KBA has attributed the growth in turnover and profits in its preliminary year-end results to a successful Drupa, buoyant Eastern markets and strong newspaper press and sheetfed sales.


The groups turnover rose 14.5% to 684.43m (e1.084bn) in 2000 eclipsing the Wrzburg-based companys target of 629m.


KBA said that profit growth was in double-digits, although final figures will be released next month.


KBA director of marketing Klaus Schmidt said: "Drupa was good for us with 195m of orders taken in two weeks. The global economy looks healthy any crisis in the East seems to be over. Weve also been helped by strong European sales, especially in Italy, Spain and France."


But Schmidt said KBA was finding the UK market tougher: "Komori is strong in the UK compared to, say, Germany and Italy. The UK is very competitive and were seen as a newcomer there, but well be targeting the B1 and B2 sheetfed area this year."


The company had an order backlog of 788.1m at the end of the year.


Schmidt said KBAs success showed little sign of abating in the first two months of the year, with its newspaper and sheetfed sectors both recording double-digit growth.


He added that KBA was scheduled to sign a major newspaper press contract with a UK company this coming week. KBA is still in talks with Scitex after it announced plans to sell its stake in Karat (PrintWeek, 2 March).


Story by John Davies