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.

Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city is to be supplied with 339 escalators and elevators for their newly developing major subway system by Schindler. The 22km Kadikoy-Kartal line would provide an important travel system for the Asian half of the city that is highly populated.

Booked last year, this contract covers 272 escalators and 67 elevators that are to be installed in the 16 stations along the Kadikoy-Kartal line. These installations are expected to be completed by the end of 2010, after which the system is to be handed over to the city officials at the end of March 2011.

The lengths of these escalators range between three and twenty meters and are constructed with special features and materials like stainless steel landing platforms and balustrades that protect the structures from the elements. While most of the doors are installed with glass balustrades, some of them have steel on one side and glass on the other side.

This new metro line would provide a transport system for their mostly populated region, namely the Asian half of the city. It would make their commute safe, clean, effective and with less delay. This line would also serve as a connection to the European side of the city, where most of the jobs are situated.

The Turkey General Manager at Schindler, Mete Zadil is pleased and honored to work with contractor Avrasya Metro Grubu on this massive transportation assignment. He believes that the Kadikoy-Kartal subway line would aid and enhance mobility and help the people gain access to occupations and services located at the other side of the Bosphorus strait.

Istanbul accounts for 27% of national GDP and has a population of 13 million. The new line being constructed is part of a major expansion project that aims to reduce congestion within Istanbul and improve their transport system. In the past, Schindler has supplied escalators for the main airport in Istanbul and for stations at another metro line that runs under the Bosphorus.

With their headquarters in Switzerland, the Schindler Group is regarded as the leading global mobility provider. Present in more than 140 countries, this company specializes in the design, manufacture, installation, service and modernization of elevator and escalator systems for almost all types of buildings. They support the sustainable urban development by providing safe, reliable and ecologically friendly mobility solutions.

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.

Elevator and Escalator Company Schindler celebrated after the launch of two brand new cruise liners equipped with 76 Schindler elevators and escalators from the Genoa shipyard of Fincantieri.

The two cruise liners are the latest additions to the Costa Crociere fleet and were named Costa Pacifica and Costa Luminosa. Both ships are 290 meters long but the The Pacifica is the larger of the two ships, at 114,000 gross tonnage and has the capacity to hold 4,118 passengers and crew. Movement board the ships 14 decks is easy with 60 elevators to hand which includes three hydraulic platforms for disabled access.

“We are proud to have equipped these two new liners,” says Francesco Delton, the head of Schindler’s marine unit. “Schindler is now present on almost every Costa ship, thanks also to our preventative maintenance service.”