Dräger´s safety division develops, produces and markets products, system solutions and services for personal protection, gas detection technology and integrated hazard management. Its customers come from industry, mining and public sectors such as fire departments, police and disaster protection. The portfolio includes stationary and mobile gas detection systems, personal protective equipment, professional diving systems, alcohol and drug testing devices, a varied range of training and services and also projects such as entire fire training systems.

Demand for safety technology products developed very positively overall in 2011 in line with global economic developments, even though demand in Germany declined slightly in the second half of the year compared to the first half. In the rest of Europe, demand was sometimes subdued due to factors such as the financial and economic crisis. Both public and industry order volumes were rather low in South Europe. The Americas also developed very differently: In the US, on the one hand, public and industrial demand for safety technology was very weak, just like the economy. Various South American industrial sectors, on the other hand, recorded robust growth. In Asia, excluding Japan, growth remained strong as a whole. The other countries region also developed positively on account of the continuing industrialization and further infrastructure investments in various countries. Overall, Drägerʼs safety division, with its clearly positioned product portfolio, also profited from the positive market performance.

In 2012, Dräger expects performance in safety technology markets to be cautiously positive with regional differences and for it to be impacted by the weakened global economy. Various forecasts predict that Germany will be overshadowed by the crisis in the eurozone in the first half of 2012. The DIW, however, anticipates for the economy to grow in the second half of the year, meaning that growth would be slightly positive in the full year. In the rest of Europe, the continuing tense situation in South Europe is likely to dampen demand, while in other parts of Europe such as Scandinavia demand is expected to develop positively. Russia is also expected to continue showing momentum as it is about to join the World Trade Organization (WTO). The Americas region, on the other hand, will develop cautiously, with exception of the oil and gas production and mining sectors. The forecast for Brazil, for instance, is only moderate growth compared to the strong previous years. In view of the reduction of public funds due to rising sovereign debt as well as increasing unemployment in the industrial sector, demand in the US is likely to be subdued. After the strong previous years, the Asian markets are expected to calm down. In China and India, for instance, the markets are anticipated to grow moderately. In some smaller markets like Thailand and Vietnam, on the other hand, sector-specific growth is being forecast. In the other countries region − in South Africa, for example − demand is expected to rise in various sectors due to investments in modernizations and the expansion of production volumes. All in all, Dräger forecasts a solid performance in the safety technology markets − in a changed general economic environment.