The Germany-based Reifenhäuser Group has reached a new sales record, closing the 2011-2012 financial year at another all-time sales high. Total sales were more than €450 million, beating out record results posted the previous year.

According to executives, all of the group’s business areas were able to report double-digit growth, despite weakening markets. Success was partially attributed to a significant increase in demand for extrusion equipment in Asia and South America.

Growth is expected to continue. “After a rather weak spring, we are experiencing now a clear revival of the market,” says Ulrich Reifenhäuser, board member. “We can still see great potential in the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China) countries—not least because of a growing hygiene market in these regions.”

Within nonwovens, the company’s Reifenhäuser Reicofil division has benefitted from a global expansion in spunbond and spunmelt technology that is being driven by expected growth in the global hygiene market, particularly in South America, the Middle East and Asia.