Group sales in the first six months, though up on the relatively weak figure for 2004, will fall short of the Euro1.5bn target for 2005 (2004: Euro1.42bn). KBA anticipates a pre-tax loss for the first half-year, figures for which will be released on August 12. However, Bolza-Schünemann stated that the group is on course to post a higher annual pre-tax profit than in 2004 (Euro15.9m). Alongside stronger sales this will largely be driven by a higher output and a more profitable product mix in the second half-year.
Reporting on KBA’s diverse business activities, Bolza-Schünemann revealed that continuous dynamic growth by the sheetfed offset division in Radebeul, near Dresden, since 1993 has moved the group up into second place behind Heidelberg in the German press manufacturing league. KBA is also a major global player in other key markets, eg for newspaper, publication gravure and security presses. But for Bolza-Schünemann the group’s greatest achievement in 2004 was a return to profit by its web and special press division – an achievement that would have been nigh on impossible without some radical remedial action which included the closure of assembly plants in Berlin and Kusel.
