Because of the prompt initiation measures during the economically hard financial year of 2009, Schindler was able to increase their net profit relative to that of the previous year by 3% to CHF 653 million. In the escalator and elevator business, the operating profits rose by 7.5% to CHF 962 million, and EBIT margins increased from 10.2% to 11.6%. After a previous year’s loss of about CHF 11 million, ALSO was able to attain a profit of about CHF 15 million, and this was despite the special amortization charge of about CHF 11 million, in the year that was reporting.

In this economically harsh environment, consolidated operating revenue has fallen by 9.5% to CHF 12,691 million in the year that is reporting. In the local type of currencies, the decrease was one of 5.9%. Consolidated operating profit despite all has increased by 9.6% to CHF 974 million, because of the measures that were initiated promptly in both of the business segments to make up for the effects of the economic downturn. After the restructuring costs and a amortization charge that totaled altogether CHF 44 million after taxes, net profit still reached CHF 653 million.

The consolidation or the order backlog at CHF 6,341 million was caused by the escalator and elevator business, and this saw only a slight decline of 0.9%. The number of hired personnel in the Group fell by 3.6% down to 43,437 employees.

The number of orders received was CHF 8,418 million, a decline of 9.1% when compared with the previous year. The fourth quarter brought an order intake that rose up by 7% to the same quarter of the year before. The slight drop in the orders that were received mainly affected the installations business in Spain, the UK, the US, Australia and some Eastern Europe markets. The operating revenue fell by 5.5% to CHF 8,281 million. Because of the measures that we initiated quickly, the profit from operating rose by 7.5% which equaled CHF 962 million, and the operating margin overall improved from 10.2 % to 11.6 %.

Despite a loss of about CHF 11 million the year before and regardless of a amortization loss of CHF 11 million for their discontinuance of the old GNT name ALSO returned to profit as they earned CHF 15 million in the year that was reporting.

From May to October 2010 the Shanghai World Expo will showcase exhibits on the theme of “Better City, Better Life.” With 55% of the world’s population living in urban settings, the focus will be on improving the quality of life for people with “dignity, good health, safety, happiness and hope.” (As manifested by the United Nations Habitat II document). Schindler is the company responsible for displaying those themes while moving the crowds of visitors in China’s National Pavilion, and on Expo Boulevard. This will be accomplished through the use of 94 escalator lifts and powered walkways.

The main exhibition space of the Chinese pavilion is a raised 484,000 square foot base, topped by a traditional Chinese roof of interlocking beams. The pavilion is accessed by ten Schindler escalators to lift people to the podium, and traversed by two moving walkways. Two of the escalators are 60 feet long.

Expo Boulevard is a kilometer long travelway on three levels which connects the Expo pavilion area with the Shanghai subway and abuts the Huangpu River. The boulevard will be the primary means by which people move around the site. Environmentally sound technology will be showcased along its length, including six large funnels which refract sunlight to the two underground levels, and collect rainwater. The boulevard is being equipped with 80 Schindler escalators to facilitate the movement of the anticipated 70 million visitors to the Shanghai International Exposition.

Other global events which have benefitted from Schindler’s expertise in moving people are: the Beijing Olympics (2008), the World Expo Zaragoza, Spain (2008), the Athens Olympics (2004) and the Sydney Olympics (2000).

The Schindler Group is headquartered in Switzerland, and was the first (1980) industrial western nation to join China in a joint business venture. Schindler China now has four factories, three training facilities and a research and development center. The Schindler Group provides mobility products in over 140 countries, and is the leading supplier of escalators, worldwide. They are the second largest manufacturer of elevators. Schindler is known for ecologically sound, safe and reliable products. More than 900 million people ride a Schindler mobility product every day.