Plus of 15 per cent

Bosch completed the 2005 financial year in its garden division with sales growth of 15 per cent for a total of € 143 mio. Germany accounted for 16 per cent of this sum. Growth was spread across all product segments, reaching a double-digit level in almost all countries. The company names the Rotak electric lawnmower as its most significant growth vehicle. According to further information, Bosch retains its position as European market leader for hedge clippers and shredders. Uwe Raschke, chief executive of the Power Tools division, said that this year again he is expecting "above-average rates of growth in spite of the slow start". During a press conference the company announced its intention to apply lithium-ion battery technology to garden tools as well now, and included the introduction of two new tools of this type in the presentation. This means there will be a new grass and hedge trimmer called Isio and two models of the Rotak mower running on lithium-ion batteries from 2007.