Semperit Group on an expansionary course with conveyor belts: Successful launch of an energy-saving conveyor belt

Vienna, Austria, 25 February 2013 – The Semperit Group has accelerated its growth in conveyor belts through innovative products and expansion of sales activities in the growth markets of Asia and South America. The latest product innovation - a newly developed energy-saving conveyor belt - has already been launched successfully. The energy-saving conveyor belt developed by Sempertrans, a segment of the Semperit Group, is characterised by a new rubber compound. Through the use of this compound, the frictional drag of these belts can be reduced significantly compared to conveyor belts of conventional composition. System operators can save up to 25 percent of the energy typically used for the operation of conveyor belts.

The successful market introduction of energy-saving conveyor belts underscores the first bulk order. Sempertrans will deliver approximately 30 km of conveyor belts to the Polish energy company PGE. This product allowed Sempertrans to win the world's largest single contract ever awarded for energy-saving conveyor belts. The potential energy savings in the operation of these belts will be up to 45 million kWh per year, depending on the workload and operating time. This corresponds to roughly the average annual consumption of 10,000 households in Western Europe.

"The demand for raw materials is increasing worldwide, and with it the demand for our belts as part of an intelligent transport and logistics chain," says Thomas Fahnemann, Chairman of the Semperit Group: "The recent successes in Poland and Chile prove that we are well positioned with our innovative products."

About Semperit

The publicly listed company Semperit AG Holding is a group operating internationally, which develops, produces and markets highly specialised products made of rubber and plastics (examination and surgical gloves, hydraulic and industrial hoses, conveyor belts, escalator handrails, building construction profiles, cable car rings and railway superstructure products) in the Medical and Industrial Business Sectors. The headquarters of this long-standing Austrian company, which was founded in 1824, are located in Vienna, and the global R & D center is in Wimpassing, Lower Austria. The Semperit Group employs about 9,500 people, including more than 7,000 in Asia and more than 700 in Austria. The group has 22 manufacturing facilities worldwide and numerous sales offices in Europe, Asia, and America. In fiscal 2011, the group generated sales of EUR 820 million and an EBIT of EUR 83 million.

About Sempertrans

With production facilities in Poland, France, China, and India, Sempertrans is one of the largest and most technologically advanced conveyor belt manufacturers in the world. The portfolio includes belts with both fabric and steel cord carcasses, which perfectly fit the requirements of their respective fields of application. These range from underground and surface mining, to heavy industry and shipping ports. Conveyor belts from Sempertrans are distinguished worldwide for their high reliability and long life. Thanks to customised production, they also impress with versatility. Sempertrans serves customers from design, through manufacturing and installation, to maintenance, and is represented worldwide by a production and distribution network with expert partners for service and systems design. Through an increased presence in emerging markets in Asia and Latin America, Sempertrans will continue to profit from the strong demand for raw materials and energy.