The Gurit-Heberlein Group (CH-9630 Wattwil; www.gurit.com) concluded 2003 with a 30% rise in sales to CHF 508.4m (EUR 326.6m). The company attributes the increase in part to acquisitions, but also to sound organic growth in composites. While sales in the Industrial Applications segment jumped from CHF 179.6m to CHF 300.9m, Health Care sales fell back to CHF 203.1m, a drop of 2% against 2002. With corporate realignment to focus on Chemical and Synthetics Technology nearly complete, the company posted EBIT of CHF 31.2m (CHF 30.3m). Despite a slow start to 2004, Gurit-Heberlein is forecasting substantial improvement in both sales and revenue for the full year.