In the first half of 2014, German filtration specialist MANN+HUMMEL achieved sales of 74 million euros, an increase of more than 5.6 percent, reaching 1.39 billion euros (13.2 billion euros in sales during the same period last year). Excluding the impact of exchange rates, MANN+HUMMEL sales increased by 8.3%. Relying on steady development, MANN+HUMMEL once again won this honor after being named the leader of the global filtration market by the US market research organization Freedonia in 2012. At the same time, the German Patent and Trademark Office (DPMA) listed MANN+HUMMEL as one of the “50 most active domestic patent applicantsâ€. Mr. Manfred Wolf, president and general manager of MANN+HUMMEL stated: “Our sales growth has been accelerating compared to last year. However, compared with the established Hongyuan target, our performance is still not as good.†Mr. Wolf believes this reason. This is mainly due to continuing competitive pressures and conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine. The sanctions imposed on Russia will have a negative impact on the economies of almost all EU countries, which will in turn affect the development of the global economy in the second half of the year. This effect must not be underestimated. It is expected that the economic growth will slow down throughout the year. For the whole year of 2014, MANN+HUMMEL is cautious and optimistic. Mixed market performance “The strong development momentum of the US automotive market in recent months is very beneficial to us. In South America, the situation is exactly the opposite. The markets in Argentina and Brazil have a downward trend,†said Mr. Wolf. China is the main driving force in the Asian market. In China, the strong demand of the automotive market and the strong network layout of the five major production bases of MANN+HUMMEL have allowed the company to achieve a balanced development in all areas. According to the economic barometer of the VDA (German Automotive Industry Association), the EU countries most affected by the economic crisis, such as Portugal, Spain and Greece, achieved double-digit strong growth in the number of new car registrations. The recovery of these economies has brought MANNOHMANN a growth driver. "Our subsidiary's business needs have grown significantly, making sales in these countries rise and fall," Mr. Wolf introduced. Actively respond to price and competitive pressure MANN+HUMMEL has begun to plan a grand growth strategy to cope with global price and competitive pressures. Mr. Wolf said: “In our newly released 2022 strategy, innovation and focus on filtration business are extremely important parts. At present we have made great progress in both areas.†In February 2014, Mann The Hummel Group acquired Vokes Air, a supplier of top-quality filtration solutions focused on ambient air and process winds in Svenyonga, Sweden. The general trend of air purification has become a driving force in the field of ambient air and process wind, which is increasingly important in medical and industrial applications (for example, to achieve indoor cleaning requirements). Vokes Air has been using the MANN+HUMMEL VOKES AIR trademark since its acquisition. In addition, at the upcoming Frankfurt Auto Show and at the Hannover Commercial Vehicle Show, MANN+HUMMEL will present the most advanced filtration technology to existing and potential customers. Previously, in 2013, the German Patent and Trademark Office once again listed MANN+HUMMEL as one of the "50 most active domestic patent applicants." MANN+HUMMEL submitted 231 applications last year, proving the company's ability to innovate. . Establish leadership The strategy of focusing on filtration business brought positive recognition to MANN+HUMMEL: In the summer of 2014, the independent market research organization Freedonia once again named MANN+HUMMEL as the leader of the filtration market. Freedonia believes that MANN+HUMMEL ranked first in the global filtration application market. According to the latest report of Freedonia, in 2013, the global filtration market was worth 45 billion euros, and the annual growth rate is expected to increase to 6.2% in 2018. Freedonia sees China and India as strong drivers of growth. At present, MANN+HUMMEL has developed well in these two countries. It is expected that in 2019, China will replace the United States as the largest independent filtration market, and in 2020 China will successfully replace Western Europe. 
Manfred Wolf, president and general manager of MANN+HUMMEL