The group remains confident that its earnings for the full financial year will exceed the 50m recorded in 1999-2000, despite reporting pre-tax earnings down 47% to 20.2m (E32m) in the first half. Sales fell 8% to 610m year-on-year.
New orders increased 4% to 738m, even when taking into account the orders received at Drupa last year.
Web press orders grew 19%, but the sheetfed business reported a 13% fall. Although some of this was attributed to the Drupa effect, a spokesman said sheetfed was viewed as a replacement, rather than growing, sector of the market.
New orders in the groups trade and services sector, which accounts for all of its non-press and ancillary businesses, grew by 10%.
Capital expenditure increased by 3% to 19m, which involved the expansion of the new DICOweb assembly plants and parts centre. The DICOweb also received a Graphic Arts Technical Foundation InterTech Technology Award for 2001 during the period.
In the Far-Eastern sector, expenditure also went on establishing a new sales company, MAN Roland China, set to generate 15% of sales.
Staff numbers increased by more than 400, rising to 10,652.
Story by Andy Scott
