Total turnover for 2016 totalled EUR 484 million, with exports accounting for three quarters of that figure.

Positive developments in the fields of ventilation and drive technology have contributed towards this year's result. Peter Fenkl, chairman of the executive board, explained: ''Customers are taking to our energy-saving products extremely well in every market.''

Ziehl-Abegg traditionally generates its growth organically. As an industrial company with a high degree of vertical integration, this poses a significant challenge, especially since the order intake has increased by 15 percent from 2016.

Commenting on Ziehl-Abegg's plans for the remainder of the year, Mr Fenkl continued: “We are looking forward to the inauguration of our new building for manufacturing energy-saving EC motors and fans.”

The first machines are to be moved a few kilometres away to the production plant in the Hohenlohe Industrial Park by the end of the year. Ziehl-Abegg is expanding its Kupferzell plant in the Industrial Park which is located directly on the A6 European main traffic artery. This will bring additional advantages in terms of logistics and delivery times. A total of EUR 28 million will be invested in buildings and modern machinery.

The exceptional volume of orders means that, despite improvements in production, there will be a significant increase in the number of employees required. However, in view of an extremely low unemployment rate in the region, increasing the size of the workforce will be a slow process. At present, 3,700 people are employed by the company, with the majority of them working in the production plants in southern Germany.