In the final spurt towards the end of financial year 2003/ 2004 (30 September), machinery manufacturer Krauss-Maffei Kunststofftechnik (KM, D-80997 München; www.krauss-maffei.de) is well on track to top the EUR 506m sales record set in 1999/2000, managing director Josef Märtel said at a press meeting ahead of K 2004. As things look at the moment, earnings also will be higher, he said. At the year´s mid-point, sales were up 18% against 2002/2003 to EUR 283m and order intake, at EUR 304m, was 29% higher. Total sales for 2002/2003 were EUR 464m.

All of the group´s three divisions – injection moulding, extrusion and reaction technology – are participating in the upswing, said Märtel. Due especially to strong automotive demand, the largest division, injection moulding, saw order volume rise 19% in the first half of 2003/2004, as sales rose 24% to EUR 213m. Reaction technology saw the biggest increase, with new orders – from eastern Europe, the UK and the US in particular – surging ahead by 72% to EUR 58m. Sales rose 25% to EUR 41m. Orders for extrusion technology grew by 30% to EUR 51m, thanks mainly to a large order from China and some “substantial orders” from Russia. Sales fell 20% to EUR 30m, but the deficit was made up in the third quarter.

Krauss-Maffei´s slogan for K 2004 is “Partnerships for a world of opportunities”. Märtl said the emphasis will be on showcasing the group´s “vast know-how” in plastics processing, which in conjunction with its automation expertise, enables it to offer turnkey manufacturing systems. The group returns 5-7% of its sales to research and development. Some 150 of its 200 R&D employees work directly on finding solutions for customers.