The number of associates employed at Bosch in the Netherlands in 2017 remained stable compared to the previous year at nearly 3,800. Bosch thus maintains its position as a major employer on the Dutch job market. “We are constantly looking for technically skilled young professionals. Together with our current employees, they will have the opportunity to support the ongoing transformation process of Bosch to an IoT company”, said Heiko Carrie.
Positive development across all Bosch business sectors
Bosch’s Mobility Solutions business sector registered significant growth in the Netherlands in 2017. Bosch Transmission Technology B.V. in Tilburg is an important contributor to this success. In 2017, the 50 millionth push belt rolled off the production line. Bosch Transmission Technology B.V. also presented the push belt of the future: the Single Loopset Belt (SLB). This push belt makes the continuous various transmission (CVT) more compact and much lighter, generating a higher yield and lower costs. SLB goes into production in 2020. In the Netherlands, advanced driver-assistance systems, and especially emergency braking systems, are very popular. According to the most recent figures, 39 percent of the newly registered cars in the Netherlands are equipped with an emergency braking system. This is one of the highest percentages in Europe. Sales of e-bikes continue to grow: 31 percent of the 957,000 bikes sold in the Netherlands in 2017 are e-bikes. Bosch is taking advantage of this trend as many of the e-bike manufacturers in the Netherlands use the eBike systems of Bosch for their products. The Automotive Aftermarket division introduced the workshop of the future to the Dutch market. Thanks to the software solution “Connected Repair”, all Bosch diagnostic equipment already available at the workshop can be connected: from airco service units to emission analyzers and diagnostic equipment. Bosch Car Service, the network for independent garages, introduced the Bosch Car Service Connect App and the Bosch Connector. Thanks to the connection between the online platform myBoschCarService, the Bosch Connector and the Bosch Car Service Connect App, the driver has 24/7 control over his or her car. In 2017, an AutoCrew garage was for the very first time elected Car Company of the Year (Autobedrijf van het Jaar).
The Industrial Technology business sector’s development was in line with market developments. Bosch Rexroth organized a Connected Hydraulics Roadshow. Connected Hydraulics combines Rexroth’s fundamental knowledge of hydraulics with new insights on the application of hydraulic technology in a digital world. Examples of success stories are extrusion presses running day and night or wheel trencher machines going for maximum productivity. Large infrastructure projects have also been announced or are ongoing. The installation of the driving system for the doors of the biggest Sea lock in the world, the Open IJ in Ijmuiden, is currently under construction. Bosch Rexroth delivers the motion platform solution for a new Renault Dynamic Driving Simulator. It is the most advanced automotive motion simulator ever developed. It incorporates for example new technologies and linear motors.
Robert Bosch Packaging Technology B.V. in Weert, won the German Packaging Award 2017 with the sensor-controlled product detection and adaptivity of the concept machine SVC 1820 BH. The patented sensor-controlled product detection of the vertical form, fill and seal machine is one of Bosch’s industry 4.0 features, allowing to detect the product while it is falling and adjusting the sealing process automatically.
The Consumer Goods business sector also performed well. Bosch Power Tools remains a strong player in the market of professional and do-it-yourself tools. Bosch is continuously expanding its range of cordless tools. It is relying on high-performance batteries to do so. In the professional sector, Bosch introduced the new ProCore 18V series. These batteries are also introduced in the DIY segment. The “NanoBlade” for vibration-free and precise sawing will be available with 18V as well. In the future, users will be able to use a single battery to power household tools, such as vacuum cleaners, in addition to DIY and garden tools. The division also introduced GlassVAC, the first cordless window vacuum from Bosch. The GlassVAC wiper blade has “Power Protection Plus”, an innovative wiper-rubber technology with polymer coating, used in the production of windscreen wipers from Bosch.
BSH Huishoudapparaten B.V. introduces more and more applicances with HomeConnect. This technology allows all appliances to be operated remotely via smartphone or tablet. One example is the Bosch Roxxter, the Bosch powerful vacuum cleaner with HomeConnect. The Roxxter is equipped with sensors that it uses to scan and make interactive maps of its environment. Thanks to the RoomSelect option, it can be given specific jobs as well as instructions about no-go areas.
The Energy and Building Technology business sector registered a slight increase in sales. The former Bosch Security Systems division renamed itself Bosch Building Technologies to reflect the wide range of services and products this division is developing and offering. In 2017, Bosch Building Technologies carried out several interesting new projects, including the implementation of the access control for the event and sports arena MartiniPlaza in Groningen and of a conference system in the city hall of The Hague. As a systems integrator, Bosch Energy and Building Solutions in Hoevelaken offers encompassing concepts for safety and security in high-risk projects for large infrastructures, like industries and airports, but also in small and medium-sized businesses on a regional level. In 2018, the division will roll out a video surveillance solution in the Rat Verlegh Stadion of Dutch soccer club NAC Breda. The Thermotechnology division has noted a growing demand for energy efficient systems, such as heat pumps. ‘Nefit, a brand of Bosch’, introduced the Nefit Energy Bar, a complete climate system for new buildings and renovation. Mounted along the front of the house, this zero-on-the-counter (zero gas consumption) solution includes a Nefit heat pump and all the installation components necessary for the operation of a hot water and air conditioning system. The set can be all electric or hybrid and can potentially run completely on renewable energy created on-site.
Continuous investment in new technologies
Bosch in the Netherlands is preparing itself for the future. Innovative technologies, durability and connectivity are a key focus. The five competence centers of Bosch in the Netherlands, located in Eindhoven, Boxtel, Deventer, Tilburg and Weert, play an important role. Research co-operations with partners from the academic and business world also contribute to new developments. Bosch and the University of Amsterdam (UvA) are cooperating in the field of artificial intelligence by partnering in Delta Lab (Deep Learning Technologies Amsterdam). Ten PhD and postdoctoral students will conduct research at Delta Lab. The aim of this research alliance is to promote stronger exchange between fundamental and applied research through knowledge transfer.
Bosch Group: Global strategy and business outlook for 2018
Bosch is aiming for further growth in 2018, despite the difficult economic climate. After achieving record results in 2017, and in light of economic and geopolitical risks, the Bosch Group expects its sales revenue to grow by 2 to 3 percent in 2018. In the first three months, the sales revenue generated by the company matched the high level of the same period of the previous year, and even increased by around 5 percent when adjusted for exchange-rate effects. “Our company is unequaled when it comes to combining comprehensive connectivity expertise with broad industry and product know-how. This is the Bosch Group’s unique selling proposition,” said the Bosch CEO Dr. Volkmar Denner, speaking at the annual press conference in Renningen. Denner sees improving the quality of life and contributing to eco- and climate-friendliness at the top of Bosch’s agenda: “Our ‘Invented for life’ ethos is our motivation for developing the best possible technologies for environmental protection. We want to help keep people mobile, while improving air quality.” To make even lower emissions traffic reality, the company is making heavy investments – both in making electromobility a market success and in enhancing the combustion engine. Bosch has now achieved a breakthrough in diesel technology: with their new diesel technology, Bosch engineers have succeeded in getting NOx emissions massively down. On average, test vehicles equipped with the enhanced technology already emit no more than 13 milligrams of NOx per kilometer. “There’s a future for diesel. It will remain integral to tomorrow’s mobility solutions,” the Bosch CEO said. More detailed information on these technological advances can be found here.
