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Heidelberg and KBA post improved financial figures

Press manufacturing giants Heidelberg and KBA have reported a rise in orders thanks to stronger overseas markets such as China.

Heidelberg figures for the first quarter of the 2010/11 financial year showed a 43% increase in incoming orders to EUR786m (£666m).

The German manufacturer’s preliminary figures reflected its success in markets such as China and South America.

Figures for the three months up to 30 June showed that orders were up nearly 16% on the EUR678m in the previous quarter, and up 43% on the EUR550m in the same period last year.

However, Heidelberg added that there was continuing weakness in the US and Japanese markets.

Meanwhile, KBA posted a 39% increase in group orders during the first six months of the year up from EUR489.1m last year.

The manufacturer said that this was due to buoyant demand to China and upturns in other parts of Asia, the Middle East, Russia, western Europe and the USA.

KBA said it was on course to achieve its sales targets of more than EUR1.1bn for 2010.

In addition, sales figures to July were around 4% above the previous year figure of EUR452.8m.