Daetwyler : 30. March 2017, Datwyler planning new centre of expertise for distribution brands

30. March 2017

Datwyler intends to set up a new centre of expertise in its Technical Components division. The centre is planned to be built in Manchester and will centrally steer product, supplier, purchasing, e-commerce and marketing management for the high-service brands Distrelec/Elfa, which share a management team, and for all markets covered. By gathering these functions in one place, Datwyler aims to significantly increase the quality and productivity of Distrelec/Elfa's proposition delivery, boosting the range of prod-ucts and services on offer to customers. In future, Distrelec/Elfa aims to mark itself out as the high-service distri¬butor with the most customer-friendly service packages and shortest response times with a focus on maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) as well as on automation.

As a result of developing the new centre of expertise, Datwyler intends to no longer manage locally its various product, supplier, purchasing, e-commerce and marketing functions. Around 90 jobs across four sites in Sweden, Germany, Switzerland and Italy are expected to be affected by the changes. The con-sultation procedures required by law have already begun in the various countries. Among other things, the planned severance scheme includes plans to provide the employees affected with hands-on support as they look for new jobs. Datwyler expects to pay around CHF 10 million in non-recurring costs. The local sales functions and the warehouse for the Swiss market will not be affected by the planned organisational changes. Distrelec/Elfa will continue to serve and supply their customers in all their mar-kets without interruption and with their usual reliability. The decentralised structure of the high-service distributor Distrelec/Elfa is the result of several acquisitions over the years.

Datwyler Group (www.datwyler.com)
The Datwyler Group is a focused industrial supplier with leading positions in global and regional market segments. With its technological leadership and customised solutions, the Group delivers added value to customers in the markets served. Datwyler concentrates on markets that offer opportunities to create more value and sustain profitable growth. The Sealing Solutions division is a leading supplier of custom sealing solutions to global market segments, such as the health care, automotive, civil engineering and consumer goods industries. The Technical Components division is one of Europe's foremost high-service distributors of maintenance, automation, electronic and ICT components and accessories. With a total of some 50 operating companies, sales in over 100 countries and more than 7'000 employees, the Datwyler Group generates annual revenue of more than CHF 1'200 million. The Group has been listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange since 1986 (security number 3048677).

Enquiries: Guido Unternährer, Head of Corporate Communications, +41 41 875 19 00

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Financial Calendar: Interim Report 11 August 2017