B. Strautmann GmbH u. Co. KG in Bad Laer closed the business year of 2009 / 2010 on 31.07.2010. Due to the worldwide decline of the milk prices and the sales crisis resulting therefrom, the past business year was closed with a drop in sales of 19.5% to 50.6M €, the drop in sales on the national market (11%) being more moderate than on the international market (35%).
On the one hand, the drop in sales is due to the worldwide economic crisis, on the other hand the stocks of finished goods which the trade accumulated in the previous years during the international boom phase were reduced in the course of last year.
The management seized the crisis as an opportunity to further push on important restructuring measures already initiated before. Thus, no staff in the strategically important segments of sales and construction had to work short hours in spite of the drop in sales, whereas production staff could temporarily not be spared.
Despite the drop in sales and the implementation of important restructuring measures, a moderate profit could be made in the past business year. The current order situation is very encouraging such that we are expecting a growth in sales of approximately 15% for the coming business year.
Pioneering new developments in the strategically important product segments of fodder mixing vehicles, forage trailers and manure spreaders are particularly supporting these expectations.
Thus, the CFS system which considerably contributes to efficient practical use of the forage trailer, will be introduced in the complete silage trailer range next year.
In 2010, the first European universal spreader with plastic bottom was presented to the public. This design allows reduced dead weight combined with maximum corrosion resistance.
On the occasion of the Eurotier 2010, Strautmann presents the first self-propelled concept to the public which picks up fodder depending on its ingredients. For the first time, it will be possible to adapt the fodder rations daily to the actual demand of the animals which will have a decisive influence on cost effectiveness in dairy farming.
