Industry News

Hilti Group achieved sales growth of 12.1% to nearly CHF 6 billion (approximately €5.8 billion) in 2021 and increased the operating result disproportionately by 16.3% to CHF 847 million. The strong recovery brings the Group back to the pre-Covid-19 crisis level.

Hilti Group again invested strongly in innovations and launched 66 new products and services on the market. Expenditures for research and development reached CHF 373 million (+4.2%), equal to 6.2% of sales. Regarding the number of employees, the temporary hiring slowdown in 2020 was followed by a significant expansion of the team to a total of 31,115 employees (+5.3%) per end of 2021.

Despite significantly higher raw material and transport prices, both the operating result and the net profit increased disproportionately, by 16.3% and 27.1%, respectively, and reached all time highs of CHF 847 million and CHF 675 million.

The worldwide construction industry forecasts point towards a favourable business environment in 2022. There are, however, significant uncertainties due to the escalation in Ukraine, ongoing cost increases and challenges in the sourcing and logistic markets, the substantial appreciation of the Swiss franc and the uncertain progress of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Nonetheless, the Group remains dedicated to its strategic targets and will take advantage of its very solid financial position to continue to invest significantly in innovative solutions and the digitalisation of company processes, with a focus on expanding the software business. In 2022, Hilti Group anticipates double-digit sales growth and a profitability of 2 - 3 percentage points below the 2021 level.