07.05.2026

Slow start for Alimak

Swedish mastclimber and hoist supplier Alimak has reported a tough first quarter with lower order intake, revenues and profits.

Total revenues declined five percent compared to the same quarter last year to SK1.65 billion (€152.2 million), while order intake dropped 11 percent to SK1.79 billion (€164.6 million).

Pre-tax profit fell 18 percent to SK202 million (€18.6 million) due mostly to the fall in revenues, but also higher operating costs, partly offset by lower financing costs.

Net Debt at the end of the quarter was just under one percent higher at SK2.4 billion (€220.9 million).

Chief executive Ole Kristian Jødahl said: “After five years of several significant global market disruptions, the first quarter of 2026 was no exception. With the war launched in the Middle East, we see renewed global inflationary pressure and investment uncertainty, which are likely to further delay a recovery in the construction market. With our presence in the Middle East region, we experienced some minor local effects in the quarter.”

“The quarter was overall somewhat soft compared with the same quarter last year, which I am not satisfied with. At the same time, the group continued to demonstrate resilience through execution of our New Heights strategy. Order intake was driven down by the weak construction market. With a solid book‑to‑bill ratio of 1.08, we grew the order backlog in the quarter. Revenue was lower year on year, primarily reflecting the weak construction business and temporary negative effects in the Industrial division."

"Facade Access made further progress on its margin improvement, supported by disciplined project execution and a healthier order backlog. Integrated Design Services continued to develop positively, with an increasing share of orders from outside North America. In addition, our focus on infrastructure, refurbishment, retrofit and replacement supported order intake."

“The Industrial division continued to see strong growth and organic order intake but EBITA was slightly lower than recent quarters, driven down by temporary negative mix effects.

“Construction continued to operate in a very challenging market environment. Market uncertainty, including recent geopolitical developments, continued to delay investment decisions and dampen demand for new hoists. Parts, service and rental activities partly offset the weak demand for new equipment.”

“Despite the current conditions, we continue investing in business development and sales, with a continued focus on growth initiatives such as mast climbing work platforms, supported by a growing pipeline of projects.”

“In Height Safety & Productivity Solutions, margins improved and returned to normalised levels. Order intake was softer in the quarter, mainly due to exceptional weather conditions in North America at the beginning of the year and a continued challenging construction market in parts of Europe. Despite this, the underlying performance remained stable and was supported by ongoing improvements.”

“Wind delivered a strong quarter for order intake, revenue and earnings. Close customer relationships and disciplined execution once again underscored the division’s capacity to deliver robust performance and profitability, while ongoing electrification continues to support long term demand in the wind market.”
Looking ahead

“In an uncertain environment, we remain focused on what we can control. Supported by a strong financial position and a solid M&A pipeline, we are actively pursuing acquisitions. With our decentralised operating model and a proven strategy, we are well positioned to further strengthen performance and create long‑term value.”

Vertikal Comment

These numbers are not surprising given the current economic environment, but it is interesting to hear how each division has performed. The company is in fairly good shape to exploit opportunities that could arise over the next 12 months, and it seems keen to do so.

There is not really much to say here, but rather wait and see how it all pans out in quarter two.