The German press manufacturer said investment by the global print industry had finally showed signs of picking up and predicted substantially higher sales and earnings next year due to increased production at its web press factories. It also thought that next Mays Drupa should stimulate sales.

For the nine months to 30 September, KBAs order intake rose 10.4% to 596m (EUR854.3m). Sheetfed orders rose 13.2% to 336m, while orders for web/special presses rose 7%.

However, the groups sales dropped 18.6% to 565m, mirroring the trend also reported by Heidelberg and MAN Roland this week. Sheetfed sales fell 5.7%, while sales of web/special presses fell by almost 30%.

KBA made a pre-tax loss of 28.5m, compared to a profit of 25m this time last year, and a net loss of 18.3m (2002: 350,000 profit).

It attributed the loss to lower business volumes, a big increase in R&D costs in the build-up to Drupa, and restructuring provisions for its web press plants.

KBA agreed additional pay cuts with staff at the end of the last quarter, while it will close its Kusel web assembly plant at the end of this year.

KBA still thinks its sales for the full year will be at least 840m, but it expects to make a double-digit loss.