Germany's Bosch posts sharp growth in tool sales

The German-based company is a leading producer and supplier of braking components, ABS (antilock braking system) modulators, diesel common rails and injectors, and windscreen-wiping systems to car manufacturers and a distributor of automotive after-market parts. It also distributes power tools and security systems.

Chaiyaporn Ratanachetkul, general manager of the power-tools division, said Robert Bosch Thailand witnessed 10-per-cent growth in revenue last year. This was a result of its launch of 20 new products, including cordless drills and drivers, rotary drills, rotary hammers and marble saws.

This year the company expects a 13-per-cent surge in revenue due to increasing demand from property developers with many construction projects in the pipeline, in turn partly driven by the expansion of Greater Bangkok's mass-transit network.

consumer awareness

Thai consumers are also more aware of the innovation, quality and durability of Bosch's power tools and household tools, he said.

Sales from individual customers account for about 70 per cent in this division, while the rest are from the business-to-business segment.

The key strategy this year is focused on a branding campaign for Skil power tools, as well as introducing garden tools next month.

Chaiyaporn said revenue from his division in Thailand alone contributed at least 4 per cent of total income in the Asia-Pacific region.

Early this year, Martin Hayes, president and managing director of Robert Bosch (South East Asia), said Thailand was the largest contributor to the company's approximately Bt20 billion sales in this region, with about 33 per cent.

Last year, Robert Bosch Thailand |generated sales revenue of Bt6.8 billion, the highest since the unit's formation in 1991.