Even without major European newspaper press sales, KBA’s sales results are well ahead of last year’s, with a 39 per cent increase in group order intake. The company says it is on course to meet 2010 targets following a successful consolidation in 2009 and a group order intake of 489 million Euros, up 39 per cent on last year. This was largely due to continuing buoyant demand in China, and to upturns “on a greater or lesser scale, and with substantial regional deviations”, in other parts of Asia, the Middle East, Russia, western Europe and the USA. Orders for delivery this year total more than 500 million Euros, putting the group on course to achieve its sales target of more than 1.1 billion Euros for 2010. Sales figures to July were a good four per cent above the prior-year figure of 452.8 million Euros. Both in the press engineering industry as a whole and at KBA sales usually tend to be higher in the second six months, the company says. KBA’s sheetfed division was first to benefit in the second quarter as the print media industry “perked up” after almost two years of slack demand. At the beginning of June its Radebeul production plant returned to normal capacity after more than 18 months of short-time work. Capacity at KBA’s other facilities was utilised to ensure that the double-digit jump in orders on hand work was processed on schedule. In the second quarter business also picked up strongly at KBA’s web and special press division, which builds large multi-unit press lines. After six months the order intake was well up on the previous year, although major orders from Europe for newspaper presses will not be reflected in the bottom line until the third quarter.” Earnings improved in the first half-year as the benefits of last year’s root-and-branch consolidation gained traction,” says a spokesman. The management board will issue an updated projection for 2010 when the half-yearly report is released on 13 August.