AMF hopes for a turnaround after a decline in sales

In 2024, Andreas Maier GmbH & Co. KG (AMF) recorded a decline in turnover of more than eleven per cent to 45 million euros. The weakness of the economy in Germany caused a significantly sharper decline here compared to other EU countries. Turnover also fell sharply in China. There is hope coming from Eastern Europe and the USA, with slight growth, and India, where sales increased. Business in Turkey developed encouragingly. The business areas of locks and merchandise also performed positively. Despite the difficult economic environment, AMF continues to rely on its core workforce, which has been maintained. The company, based in Fellbach, expects a slight recovery in 2025. Process optimisations, developments for AI applications and a new logistics centre should further future-proof the company.

“After the record year of 2023, we have to cope with an 11 per cent drop in sales in the difficult year of 2024,” emphasises Johannes Maier, managing partner of Andreas Maier GmbH & Co. KG in Fellbach. “We were unable to compensate fully for the weakness in mechanical and automotive engineering with other business areas.” We were able to contact Johannes Maier by telephone at the trade fair in Bangalore, India, which is an indication of the importance of the country for the medium-sized company.

Weak mechanical and automotive engineering – constant construction industry

In 2024, AMF has achieved a turnover of 45 million euros and must therefore cope with a decline of 11.4 per cent compared to the previous year. The decline was particularly drastic in the mechanical engineering and automotive sectors, in which AMF, with its clamping technology and fixture construction, is one of the global technology and market leaders. Only a slight decline was recorded in the merchandise with the products of screws and clamps. And in the original area of the company, founded in 1890, locks for construction projects in the outdoor area, the family company was even able to keep the sales figures constant.

From a geographical point of view, the figures vary greatly. While sales in Germany fell disproportionately sharply, the decline in the EU countries with the core markets being France, Austria and Italy, as well as in Switzerland, was less severe. In Eastern Europe, the figures remained stable, which is an indication that many companies have relocated their production to the east. Sales in Turkey even increased due to the large state investment programme in the aviation sector. Outside Europe, the USA and South America recorded slight increases. Business in China was significantly weaker, whereas India showed a positive development with growth just below expectations.

AMF aims to return to a growth path by 2025

Despite massive cost-cutting measures, AMF has kept its core workforce. And the traditionally high training rate was also maintained in 2024. With modern and flexible working models, the company aims to remain attractive for skilled workers. Andreas is cautiously optimistic about 2025. With process optimisations in production and a new, state-of-the-art logistics centre that will be inaugurated in July, the Fellbach-based company intends to brace itself against a further downturn despite the gloomy economic outlook. Investments in innovative AI applications should also help. For the current year, the managing director is aiming for a turnaround towards renewed growth and a turnover of 48 million euros.