Breakthrough in rail cable

The difficult market conditions in the telecommunication segment weighed heavily on sales of components for radio base stations and the Fiber Optics business. Major telecom companies slowed down the expansion of mobile phone networks and postponed the introduction of new technologies in order to reduce heavy debt. In addition, technical problems and the lack of demand for specific mobile phones delayed the development of UMTS infrastructure. In Fiber Optics, the cautious approach of numerous large companies and organizations towards IT projects also had a negative impact. Thanks to product innovations and close collaboration with key customers, the HUBER+SUHNER Group was able to further enhance its market position despite the adverse market conditions. An excellent result was achieved in the rail cable business, where the HUBER+SUHNER Group is now starting to reap the rewards of its efforts over many years to expand the market and has become the leading provider in Europe. Sales in this market segment jumped more than 30% year on year. The auto cable business also registered a promising business trend, with several new customers gained during the year under review.