Injection moulding machinery manufacturer Netstal (CH-8752 Näfels; www.netstal.com) expects a sales increase of 7% for the 2003/2004 business year that ended on 30 September. Based on the CHF 321.8m (EUR 210.5m) figure published for 2002/2003, this would mean total sales of more than CHF 340m. Incoming orders also rose by the same percentage, according to CEO Bernhard Merki. Final figures are to be announced in January 2005.

Speaking at a press conference during K 2004 in Düsseldorf, Merki said the positive trend is being driven by the success of the company´s “E-Jet” machines and the recovery in the PET sector. A new high-performance “PET-line” system for preforms was presented at the plastics fair. With 96 cavities per mould, the machine is claimed to have an output of more than 36,000 parts per hour. Marketing manager Thomas Robers also confirmed the growing trend towards bigger machines – a further factor contributing to the improved sales figures.