MAN Roland increased new orders by 16% in its short financial year, which covered the last six months of 2000, compared to the same period in 1999.


The total of 713m (E1126m) was even higher than the period from 1 January to 30 June 2000, which included figures from Drupa.


The results, for the period from 1 July to 31 December, also showed a 19% increase in sales to 600m. The group said order growth in all product divisions was in double-digits.


MAN Rolands pre-tax profits also more than doubled to 26.6m and the group said it expected increased orders and sales during 2000 based on its current order backlog.


Staff numbers increased by almost 200 to 10,248, which MAN Roland attributed to the expansion of its digital printing activities.


MAN Roland spent 21.5m during the period on rationalisation, reinvestments and restructuring.