KBA UK eyes ‘stable trading environment’ in 2010

KBA UK managing director Christian Knapp told Packaging News the firm remained strong in the packaging press sector that had remained “quite steady”, despite the financial and structural crisis.

“It’s not a volume market, but that means it’s probably less exposed to the downturn,” he said.

The German firm published global financial results for 2008 on Thursday (30 April) that revealed a 20% drop in sales to EUR1.5bn (£1.3bn). KBA recorded a net loss of EUR101m, compared to a net profit of EUR49m in 2007.

It said the economic downturn had a disproportionately severe effect on batch-produced sheet presses, where orders fell by 23%. Web and special press orders fell by 17%.

Knapp said KBA’s wide product range meant it was well placed to weather the storm and said the fact the UK had felt the financial crisis earlier than other European countries meant it was likely to come out first.

“We’re planning on a return to a more stable trading environment in the next 12 to 13 months,” he said.

Last week, Catalent Pharma Solutions revealed it had bought a KBA 10-colour KBA Rapida 106 for its Dublin facility that will be installed in June.

KBA results 2008
(Change on 2007)

Order intake EUR1.2bn (-20%)
Sales EUR1.5bn (-10%)
Operating loss EUR80m

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