Orders increased 14% on the same six-month period last year, while pre-tax profits were also up by 12%, against sales of 23m (JPY46.6bn).

Komori UK managing director Martin Rickards said the Japanese manufacturer had seen an increase in sales of 10% in the UK during 2003.

This, he said, was down to two factors: The popularity of the Lithrone S40 series, and the continued high-level of orders for our double-deck series of Lithrone SP perfectors.

A 12-colour Lithrone 640SP, the latest installation, is being commissioned during this month at Carter Litho in Slough.

Komori said it has maintained a year-on-year increase in research and development expenditure, and a second phase of development at its factory in Tsukuba will be used to build B1 Lithrone presses the S40, SP40 super perfectors and multi-colour presses.

This will provide us with a major opportunity for growth in the UK and worldwide, said Rickards.

Story by Andy Scott