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Bosch, a leading global supplier of technology and services, closed the 2021 financial year with consolidated sales of 770 million euros in Belgium, recording strong growth of 18 per cent compared to the previous year. “All business sectors posted positive results in 2021, but sales growth was particularly strong in the Mobility Solutions and Consumer Goods business sectors,” said Patrick Incoletti, managing director of Robert Bosch Benelux.
For the current financial year, due to the global corona pandemic and uncertainties related to the war in Ukraine, Bosch is maintaining a moderate forecast. “Although we expect a challenging year in Belgium too due to the current situation, we remain committed to the local market and its long-term potential,” said Incoletti. “New opportunities are emerging, such as new applications for rubber at Robert Bosch Produktie in Tienen.”
As of 31 December 2021, some 1,400 associates worked at Bosch in Belgium.
The Mobility Solutions business sector experienced good growth in Belgium in 2021. Strong demand from the automotive aftermarket boosted production at Robert Bosch Produktie NV in Tienen. Striving for continuous innovation, the rubber division started producing high-quality vulcanised rubber sheets, which can be used for various applications such as noise and vibration damping in load-bearing structures or sports floors.
Helping independent car companies prepare for the new era of e-mobility is one of the spearheads of the Automotive Aftermarket division, a strong player in the Belgian market. Bosch helps its automotive partners be ready for the era of new mobility with equipment, services and training, including electric vehicle traning and hydrogen powertrain training. In mid-2021, the division also introduced Bosch Brake Specialist, a braking training and support programme.
Bosch eBike Systems continues to grow thanks to smart solutions - like, for example, the eBike Flow app that connects all the functions of the smart system - the drive unit, battery, display and control unit. Recently added are the SmartphoneGrip, a holder for the smartphone on the handlebar, as well as new features on the eBike Flow app, including a navigation and an eBike lock.
After a challenging year in 2020, the Industrial Technologies business sector rebounded in 2021. Bosch Rexroth Belgium celebrates its 50ste anniversary. Starting as a small sales office and repair centre in December 1971, Bosch Rexroth in Belgium has undergone quite an evolution. The portfolio has expanded to include electric drives and controls, axial piston pumps and motors, and linear motion technology and assembly techniques. Today, digital innovations provide multi-technology solutions and far-reaching automation and electrification.
The Consumer Goods business sector performed very strongly, driven by solid online sales. BSH Home Appliances NV opened a Bosch flagship store and a brand new experience centre in Gare Maritime, an energy-neutral location in the centre of Brussels. Both the shop and the experience centre are a meeting place for customers to experience the latest Home Connect appliances. Papillon, the circular economy project that allows families in energy poverty to rent energy-efficient appliances for a small monthly fee, was expanded across Flanders by 2021.
The Bosch Power Tools division continues to invest in the development of AI-based and connected products, such as the smart impact drill that automatically adjusts its performance according to the environment.
The Energy and Building Technologies business sector also posted positive results. Bosch Thermotechnology NV has really caught up in the heat pump market. To highlight its expertise in heat pumps and its commitment to reducing CO2 emissions, Buderus organised a campaign called ‘for the future of the blue planet’. Linked to the campaign was a competition in which a heat pump from Buderus could be won. Buderus committed to plant a tree for every entry in the contest. In February 2022, Budeus employees planted 2,800 trees in the Buderus Blue Forest in Waasmunster.
The Bosch Security and Safety Systems division has been particularly successful in cameras, public address systems and conference systems. These included a conference system in a parliament and a public address system in a prison.
Training and development are a key focus for Bosch. Bosch in Belgium therefore invests in training for its own associates, but also in training for partners who use and sell Bosch products and services, such as heat pump installers, Home Connect appliance sellers or Bosch Car Service and AutoCrew garages.
There is also Young Bosch Benelux, a community for associates under 35 to meet, grow and forge bonds. The aim of this community is to give young associates a voice and let them interact with colleagues of all levels.
Bosch in Belgium, through its Bosch eBike Systems Benelux division, is also a proud partner of CAPITAL and its JOBX initiative, which helps Brussels youth discover and explore new technologies and also helps them enter the job market.
Bosch is pursuing its own climate targets as planned and continues to invest in climate-friendly solutions, especially in recyclable packaging and products. Bosch Home Appliances NV, for example, is a highly committed partner in various refurbishment and recycling programmes in Belgium. Moreover, Bosch aims to reduce CO2 emissions across the entire value chain, from suppliers to customers, by 15 percent by 2020 compared to 2018 - a reduction of 67 million tonnes of CO2 emissions.
In 2021, Bosch achieved significant growth in sales and earnings despite a difficult economy. In the first quarter of 2022, the technology and services provider's sales increased by 5.2 per cent. For the full year, Bosch expects revenue growth of more than 6 per cent and an EBIT margin of 3 to 4 per cent - and this despite the likelihood of significant charges, mainly due to rising costs for energy, raw materials and logistics. “The successful outcome of the 2021 financial year strengthens our confidence in addressing the challenging conditions of the current year,” said Dr Stefan Hartung, chairman of the executive board of Robert Bosch GmbH. One of the major uncertainties is the war in Ukraine and all its implications. According to Hartung, the current situation underlines the pressure on policymakers and society to become less dependent on fossil fuels and to vigorously pursue the development of new energy sources. For this reason, he said, the Bosch Group continues to make systematic efforts to combat global warming, despite challenging economic conditions. Moreover, Hartung announced that Bosch will invest around three billion euros in climate-neutral technology, such as electrification and hydrogen, over a three-year period.
According to him, electrification is the fastest route to climate neutrality, provided it is based on green electricity. This is why Bosch is betting on sustainable mobility: in 2021, the company's electromobility orders exceeded 10 billion euros for the first time. But Hartung stressed that hydrogen is also needed. “Industrial policy should aim to make all sectors of the economy hydrogen-ready.” In the interest of effective climate measures, Bosch is also stepping into the hydrogen electrolysis component business. The company plans to invest nearly 500 million euros in this new business by the end of this decade, half of which will be by the time of market launch, which is planned for 2025. At the same time, the Bosch chairman announced that the company will invest another 10 billion euros in the digital transformation of its operations over the next three years. “Digitalisation also plays a special role in sustainability - and our solutions start from this premise,” Hartung said. This year alone, Bosch plans to recruit 10,000 new software engineers worldwide.
