Pharma and healthcare packaging specialist Gerresheimer (Düsseldorf / Germany; www.gerresheimer.de) has recorded an operating profit (adjusted EBITDA) of EUR 58.6m in the second quarter of 2012, a year-on-year increase of over 4%. Sales in the period rose by over 10% to EUR 314m. The company said it expects the growth trend to continue in the second half of the year and has increased its revenue forecast for 2012.

Gerresheimer said that all divisions contributed to revenue growth. South America was one of the strongest performing regions, with good gains in revenues from plastic containers for tablets, powders, eye drops, nose sprays and other liquid drugs. In March 2011, Gerresheimer acquired Brazilian pharmaceutical plastic packaging producer Védat – see Plasteurope.com of 23.03.2011.

The company’s medical plastic systems, such as insulin pen systems and diagnostic instruments, also delivered very solid results, it said. “Our medical plastic systems order book and project pipeline are looking very good at the moment and we will continue to increase our production capacity in this segment. New production facilities are already being constructed at our plants in Pfreimd in Germany and in Horsovsky Tyn in the Czech Republic. And we are already planning the next-but-one extension of our Czech production facility,” said Gerresheimer CEO Uwe Röhrhoff.

The company said that in light of the sustained business development and a positive outlook, particularly in the plastic systems and tubular glass divisions, it is now expecting revenue growth of 9-10% in 2012 at constant exchange rates, up two percentage points on its initial forecast for the year. High order volumes in the plastic systems division also led to the company increasing its 2012 investment budget from around EUR 100m to EUR 120m.