Jason Sandefur

Strong global demand pushed Bossard Group’s sales up 15% to 497 million Swiss francs (US$429.2 million) in 2004. Full-year profit for the Switzerland-based fastener firm more than doubled to 18.4 million Swiss francs.
While North American sales increased 15%, steel shortages and an inability to pass on increased costs hurt regional earnings, Bossard reported. Sales in Europe improved 12%, driven by “substantial additional market share.” Bossard said it made gains in Eastern Europe, including the Czech Republic. Asian sales grew more than 30% to 42 million Swiss francs, including a 50% gain in China and a more than 60% improvement in Korean sales.
Bossard CEO Henry Bossard was killed in a plane crash during a holiday trip to New Zealand in December 2004. The company named CFO David Dean to head the group. Web: bossard.com �2005 FastenerNews.com