Despite the challenging framework conditions in the international supplier markets and the risks due to the corona pandemic, Stemmer Imaging was able to benefit from the ongoing market dynamics through good delivery performance and consistent price and cost management. Bottlenecks were cushioned by measures in procurement and warehousing. Incoming orders increased to EUR 162.1 million, 42.4 percent more than in the same period of the previous year (2020: EUR 113.9 million) and 35.8 percent more than in the same period of 2019 (2019: EUR 118.6 million). This results in a book-to-bill ratio of 1.2 compared to 1.1 in fiscal year 2020.

Sales increased by 26.1 percent to 130.1 million euros and were thus significantly higher than in the same period of the previous year (2020: 103.1 million euros) and at 9.7 percent also significantly above the pre-crisis level of 2019 (2019: 118.6 million Euro).

The fourth quarter of 2021 again recorded a strong order intake, which at EUR 40.9 million was 25.5 percent higher than in the same quarter of the previous year (Q4 2020: EUR 32.6 million). Sales in the final quarter increased by 18.7 percent compared to the same period last year. The book-to-bill ratio was 1.3. EBITDA increased by 53.1 percent year-on-year to EUR 4.9 million (Q4 2020: EUR 3.2 million).

Due to the change in the accounting method for trading in standard software in the annual and consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, the reported sales growth compared to 2020 increased by 0.3 percentage points compared to the previous valuation. As a result of this change, which is based on the specification of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) that has taken place in the meantime, Stemmer Imaging classifies the aforementioned sales as agents and therefore only reports them in the amount of the gross margin achieved.

Stemmer Imaging was able to grow significantly faster than the market, both in terms of incoming orders and sales. The Association of German Machine and Plant Manufacturers (VDMA) reported a 22.0 percent increase in incoming orders and a 16.0 percent increase in sales for industrial image processing in the past financial year. Due to its broad application-related and regional positioning as well as its successful positioning in strategic growth markets, Stemmer Imaging was able to record large growth both in the sports and entertainment sector and in the industrial sector such as e-mobility.