committed to the SBTi climate protection initiative, joined the United Nations Global Compact, and, with grant funding from the German Federal Ministry for the Environment and Climate Protection, plans to build its first electric melting tank for pharmaceutical tubing in Mitterteich, Bavaria by 2026. This clear commitment to greater sustainability was recognized with two German Sustainability Awards, including first place in the special Climate Transformation category.

Outlook: Maintaining stability while driving innovation

Building on a 140-year history of innovation, SCHOTT continues to focus on developing novel materials and products that advance science and industry. Specialty glass from SCHOTT not only enables breakthroughs in extremely sophisticated consumer electronics and technologies such as augmented reality but is a key partner in the development of future applications in the semiconductor industry, particularly those needed for the AI revolution.