The Netstal group (HQ: CH-8752 Näfels; www.netstal.com) suffered losses in all segments due to the weak injection moulding market in 2002, but reported a stabilisation of its earnings power at “a good level.” Sales dropped from CHF 378m to CHF 313m and the EBIT shrank from CHF 31m to about CHF 15m. The value of orders in hand totalled CHF 305.5m (346.3), with net profit at CHF 12.5 (CHF 25.5m). The number of employees was reduced slighty, from 831 to 817.

The well-known Swiss machinery manufacturer claims to have maintained its market share for standard injection moulding machinery throughh its “Synergy” machine series with clamping forces of between 600 kN and 6,000 kN, “despite a declining market volume.” The optical discs segment is said to have recovered from last year´s sales plunge for “Discjet” machinery. The declining 2002 sales figures for audio CDs were offset by the growing DVD market. Trends in the “very volatile market for optical data carriers” remain hard to predict, accordig to the company. Netstal enjoyed a “slight increase” in its share of the PET bottle preform market.

The current year is not expected to show any substantial growth, and the climate for investment in new projects “is not expected to improve effectively before 2004,” says Netstal. The slack market in 2003 will give the company an opportunity to speed up expansion of its product range. The “E-Jet” range of fully electric injection moulding machines officially launched in May of this year after a two-year field trial, is the most promising candidate for success.