Agfa clearly exceeded its targets for 2000, with a 61% rise in its new digital solutions sales the most notable contributor to an overall 11% increase in revenue.


The groups EBIT was up 45% to 331m (EUR527m), 16m above target, while sales hit 3.3bn, well above the 3.14bn target.


Agfa defined new digital solutions as the future-oriented system solutions from all the business segments.


Sales rose in Agfas three business segments graphic systems, technical imaging and consumer imaging.


Graphic systems continued to be its biggest segment, contributing 39% of sales, slightly down from last years 41%. The divisions EBIT rose 37% after Agfa sold its digital printing unit to Xeikon in the middle of the year.


Chief executive Dr Klaus Seeger said Agfa had created a sound basis for 2001. But the impact of the potential slowdown in the global economy remained to be seen, he added.


He anticipated a 2-3% increase in sales this year but Agfa has set a target of double-digit growth in net profit.


Agfa is also in negotiations about the sale of its film, finishing and laboratory equipment business units of the consumer imaging segment to an unnamed buyer.