Fulmar chief executive Mike Taylor was very happy with the groups interim results and optimistic about the prospects for his Bookmarque book printing business despite CPIs acquisition of Mackays.


Bookmarque has been very positively received by publishers, he said. Theres been a lot of rationalisation recently but theres room for us.


Fulmars turnover for the six months to 30 June rose 1.3m to 20.1m, while pre-tax profit was unchanged at 2.3m.


Royle Corporate Print, which installed an eight-colour B1 Heidelberg earlier this year, saw sales go up 8%, while Royle Financial Prints sales increased by 13%, which Taylor attributed to high City activity.


Sales were also up at The Box Room, Fulmars packaging pre-press operation, and Lasercraft, its laser cutting business.


Fulmar does not plan any significant investment in plant or machinery later this year. Bookmarques first Timson web is running on double shifts now and the second one is being installed and should be running next week.


Fulmars share price rose 3.1% to 66.5p following the results. Taylor said: Its fair to say that small public companies dont tend to get the profile they deserve.


Story by Gordon Carson