Zeiss announces record-breaking annual revenue

The German medical technology manufacturer reported increased revenue for all strategic business units and regions in the 2017/18 financial year, reaching euro 1.28 billion (AU$2.02 b), up from euro 1.19 billion (AU$1.88 b) the year prior. The performance of the medical division bolstered the entire Zeiss Group’s results, contributing to the company’s overall record-breaking revenue and earnings for the 2017/18 financial year.In the Americas, Carl Zeiss Meditec’s revenue rose 7.5% to euro 406.5 million (AU$642.3 m), largely due to continued gains in the US market. In the Asia Pacific region, the Chinese and South Korean markets were the main contributors behind a 10.7% revenue increase to euro 496.3 million (AU$784.2 m).“We achieved our sales forecast, which we had already raised in July 2018 – in spite of negative currency effects,” president and CEO of Carl Zeiss Meditec Dr Ludwin Monz said.“In fiscal year 2017/18 we gained further market shares in both ophthalmology and microsurgery. What is particularly encouraging is that all regions and business segments contributed.”Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) rose to euro 197.1 million (AU$311.4 m), versus euro 180.8 million (AU$171.8 m) the previous year. The EBIT margin rained stable at 15.4%.The company’s strategic business unit Ophthalmic Devices increased its revenue by 6% to euro 933.3 million (AU$1.47 b), while its laser systs business for vision correction and the diagnostics unit progressed significantly. Zeiss also noted continued solid dand for prium and standard intraocular lenses for the treatment of cataracts.Meanwhile, revenue in the Europe/Middle East/Africa region increased by 4% to euro 378.1 million (AU$597.4 m). Development in the core German and French markets was stable, while the British, Southern Europe and some Eastern European markets also recorded positive growth.Alongside the announcent of its results, Carl Zeiss Meditec launched a new astigmatism managent syst designed for a more precise toric workflow. The Zeiss IOLMaster 700 with Total Keratometry is said to produce precise biometry measurents, while the Zeiss Callisto eye Markerless toric IOL alignment features improved alignment precision compared when compared to manual marking.