Despite the jump in incoming orders to more than 480m (e720m), the group expects to post a loss for the period to the end of June 2004.

Sales at around 340m will be only slightly higher than last year, due to changes in shipping and invoicing schedules.

Higher shipments in the second half of the year were anticipated to lift group sales to 933m, the highest in the firm's 187-year history.

This was down to increased orders for sheetfed presses, and orders for web presses that had previously been on hold being confirmed.

The latest figures followed KBA's announcement in April of a net loss of 20m for the year to 31 December 2003, the company's first since 1993.