Domino Printing Sciences reports initial signs of recovery

Domino Printing Sciences has reported that order intake for its inks and other aftermarket products is approaching levels experienced during the first half of 2008, "pre the global financial crisis".

On release of the results, the group's share price increased 4.6% to 297p.

The inkjet developer said that like-for-like sales had dropped 9% since 30 April; this compared with a 19% decline at the half-year point.

Revenues from new equipment sales fell 5%, with the company citing customers deferring their capital expenditure plans until they have "greater certainty about their own prospects".

Earlier this year, Domino Printing Sciences took over Portuguese distributor Labeljet and its subsidiary Marque TDI.

The business, which is a sales and service operation that offers a range of coding and marking equipment, was acquired for an initial €4m (£3.56m). This helped the company push its sales up 4%.

Elsewhere, sales revenues from Domino's fluids and consumables division were 7% below the same period last year.

In the four months since the release of the company's half-year figures, Domino had generated cash of £6m, with net cash at the end of August at £17.6m.

As a result, the inkjet developer said it expects the business to perform "in-line" with its expectations.