KBAs sales for the first six months of the year were up to 292m (E473.5m) from 240m.


The firm recorded a profit of 12.7m to June, up from 7.2m last year.


Sales of web presses were up 42%, accounting for 146m. This included the 18m deal with Scottish Media Group for two Colora presses and the 12 Commander presses sold to the Mediaprint Publishing Group in Vienna.


KBA investor relations manager Jan Stradtmann said: We had some very big newspaper contracts, which have given us a good order income. Orders for sheetfed presses increased 46.8% to 200.5m, helped by the popularity of the Rapida.


Drupa was KBAs most successful exhibition of all time, with over 195m of orders taken. Stradtmann said sales for the second half would not be as high, but added: Over the whole 12 months we should show growth of around 10%.