For the third quarter ending 30 June, the Belgian software developer's profits hit 2.1m, an increase of 105.4% on the same period last year. The firm's turnover also rose 17.2% to 7.9m.

The Drupa order intake beat expectations at 2.2m, against a cost for the show of 366,000. The company reported more than 3,000 visitors to the stand.

The company said that the Drupa launch of its pre-press workflow Odystar, and the Certified PDF product, which provides an audit trail with full file history, had "created a major impact".

The workflow alliance between KPG and Artwork announced at the show is also expected to make a positive impact on the firm's balance sheet, with more than 1.3m in orders forecast for the coming year.

The firm has also upped its total profit forecasts for the financial year to 8.7m, compared to a previous figure of 7.5m.

Artwork Systems chairman Guido van der Schueren said that he was "delighted" with the Drupa results, but added that "the real impact will be felt in 2005."

Story by Josh Brooks