The trend that had set in mid-2007 was confirmed
by the end of the year: internationally leading
office and contract furniture manufacturer
Wilkhahn was able to increase the dynamic
growth rates of 2006 even more substantially and
conclude the company's centenary year with
record sales figures. Global consolidated sales
revenues rose by 23.3 percent to EUR 94.6 million.

Bad Münder. Since the figures for 2007 from the
international subsidiaries of the acclaimed
manufacturer from Bad Münder in Lower Saxony,
Germany, have been official, it has been clear that the
centenary year was the best business year so far in
corporate history. Consolidated sales revenues
increased from EUR 76.7 million in 2006 to EUR 94.6
million in 2007. The company's growth rate of 23.3
percent was therefore considerably higher than the
average in the industry.

Whereas there had frequently been fluctuations
amongst the markets in preceding years, virtually all
Wilkhahn markets grew in 2007, both nationally and
internationally. This was due to both the positive
economic situation at home that helped to generate a
growth rate of close to 20 percent in the domestic
market and the generally good economic climate in
Europe that also resulted in clear double-digit growth
rates outside Germany. Taken together with the
increase in sales from Wilkhahn growth markets
outside Europe, the international share of the business
now accounts for 73 percent.

Internationalization, innovation and the growing
importance of conference furniture
Holger Jahnke, Wilkhahn President International
Markets and Joint Managing Partner, lists several
reasons for this outstanding success: "In addition to
the highly positive economic situation, we profit from
the success of our key accounts abroad, to whom we
can guarantee products, consultation and services in
true Wilkhahn quality all over the world. Leading
companies from the insurance and finance sector, but
also industrial companies such as Audi, are using
Wilkhahn products in areas with close customer
contact throughout the world in order to communicate
their approach to design and quality via furniture too."
Besides, new product families, such as the ultra light
Aline multi-purpose chair, had triggered additional
growth impetus, for example in Scandinavia. And last
but not least, the strategic focus on systematically
expanding the segment of high-quality conference
furniture proved to be right. In the meantime, 55
percent of business volume is accounted for by seating
models and table ranges for conference and
communication environments # including an increasing
share of integrated media technology.
"Today, conference environments are increasingly
becoming a window to the world # for the purpose of
looking out and in", says Holger Jahnke by way of e
xplaining the growing importance of this business
segment.

On the way to advancing from a prize-winning
design icon to an international bestseller: the
Aline range, design: Andreas Störiko

More jobs and high investments
Wilkhahn's dynamic growth is also reflected in payroll
figures: in 2007, 66 new employees joined the staff at
the head office in Bad Münder, a further nine positions
are currently waiting to be filled in Germany. The
increase in personnel to the current number of 442 will be
supported by extensive investments in new
technologies, in product development and in new
markets. Wilkhahn President Dr. Jochen Hahne
comments as follows: "In 2008, we will carry out
investments that go well into the seven-digit range. In
so doing, we intend to prepare the way for solid,
further growth that is generated through internal
efforts. Investments in people, manufacturing quality,
in new developments and in further international
markets are the best protection against business
fluctuations."

Reserved optimism for 2008
Wilkhahn management continues to view the business
outlook for 2008 with optimistically but a much lower
level of growth is expected. "Restrained economic
expectations in Germany, highly unpredictable
developments on international finance markets in the
wake of the American real estate crisis and the rising
prices of raw materials and energy urge us as serious
business people to make a conservative forecast.
In 2008 we therefore anticipate moderate growth of 5
percent in comparison to last year", says Holger
Jahnke, who is responsible for Wilkhahn's international
markets.

Start-up in the USA, leadership in terms of
competence and climatic protection as trump
cards

Since January 2008, Wilkhahn Inc. has been ready to
get off the starting blocks in New York in order to
enthuse people in the American metropolis too for
"design made in Germany" à la Wilkhahn. Initial
success with projects there gives every reason for
optimism.

The "Planning guide for conference and
communication environments", just published, is the
second clincher with which the company impressively
underlines its leadership in this field in terms of
competence.

Just released by acclaimed publishers
Birkhäuser Verlag: the "Planning guide for
conference and communication
environments", edited by Wilkhahn

And thirdly, Wilkhahn benefits from a global trend: in
international markets in particular, the significance of
environmentally buildings and products is on the
increase. In addition to the enduring quality of its
products in terms of design and function, this is where
Wilkhahn can score outstandingly not as trailblazer and
winner of many awards, including the German Ecology
Prize, who made ecological responsibility an integral
part of its product range and corporate programme as
early as 20 years ago. For an ultramodern co-generator
to produce both its own electricity and heat has been
operating at head office in Bad Münder since the
beginning of January # powered by renewable raw
materials.

The co-generator for combining power and
heat has ensured environmentally friendly
production since the beginning of 2008.

Press contact:
Burkhard Remmers
Wilkhahn Wilkening + Hahne GmbH+Co. KG
Press + Public Relations
Fritz-Hahne-Straße 8
31848 Bad Münder
Germany
Tel. +49 (0) 5042 / 999 - 169
Fax  +49 (0) 5042 / 999 - 230
burkhard.remmers@wilkhahn.de
http://www.wilkhahn.com/

Matthias Mai
fischerAppelt Kommunikation GmbH
Friedrichstraße 149
10117 Berlin
Germany
Tel. +49 (0) 30 / 726146 - 714
Fax  +49 (0) 30 / 726146 - 244
mm@fischerappelt.de