Finance · AI
Taizhou, China, Oct 20, 2026 - On October 13, 2026, the "Lutian Global Energy Partner Conference 2026," hosted by Lutian Machinery Co.,Ltd.(605259.SH), took place in Taizhou, Zhejiang. The event featured a tour of the company’s production facilities, thematic forums, the launch of comprehensive solar-plus-storage solutions for diverse scenarios, and the signing of strategic partnership agreements. Over 200 key distributors and partners from countries around the world participated, joined by industry experts who engaged in discussions on new energy market trends, technological pathways for solar-plus-storage, and global collaboration. The summit showcased LUTIAN’s full-spectrum solar-plus-storage capabilities—encompassing inverters, batteries, integrated solar-plus-storage units, and commercial/industrial energy storage systems—and introduced an upgrade plan for the company’s global service network.
Production Base Tour: Showcasing Manufacturing Systems and New Energy Production Lines
During the conference, attendees visited LUTIAN’s Taizhou production base, touring the product showroom, the smart energy center, and the energy storage manufacturing facility. The tour included stops at precision assembly lines, automated quality inspection stations, and mass-production units for energy storage products, demonstrating to global partners how LUTIAN has expanded its manufacturing ecosystem from general power equipment to solar-plus-storage solutions.
LUTIAN operates four major R&D centers—located in Taizhou, Shanghai, Chongqing, and Suzhou—along with a CNAS-accredited national laboratory and a laboratory operated in partnership with TUV. With over 300 proprietary intellectual property rights, the company possesses a robust R&D foundation that drives the continuous iteration and advancement of its solar-plus-storage product portfolio.
Showcasing Technical Capabilities: From Technology Accumulation to Solution Implementation
At the conference, LUTIAN systematically presented its solar-storage solutions for the global market, covering four major categories: energy storage inverters, energy storage batteries, integrated photovoltaic and energy storage systems, and commercial and industrial (C&I) energy storage systems. The power range covers 500 W to 250 kW, and the energy storage capacity ranges from 1 kWh to 5 MWh.
This series of products targets diverse scenarios such as home energy storage, outdoor operations, emergency backup power, and small commercial and industrial applications, featuring modular design, flexible capacity expansion, and plug-and-play capabilities. LUTIAN stated that the company has accumulated extensive technical patents in core components such as inverters, BMS, and EMS, and uses AI to optimize energy scheduling and improve system operating efficiency.
LUTIAN also revealed that it is laying out next-generation energy infrastructure along the main line of power electronics, expanding into areas such as AIDC intelligent computing center integrated power supply and SST solid-state transformers.
Market Assessment: Global Energy Storage Demand Shows Structural Growth
During the conference, LUTIAN shared its assessment of the global energy storage market from an industry perspective. The company believes that demand for residential energy storage remains strong in high-electricity-price regions such as Europe and North America, while regions with weak power infrastructure, such as Africa and Southeast Asia, have a rigid demand for emergency backup power and off-grid solutions. The global energy storage market is showing a trend of structural growth.
This assessment aligns with LUTIAN’s own business performance. In full-year 2025, the company’s energy storage business achieved revenue growth of 347.93% year on year, and its second growth curve is accelerating its formation.
Global Footprint: Focusing on Overseas Markets and Upgrading Service Networks
In terms of market strategy, LUTIAN has clearly prioritized overseas markets, continuing to deepen its presence in key regions where it holds a competitive advantage.
In response to the industry trend toward the commoditization of photovoltaic energy storage hardware, LUTIAN has announced an upgrade to its global service network, shifting the focus of competition from product performance to service capabilities and long-term asset value. The company is advancing the development of its service system across four dimensions: digitalization, localization, standardization, and normalization.
LUTIAN has pledged to uphold its partnership commitments—characterized by efficient responsiveness, transparent processes, a focus on empowerment, and shared risk—while leveraging a service system that spans the entire product life cycle as its core competitive advantage.
Signing of Cooperation Agreement: Reaching a strategic partnership intent with key partners
During the conference, LUTIAN reached a strategic cooperation agreement with a key strategic client, and an on-site signing ceremony was held. The partnership will focus on areas such as expanding into the new energy market, developing distribution channels, and promoting products.
At the conference, LUTIAN reaffirmed its long-term partnership positioning: for partners already operating within the new energy sector, LUTIAN provides support rooted in shared technological origins, an unwavering commitment to quality, and end-to-end supply chain delivery capabilities; For partners who have yet to enter the new energy sector, LUTIAN is prepared to share its resources—including technology, manufacturing capabilities, certifications, and market access—to help facilitate a smooth transition from traditional power sources to new energy solutions.
About LUTIAN
Founded in 2002 and listed on the Main Board of the Shanghai Stock Exchange in 2021 (stock code: 605259), Lutian Machinery Co., Ltd. is an enterprise dedicated to the R&D, manufacturing, and sales of general-purpose power machinery, high-pressure washers, and new energy storage products. The company operates four R&D centers—located in Taizhou, Shanghai, Chongqing, and Suzhou—as well as five production bases, with products exported to over 100 countries and regions worldwide. In recent years, LUTIAN has accelerated its strategic deployment in the solar-plus-storage sector, building an end-to-end energy ecosystem that encompasses power generation, storage, and consumption. Its energy storage business is rapidly emerging as the company’s second growth curve.
Company: Lutian Machinery Co.,Ltd.
Contact Person: Dillon Wang
Email: zkk@chinalutian.com
Website: https://www.chinalutian.com/
Telephone: +86-576-82620999
City: Taizhou, Zhejiang, China
Oct 20 · 09:30·ACN Newswire
AI · Retail
New Report values the market at $11.82bn in 2026, with operations and supply chain the leading application and Asia Pacific growing fastest, though stitching together physical and digital data remains a stubborn problem for Oracle, Salesforce, SAP and Adobe
New Report values the market at $11.82bn in 2026, with operations and supply chain the leading application and Asia Pacific growing fastest, though stitching together physical and digital data remains a stubborn problem for Oracle, Salesforce, SAP and Adobe
Oct 20 · 09:05·GlobeNewswire
SaaS · Education
KFC is bringing new investment to Zambia, with more locations, world-class operational expertise and hundreds of jobs.
With 17 restaurants across Lusaka and the Copperbelt, and 25 more in the pipeline, KFC is making a long-term commitment to Zambia and demonstrating its confidence in the country’s future growth.
Streetwise is the platform making KFC accessible and relevant to everyday Zambians across all income levels.
Local leadership, skills transfer and local supply chain development are central to KFC’s long-term presence in Zambia.
KFC (http://KFC.co.za) is launching a new growth phase Pa Zed, showing up bigger, bolder and more locally rooted than ever before.
The brand is bringing significant investment, an expanded restaurant footprint, and a commitment to becoming part of Zambian culture and everyday life.
And Streetwise is central to the story, as the platform that makes KFC accessible and relevant to everyday Zambians across all income levels. It’s how KFC moves beyond being an occasional treat to becoming part of how Zambians live and make their way.
“Zambian consumers are resourceful,” says Akhona Qengqe, KFC Africa General Manager. “They make a plan, they make a little go a long way, and they keep moving forward. Streetwise is us saying: we respect that hustle. We’re built for your life, not the other way around."
Qengqe says KFC’s investment in Zambia is about confidence in the market and in the brand’s ability to be relevant to Zambians. “Streetwise is how we earn that relevance. It’s not about competing on price alone, it’s about building a brand Zambians turn to as part of their everyday life,” she says.
Expanding Pa Zed
KFC currently operates 17 locations across Zambia: 13 in the Lusaka area (including the new KFC Mazabuka, which opened in September) and four in the Copperbelt region.
The pipeline of 25 new restaurants tells a much bigger story. As well as several more locations in Lusaka, residents of Chingola, Solwezi, Livingstone and Kapiri Mposhi will soon have new KFCs. A further 12 identified sites will expand the brand’s footprint across the country.
Qengqe says every new restaurant creates about 30 jobs, about 60% of which usually go to women. “But a job at KFC isn’t just a job. It’s an opportunity, especially at a moment like this when KFC is making clear its long-term ambitions in Zambia,” she says.
“Our commitment is to develop experienced local teams and create pathways for talented Zambians to advance.”
South African team members supporting some restaurants are there for only one reason, says Qengqe: to transfer expertise and strengthen Zambian operations. “The goal is clear: build restaurants led by Zambians, managed by Zambians, rooted in Zambian communities.”
Embedded in Africa
With about 1,600 restaurants across 22 sub-Saharan markets, and the ambition to increase that number to 3,000 by 2035, KFC Africa is deeply embedded in the continent’s economic fabric.
“In Zambia specifically, we’re aggressively developing local supply chains to strengthen the agricultural sector and empower local businesses,” says Qengqe.
“We’re committed to building supply ecosystems that reduce dependence on imports and create lasting prosperity, and this new chapter in Zambia is an expression of that promise.”
Today, more than ever before, KFC is Zambia. Get the taste.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of KFC Africa.
About KFC Africa:
At KFC Africa, we feed more than hunger, we feed potential. Every meal served is part of a bigger purpose: creating a seat at the table for everyone and ensuring that potential isn’t just seen, it’s nurtured. That commitment comes to life through initiatives that make a measurable difference. Our Streetwise Academy, backed by Services SETA accreditation, equips team members with skills to thrive across frontline leadership, HR, and operations, achieving a 75% promotion and retention rate that proves the power of investing in people. Initiatives such as the Ikusasa Lethu scholarships and youth potential programmes across Africa open pathways to education, livelihoods, and brighter futures.
With over 40,000 team members powering our business, KFC Africa is proud to be an employer of choice, officially certified as a Top Employer across Africa for excellence in people practices, leadership, and workplace culture. This recognition reflects our commitment to cultivating careers, fairness, and integrity while serving millions daily. Because when individuals rise, families strengthen. Communities grow. Nations transform. That’s the undeniable impact we are proud to serve.
Oct 20 · 08:36·APO Group
Industrial · Logistics
Schneider Electric reveals water is now one of the biggest risks to industrial business, ranking as highly as cyber-attacks & supply chain disruption
Oct 20 · 07:31·GlobeNewswire
SaaS · Energy
President Hakainde Hichilema has warned mining companies against holding mineral licences for speculative purposes, saying Government will enforce a “use it or lose it” policy to ensure Zambia’s mineral wealth contributes to economic growth and job creation.
Speaking at the 2026 Zambia Mining and Investment Insaka in Lusaka today, President Hichilema said Zambia’s target of producing three million metric tonnes of copper annually could be achieved by unlocking stalled mining projects, expanding operations and increasing exploration across all provinces.
He cited the revival of Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) and the Konkola Deep Mining Project (KDMP) as key developments, saying stakeholders had agreed that the mine should contribute 300,000 tonnes towards the national production target.
The President urged mining companies to move beyond conventional corporate social responsibility initiatives, arguing that employment, skills development and contracts for local businesses offered greater long-term benefits to communities than isolated donations.
He cited Lumwana Mine and the US$1.3 billion S3 expansion at Kansanshi Mine as examples of projects incorporating local contractors and young people into mining operations, manufacturing and supply chains.
Mr. Hichilema also highlighted the Kitumba Greenfield project in Mumbwa District, which was unlocked after years of litigation, as an example of how resolving investment bottlenecks could stimulate provincial economic activity.
He said Government had invested nearly US$100 million in a nationwide, high-resolution geophysical mapping survey covering Zambia’s 752,000 square kilometres to reduce exploration risks and attract investment.
On regional cooperation, President Hichilema called on Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Botswana to establish cross-border joint ventures and harmonise standards in critical minerals and energy.
He said reliable electricity generation, shared transmission infrastructure and an open-access energy market were essential to supporting deep-level mining and mineral beneficiation, which adds value to minerals before export.
The President urged the three countries to strengthen regional partnerships and build the scale needed to compete in global mineral markets.
Speaking at the same occasion, Botswana’s Minister of Minerals and Energy, Bogolo Joy Kenewendo, called on African countries to move beyond exporting raw minerals and invest in local processing, manufacturing and technology to retain more economic value on the continent.
Ms Kenewendo, who represented Botswana President Duma Gideon Boko, urged Botswana, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to strengthen regional integration and invest in shared infrastructure to develop mineral-based industries and regional value chains.
She said Africa had for too long exported raw materials while other economies captured the benefits through processing, manufacturing and technological advancement, adding that the model could no longer define the continent’s economic future.
Ms Kenewendo noted that Botswana, which had built its development foundation on the responsible management of diamond resources, was diversifying into copper, base metals and critical minerals.
She said the move was intended to position Botswana and the wider Southern African Development Community (SADC) region as leading global mining jurisdictions, while promoting industrialisation, job creation and greater regional economic cooperation.
Democratic Republic of Congo Minister of Mines Louis Watum Kabamba said Zambia and the DRC shared the copperbelt stretching between Kolwezi and Ndola, with significant deposits of copper, cobalt and other minerals critical to the energy transition.
He said mining success should be measured not only by production and exports, but also by the jobs, infrastructure and skills generated within local economies.
Mr Kabamba urged the two countries to pursue complementary industrial development rather than compete unnecessarily, citing the proposed battery and electric vehicle value-chain project linking Musompo and Ndola.
He also called for investment in reliable rail infrastructure to ease truck congestion at border crossings, particularly Kasumbalesa, alongside stronger cooperation in geological research, mineral traceability and efforts to curb illicit mineral trade.
He stressed that regional industrialisation and shared prosperity depended on peace, stability and respect for national sovereignty.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House, The Republic of Zambia.
Oct 20 · 07:24·APO Group
Real estate · Fashion & luxury
AMSTERDAM, October 20, 2026--Regulatory News: CTP, Europe's largest listed owner, developer and manager of logistics and industrial real estate by gross lettable area (GLA), has signed a lease with Pepco, a leading European values retailer offering clothing for the whole family, as well as household go
Oct 20 · 07:00·Business Wire
SaaS · Healthcare
Today, plant scientist Pamela Afokpe, R&D Operations Manager at East-West Seed (www.EastWestSeed.com) West Africa, accepts the 2026 Norman Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application at the World Food Prize Foundation in Des Moines, Iowa.
Endowed by the Rockefeller Foundation, the Borlaug Field Award honors exceptional on-the-ground scientific achievement by individuals under 40. Afokpe is being recognized for her pioneering work in transforming African indigenous vegetables, historically dismissed by the formal seed sector, into high-performing, commercial opportunities for smallholder farmers.
Afokpe accepts the honor on the same Des Moines stage where her mentor, the late Simon N. Groot, founder of East-West Seed, received the World Food Prize in 2019. This marks a continuation of East-West Seed's legacy on that stage seven years later.
Bridging world-class genetics and last-mile field impact
Despite feeding millions for generations, indigenous crops like Gboma (Solanum macrocarpon), Amaranth, and Jute Mallow (Corchorus olitorius) have suffered from decades of institutional underinvestment. Operating from East-West Seed's research hub at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture campus in Benin, Afokpe challenged the industry assumption that indigenous crops were commercially unviable. When skeptics argued that smallholders would only recycle farm-saved seed, Afokpe demonstrated that farmers relied on saved seed due to a lack of improved commercial alternatives, not preference.
Beginning in 2017 in a rented field with manual irrigation, Afokpe built the regional research platform from the ground up, collecting over 2,000 regional crop accessions across West Africa. Concurrently, while leading regional operations, she secured a competitive Wageningen Graduate School Sandwich PhD scholarship with Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands. Her academic research has yielded published peer-reviewed findings on the genetic diversity and pest resistance of Jute Mallow, bridging advanced plant biosystematics with field-level breeding.
Her primary commercial breakthrough, the Sika Gboma variety, introduced intermediate tolerance to Bacterial Wilt (Ralstonia spp.), a pathogen causing historic field losses of up to 100%, alongside extended post-harvest shelf life.
Championing "opportunity crops" and the VACS vision
Afokpe's work directly exemplifies the core mission of the Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS) initiative, a global partnership led by the U.S. State Department, the FAO, and the African Union that champions "opportunity crops" as essential to climate-resilient nutrition and soil health.
Critically, Afokpe recognized that agricultural science only succeeds if it reaches the market. She replaced traditional seed broadcasting with precise nursery management, cutting farmer input costs by 40%. To prove commercial viability, she conducted open-air shelf-life demonstrations directly with female market traders, proving that Sika's reduced post-harvest spoilage translated into higher daily household margins. Market demand grew so intense that female retailers began pre-booking harvests directly on farmers' plots before production even began.
To date, Sika has generated over 3,000 tons of produce equivalent in its first three years, reaching tens of thousands of smallholder farmers and female retailers across West and Central Africa. The breakthrough earned Afokpe East-West Seed's global Platinum Helix R&D Award in 2025.
Inspiring visionary leadership across Africa
Afokpe is a One Planet Fellow recognized for her leadership in addressing climate challenges in agriculture. Balancing field research and doctoral thesis writing while managing motherhood and navigating regional gender stereotypes in agricultural fieldwork, she has become a leading advocate for women across agricultural value chains.
“African indigenous vegetables belong at the center of the global food security map,” states Pamela Afokpe in her acceptance remarks. “By bringing rigorous science to the crops our grandmothers grew, we are proving that smallholder farmers and market women can drive viable, commercial value chains when given access to quality seed genetics.”
“Pamela represents exactly the type of scientist Dr. Borlaug championed: combining rigorous genomic science with tangible, last-mile impact,” noted Prof. Eric Schranz, Chair of the Biosystematics Group at Wageningen University & Research. “Her work has established a fully functioning research platform that is actively transforming indigenous vegetable systems across West Africa.”
Scaling across Africa: A Fortune "Change the World" legacy
Afokpe’s journey was deeply inspired by Simon Groot’s smallholder-first philosophy, particularly East-West Seed's historic decision to make high-quality seeds accessible through small, affordable packages tailored to smallholders. As East-West Seed expands its footprint across West Africa, Afokpe’s leadership as R&D Operations Manager signals the company's commitment to scaling indigenous seed research across the continent.
Her work reinforces why East-West Seed was named to Fortune’s 2026 'Change the World' list, recognizing companies that drive positive social impact through core business strategy.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of East-West Seed.
Additional Link:
https://apo-opa.co/4s9tjC5
Media contact:
digital.communications@eastwestseed.com
About East-West Seed:
For further information, please visit our website: www.EastWestSeed.com
Oct 20 · 06:00·APO Group
Education · Logistics
US-based SME XPO has announced its Global Business Delegations initiative, designed to provide small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), business owners, industry leaders, and eligible management students with an opportunity to experience international business environments, exp…
Oct 20 · 05:18·PR Now
Energy · Aerospace & defense
With inflation making a notable comeback, the energy sector is under scrutiny as rising fuel costs impact various industries, including aviation, delivery services, and trucking. While some sectors may struggle under these conditions, others, particularly those involved in refining, may benefit from stable refining margins and consistent fuel demand. This article examines three U.S. integrated … Continue reading "US Refiners Poised for Gains Amid Rising Fuel Costs"
Oct 20 · 00:18·PressReach
Retail · Food & drink
SINGAPORE, Oct 20, 2026 - CropLife Asia, the regional association representing the plant science industry, today announced the appointment of three new representatives to its Board of Directors: Sergi Vizoso-Sansano of BASF Agricultural Solutions, Subroto Geed of Corteva Agriscience and Sebastià Pons of FMC.
Sergi succeeds Simone Barg as BASF's representative on the Board, Subroto succeeds Brook Cunningham as Corteva's representative, while Sebastià succeeds Rahoul Sawani as FMC's representative. The appointments also coincide with a transition in CropLife Asia's leadership, with Paul Luxton, Head of Asia, Syngenta, formerly VicePresident, assuming the presidency, succeeding Simone Barg.
Sergi Vizoso-Sansano leads BASF Agricultural Solutions in Asia Pacific. He brings nearly 30 years of international experience with BASF across Europe and the Americas. Prior to his current role, he served as Senior Vice President, Agricultural Solutions Latin America, based in São Paulo, and also held leadership roles within CropLife associations in Latin America.
Subroto Geed is President, Asia Pacific, at Corteva Agriscience, having previously served as the company's Head of South Asia. He brings extensive experience in business leadership, commercial strategy and operations across multiple industries and markets. Prior to joining Corteva, he held senior leadership positions across consumer healthcare, nutrition and beverages, with responsibilities spanning business growth, marketing, supply chain management and organizational development. His cross-sector experience brings a valuable perspective on business transformation, strategic partnerships and market development.
Sebastià Pons is the Executive Vice President and President, FMC Eurasia, leading FMC's business across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific from Geneva. He joined FMC in 2017 and most recently served as President for Europe, Middle East and Africa. Before joining FMC, he spent 20 years with DuPont Crop Protection in regional and global roles across Europe and the United States. He has also served on the Board of CropLife Europe.
Paul Luxton has served as Head of Asia at Syngenta since January 2024, overseeing the company's business across key Asian markets, including Southeast Asia, Bangladesh and Korea. He previously led Syngenta's Australia and New Zealand business, having served as Country Head since 2008. With extensive experience in agricultural business leadership and industry engagement, Paul brings a strong understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing agriculture across the region. He previously served as President of CropLife Australia and was Vice-President of CropLife Asia before assuming the presidency.
“We are pleased to welcome Sergi, Subroto and Sebastià to the CropLife Asia Board. Their combined international experience and diverse perspectives will strengthen our work to advance science-based policies, responsible stewardship and agricultural innovation across Asia. We also thank our outgoing Board representatives for their contributions and look forward to working with Paul in his role as President,” said Siang Hee Tan, Executive Director of CropLife Asia.
CropLife Asia extends its sincere appreciation to Simone Barg for her leadership as President of the Board, and to Brook Cunningham and Rahoul Sawani for their contributions as Board representatives. The association thanks them for their service and commitment to its work across Asia.
CropLife Asia Board of Directors
The CropLife Asia Board leadership and company representatives are now as follows:
Paul Luxton, Syngenta – President
Malu Nachreiner, Bayer Crop Science – Treasurer
Subroto Geed, Corteva Agriscience – Secretary
Dai Ito, Sumitomo Chemical – Member
Sergi Vizoso-Sansano, BASF Agricultural Solutions – Member
Sebastià Pons, FMC – Member
About CropLife Asia
CropLife Asia is a non-profit society and the regional organization of CropLife International, the voice of the global plant science industry. We advocate for a safe, secure food supply, and our vision is food security enabled by innovative agriculture. CropLife Asia supports the work of 15 member associations across the continent and is led by six member companies at the forefront of crop protection, seeds and/or biotechnology research and development. For more information, visit us at www.croplifeasia.org.
For more information please contact:
Cindy Lim
Associate Director, Public Affairs & Strategic Partnerships
CropLife Asia
cindy.lim@croplifeasia.org
Oct 20 · 00:00·ACN Newswire
Logistics
To your customers, your frontline workers are your brand: the associate who finds the right size, the warehouse lead who ships the order, the home nurse who checks in. They make up about 80% of the global workforce, yet they’ve been left out of the last decade of workplace transformation. While corporate teams have agents, instant customer data, and connected systems, the frontline often runs on paper checklists and
Oct 19 · 22:00·Salesforce
Finance · SaaS
Through 2031, NORMA Group aims to achieve average annual sales growth before currency effects of 1 to 3%, an adjusted EBIT margin of more than 10%, and cash conversion1 of over 70%
Strategic business units: Mobility & New Energy to strengthen competitiveness, capacity utilization, and cash generation; Industry Applications to drive profitable growth
Sales Push, Footprint optimization, and Transformation aimed at accelerating profitable growth, improving capacity utilization, and reducing structural costs
Disciplined capital allocation focused on financial strength and organic growth; new dividend policy starting in fiscal year 2027 targeting a payout ratio of at least 10% of the adjusted Group Net Income; accompanied by potential share buybacks
MAINTAL, GERMANY - October 19, 2026 - At its Strategy Update in Frankfurt, NORMA Group provides further details on the next steps in implementing its NewNORMA strategy and presents its financial ambition through 2031. Following the completion of major portfolio and capital measures in recent months, the focus is now shifting to operational execution. The three key initiatives to achieve profitable growth and an adjusted EBIT margin of more than 10% are Sales Push, Footprint, and Transformation. These initiatives aim to increase the utilization of NORMA Group's existing asset base through profitable business while reducing its structural cost base. In doing so, NORMA Group is laying the foundation for growth, margin improvement, and stronger cash generation.
Birgit Seeger, CEO of NORMA Group: “With our NewNORMA strategy, we are laying the groundwork for a successful future for NORMA Group. We have a strong industrial foundation that we now intend to leverage even more effectively. To achieve this, we are intensifying our commercial activities, making better use of our production assets, and reducing our structural costs. This will strengthen our competitiveness, increase profitability, and improve cash generation. Our vision is a focused, high-performing NORMA Group – an Industrial Powerhouse for connecting technology.”
Two strategic business units with clearly defined profiles
The NewNORMA strategy is based on the realignment of the two clearly defined strategic business units, Mobility & New Energy and Industry Applications. The two business units contribute to NORMA Group's ambition with distinct value-creation priorities: Mobility & New Energy forms the Group's resilient core business. The realignment of this business unit focuses on strengthening competitiveness, improving the utilization of the existing asset base, increasing profitability, and ensuring resilient cash generation. Industry Applications is the Group's driver of profitable growth. Going forward, the business unit aims to expand selectively into structurally attractive growth markets, tap into additional sources of growth, and broaden NORMA Group's sales base.
NORMA Group is leveraging its existing engineering expertise in fastening, connecting, and fluid-handling technology to develop new fields of application. These include data centers, battery energy storage systems, heat pumps, and household appliances. Additional orders will largely be served using existing production capacity, thereby improving capacity utilization and fixed-cost absorption.
Starting 2027, NORMA Group will consistently align its internal management structure with the two global strategic business units. Under the new SBU-led operating model, both business units will assume end-to-end responsibility for customers, pricing, growth, capacity utilization, and financial performance. By bringing together commercial, operational, and financial responsibility under clear business ownership, NORMA Group is shortening decision-making processes and creating the conditions for faster and more effective execution of the NewNORMA strategy.
More business on a more efficient operating base
NORMA Group is implementing its NewNORMA strategy through three closely interconnected initiatives:
As part of its Sales Push, NORMA Group is intensifying commercial execution, strengthening customer relationships, and systematically winning profitable business to improve the utilization of existing capacity. To this end, Sales and Engineering are working more closely together. The Company is leveraging proven technologies more effectively across new customers and applications and increasingly aligning pricing decisions with the market. Through target costing, required cost structures are defined even before a contract is awarded, enabling the Company to offer competitive prices while maintaining profitability.
Initial successes are already visible: In the first nine months of 2026, cumulative lifetime sales won in the Mobility & New Energy business unit increased by approximately 45% compared with the prior-year period.
In addition, NORMA Group is consistently aligning itself with demand, costs, manufacturing expertise, and customer requirements. In doing so, the company flexibly allocates orders across its global network. This improves plant utilization, reduces unit costs, and strengthens the company’s competitive position in new tenders.
Measures already implemented or underway include the consolidation of manufacturing sites in China, the concentration of production in Mexico, and the closure of a distribution center in Australia, as well as the planned closure of the regional office in Singapore. At the same time, NORMA Group is strengthening its Shared Service Center in Novi Sad, Serbia.
Another key focus is the manufacturing footprint in EMEA. The existing network, which comprises nine production sites, is currently structurally operating below capacity. NORMA Group therefore intends to consolidate production, concentrate manufacturing volumes at fewer sites, and make more targeted use of best-cost locations. By 2031, the company expects these measures to generate an additional annualized EBIT contribution of approximately EUR 20 to 30 million.
In addition to generating more business and improving capacity utilization, NORMA Group is reducing its structural cost base through its transformation program. To this end, the Company is simplifying its organization, reducing complexity, standardizing and automating core processes, and strengthening performance management through clear financial KPIs.
Based on the measures already initiated and the additional measures under the transformation program, as well as the EMEA footprint optimization, NORMA Group expects to achieve total additional annualized EBIT savings of approximately EUR 70 to 90 million by 2031 compared to fiscal year 2026.
Financial ambition through 2031
NORMA Group aims to achieve average annual currency-adjusted net sales growth of 1 to 3% through 2031. Growth momentum is expected to increasingly come from the Industry Applications business unit, while Mobility & New Energy will contribute to the financial ambition primarily through operational improvements.
The adjusted EBIT margin is targeted to exceed 10% by FY3(1). Profitable volume growth, an improved product mix, higher capacity utilization, and a lower structural cost base are expected to drive sustainable margin improvement.
Improved operational profitability forms the basis for stronger cash generation. By 2031, NORMA Group aims to achieve cash conversion¹ of over 70%, supported by disciplined working capital management and capital expenditure.
Okan Celiker, Group CFO: “Our financial ambition is underpinned by clear operational measures that we have already started implementing and will continue to expand systematically. We are combining profitable volume growth and an improved mix with higher capacity utilization, lower structural costs, and strict working capital and investment discipline. This is how we will improve our margins and translate operational improvements into stronger cash flows.”
Disciplined capital allocation and new dividend policy
NORMA Group aligns its capital allocation with strategic priorities, expected returns, and financial performance. Its highest priority is to maintain a strong and efficient balance sheet. In the medium term, NORMA Group targets a ratio of net debt to adjusted EBITDA of up to 1.5x.
Within this framework, the Company prioritizes organic, profitable growth with a clear focus on increasing productivity. This includes, in particular, the continued implementation of the Sales Push and targeted investments in research and development. NORMA Group will only allocate capital where the strategic fit and expected risk-adjusted returns meet its defined value-creation criteria.
The Management Board of NORMA Group has resolved to change the Company's dividend policy. Starting in fiscal year 2027, the dividend payout will target a payout ratio of at least 10% of the adjusted Group Net Income, provided that the Company's economic situation and liquidity position permit. Subject to approval by the Annual General Meeting, the dividend will be paid once a year for the preceding fiscal year.
With the revised dividend policy, NORMA Group will maintain a reliable base dividend while increasing financial flexibility to invest in profitable growth and additionally carry out potential share buybacks. Share buybacks are conducted taking into account the company's financial flexibility and alternative uses of capital.
The presentations from Strategy Update 2026 and further information are available on the Company's website: www.normagroup.com/global/en/investor-relations/publications-and-events/strategy-update-2026
(1) Cash conversion is defined as adjusted EBIT plus depreciation of property, plant and equipment and amortization of intangible assets, less investments from operating business, the change in trade working capital, and cash outflows from income taxes, divided by adjusted EBIT.
Contact
Media
Christian Filipcic
VP Sales Enablement IA & Group Marketing, Corporate Communications
E-Mail: Christian.Filipcic@normagroup.com
Tel.: +49 152 23587192
Investors
Pia-Maria Görner
Director Investor Relations & Corporate Responsibility
E-Mail: IR@normagroup.com
About NORMA Group
NORMA Group is an international market leader in engineered and standardized connecting technology. With around 6,000 employees, NORMA Group supplies customers in over 100 countries with more than 40,000 product solutions. NORMA Group supports its customers and business partners in responding to global challenges such as climate change and the increasing scarcity of resources. NORMA Group’s innovative connecting solutions are used in electric and combustion vehicles, ships and aircraft, in energy and infrastructure systems, in machinery, pharma, agriculture and white goods as well as in buildings. NORMA Group generated sales of around EUR 820 million in 2025. The company has a global network of 19 production sites and numerous sales offices in Europe, North, Central and South America and the Asia-Pacific region. Its headquarters are located in Maintal near Frankfurt/Main. NORMA Group SE is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in the regulated market (Prime Standard) and is a member of the SDAX.
Disclaimer
This press release contains certain future-oriented statements. Future-oriented statements include all statements which do not relate to historical facts and events and contain future-oriented expressions such as “believe,” “estimate,” “assume,” “expect,” “forecast,” “intend,” “could,” or “should” or expressions of a similar kind. Such future-oriented statements are subject to risks and uncertainties since they relate to future events and are based on the company’s current assumptions, which may not in the future take place or be fulfilled as expected. The company points out that such future-oriented statements provide no guarantee for the future and that the actual events including the financial position and profitability of NORMA Group SE and developments in the economic and regulatory fundamentals may vary substantially (particularly on the down side) from those explicitly or implicitly assumed in these statements. Even if the actual results for NORMA Group SE, including its financial position and profitability and the economic and regulatory fundamentals, are in accordance with such future-oriented statements in this press release, no guarantee can be given that this will continue to be the case in the future.
Oct 19 · 21:12·NewMediaWire