EMEA
Kati ter Horst, Divisional CEO EMEA, talks about the resilience of the business
“2022 was a challenging year in the region but our teams demonstrated great resilience and we’re excited to deliver on our Growth with Purpose strategy. We have a strong focus on innovation and sustainability for the benefit of our customers.”
Divisional CEO EMEA
Aliaxis, has a long-standing presence in the European market under the Aliaxis name, as well as a series of well-established brands – Nicoll in France, Marley and Friatec in Germany, Jimten in Spain, GPS in the UK, FIP and Redi in Italy.
Market conditions were tough in the region in 2022, as inflationary pressures and high energy prices continued to impact us, exacerbated by the Russo-Ukrainian war.
After a strong start to the year, we saw a significant slowdown in demand in the second half, mainly in the building sector and due to destocking by some of our distributors. Our teams showed great resilience in the face of these challenges which led to a rise in revenues but a fall in our current EBITDA for the region.
Navigating tough market conditions
Revenue
Current EBITDA
Continued investment
We continued to invest in growth despite the difficult trading conditions, and our purchase of Lareter, a leader in Italy’s industrial sector, was a standout transaction for the group in 2022. It allows us to offer customers a wider range of advanced solutions in the industrial segment in line with our strategic goal to provide complete solutions across our entire product range throughout Europe.
Focus on innovation and sustainability
We are working ever more closely with customers to create new solutions, with a focus on innovation and sustainability. We were delighted to relocate our R&D to a new state-of-the-art research hub near Paris, equipped with additional customer co-creation space and focusing on water technologies and plastics recycling.
Our transition to renewable electricity is gathering pace in the region, with the Netherlands and Poland now amongst the leading countries globally.
How we deliver
Discover how we are accelerating the pace of change
Action! with Katie
Discover how Katie Johnson, Sales Operations Manager - UK, puts our behaviours into Action!
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A poem of thanks
One Ukrainian refugee used a poem, presented to our CEO Eric Olsen, to say thank you for the support and love shown by our colleagues in Poland.
Read moreColleagues in Poland have shown amazing solidarity with people forced to flee the conflict in Ukraine, hosting 50 refugees and providing full time jobs for 13 of them.
Solar ambition
We’ve fitted solar panels to the roofs of our two Spanish plants in Alicante and Okondo, but are aiming for self-sufficiency, expanding on-site solar and, ultimately, looking to build or purchase a dedicated solar farm.
Setting the pace in Poland
The Olesnica plant in Poland is setting the pace on gender diversity, with women making up 43% of the workforce. Between 2016 and 2021, Aliaxis Poland’s sales doubled through product innovation and by entering new markets. It’s making great strides on using recycled material and is a leader on renewable electricity.
Aliaxis Germany – making safe connections
Using open-wire technology, our Friatec range (including Friamat electro-fusion device) in Germany has invented an optimum way to join polyethylene pipes safely. Said, done, connected.
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Spain – working with customers to build a real e-commerce solution
We’re transforming how we sell to customers with a new, e-commerce platform, designed in collaboration with our valued distributors. The portal, realised in just one year, will improve the buying experience, free up our sales and customer teams and can easily be applied across other Aliaxis markets.
A unique solution for a unique museum
Abu Dhabi’s new natural history museum will use our unique Vulcathene chemical drainage system.
Read moreMega infrastructure
In the east of England, we’re working with Anglian Water, on Europe’s single largest water infrastructure project.
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Know that you’re safe at work
A new digital tagging system is making our facilities in the Netherlands safer for staff and visitors.
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The power of customer intimacy
Aliaxis UK demonstrated the power of customer intimacy on an important new project in Glasgow, Scotland.
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A great partnership
We have accelerated our partnership with Aliaxis. We are pretty much aligned on our strategy for building and water preservation. A great example is the complete sanitary offer made of recycled material and with eco-friendly packaging, developed with us and exclusively for Leroy Merlin.”
Marjorie Scholz
Offer Manager Plumbing department, Leroy Merlin
Modular Building – don’t DIY, we’ll do it for you!
Our new modular dry riser solution is aimed at the fast-growing modular building market, currently worth €65 billion.
Read moreExtending our reach
Our new advanced warehouse in Hungary, serving 10 countries in six languages, is extending our reach to customers in south-eastern Europe.
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Building resilient supply chains
Our teams have leveraged their market knowledge and long-term supplier relationships to work their magic, enabling us to overcome multiple supply challenges. In a new normal, with high market volatility, procurement is the wizard behind the scenes helping us boost resilience further.”
Sophie Rabec
Head of Procurement & Sourcing
Lareter – building our core strengths in Europe
The acquisition of Lareter, a leader in Italy’s industrial sector, enables us to offer complete customer solutions.
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