In the first quarter of 2010, Solar A/S’ revenue amounted to just under DKK 2.5 billion (€ 329.3 million) and EBT amounted to DKK 16.5 million (€ 2.2 million).
The group, which is based in Kolding, is continuously working to attain a position as the leading technical wholesaler by widening the product range and technical competency within electrical, heating, plumbing and ventilation products in the four main markets Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden and Norway.
Among other things, this will take place through ten company programmes within the focus areas Growth, Efficiency and People. One important programme is Climate and Energy, where Solar sees great potential in energy optimisation, especially in relation to the CO2 reduction stretching until 2020.
- We intend to fully utilise any future potential and market opportunities within the energy area in the years until 2020. We have the technology, knowledge and solutions at our disposal, which will contribute to the required reduction of the energy consumption and, hereby, the CO2 emission, CEO Flemming H. Tomdrup stresses.
And interest in the group’s new knowledge centre, Solar Explorium, in Vejen has also been overwhelming. Since its opening on 1 October last year, some 3,000 guests have visited the knowledge centre, which is directed at end-users, contractors, advisors, suppliers and manufacturers.
In Solar Explorium, energy management is demonstrated in practice through the most recent technologies and energy-efficient solutions within electricity, plumbing and ventilation, which reduce energy consumption by half compared to the traditional solutions while comfort and flexibility increase. The building holding Solar Explorium is approved as energy class 1 and hereby meets statutory requirements which will not become effective until 2015.
The Solar Group was hit by the financial crisis relatively late and is currently working its way slowly out of the crisis. The cold weather played a large role from mid-December and until mid-April, resulting in low activity in several markets. Activity levels in industry are increasing at this point, but have not yet had an effect on Solar in the areas of investments or maintenance, repair and operation.
In the intervening period, Solar has continued the implementation of Lean as a leading culture and has created remarkable results through the standardisation of processes. Efficiency and job satisfaction in the organisation have increased, just like the customers have been ensured better deliveries and service. Great acclaim has been received for this effort and most recently, the Confederation of Danish Industry gave Solar the productivity award 2010.
You can contact CEO Flemming H. Tomdrup on +45 4034 2900 for further comments.
You can contact Corporate IR & Communications Manager Charlotte Risskov Kræfting on +45 4034 2908.
Solar A/S (previously Aktieselskabet Nordisk Solar Compagni) was established in 1919 and listed on the Copenhagen Stock Exchange in 1953. Solar is one of Northern Europe’s leading technical wholesalers within electrical, heating, plumbing and ventilation products. The group, which is based in Kolding, Denmark, has subsidiaries operating under the Solar brand in Denmark incl. the Faroe Islands, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, Germany and Poland. Furthermore, Solar’s Aurora Group operates in Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland. Solar is Denmark’s forty-first largest company measured on revenue, and it employs a total of 3,000 people. Denmark remained the enterprise in which Solar has the most employees with 29% of staff, while the Netherlands is now our largest foreign subsidiary, representing 24% of staff. For more information, please visit www.solar.eu.
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