Pre-tax losses rose 23% to 3m (EUR4.3m) for the three months to 31 March on sales up 7% to 175m well below target. New orders increased 34% to 210m. 

KBA's web and special press division achieved new orders of 92.2m, a rise of 63.2% on the previous year. Sales of 77.1m, up 13.5%, fell short of the target.

Orders for sheetfed offset presses increased 17.4% to 118m, with overall sales of 98.1m a rise of 2.3%.

The firm reported sales to date at Drupa of "a few million euros", with orders for sheetfed presses surpassing the levels enjoyed at Drupa 2000.