Osram's sales performance was helped by the strong dollar as turnover soared by 18% to 4.3 billion euros in the year to September 2000.
While currency influences accounted for 10% of this growth, a 9% volume increase added to the strong performance despite a 4% decline in prices.Philips Lighting has followed Osram's lead by opting for a central European distribution centre.
The acquisition of Motorola's electronic control gear business and the first year of the new semiconductor venture were also influencing factors.
Electronics is becoming increasingly important for Osram and current turnover in this area has reached 25% of the total (up from 22%). By the year 2005, Osram expects that figure to climb to more than 50%.
Osram's president Wolf-Dieter Bopst described the UK as "not exciting" and "price sensitive and lagging behind mainland Europe in its adoption of energy efficient lamps."
Philips is to close its UK distribution centre in Northampton. Orders will now be met directly from a warehouse in Villeneuve St George, Paris.
Source
Electrical and Mechanical Contractor
