Bosch Power Tools held their own in a competitive 2019, the firm revealed in its 2019 financial statement.
Overall Bosch sales hit €77.9 billion euros, on a par with 2018, but down 1.1% when taking into account currency effects.
The steep decline in automotive (particularly in China and India) and a weak economy held back growth, while the firm noted its broad diversification had a stabilising effect.
Bosch's Consumer Goods business sector saw sales at €17.8 billion, down 0.2% or 0.6% after exchange rates.
The BSH Hausgeräte and Bosch Power Tools divisions "held their own in a strong competitive environment, with Bosch Power Tools performing above average", the group said.
2019 Power Tools highlights included a revamp of its 18 million seller Ixo screwdriver and the "world's first quick-change angle grinder" X-Lock.
The Industrial Technology business sector achieved sales of €7.4 billion euros, up 0.1% on 2018, despite a marked decline of over 4% in orders in the mechanical engineering sector. Adjusted for exchange-rate effects, sales fell 1.2 percent.
Looking ahead, Bosch expects global economy growth of just 2% in 2020. Another global player citing the trade situation between the USA and China and Brexit as slowing the global economy, Bosch said it will be a challenging year but that it will "work rigorously on our profitability".
Firmly focused on future-tech and future-mobility, Bosch is among those looking to 5G to "turbocharge" manufacturing.
