KBA Reports Sheetfed Press Orders Hit Harder than Web

WÜRZBURG, GERMANY—04/30/09—German press manufacturer Koenig & Bauer AG (KBA) published its 2008 financial statements on 30 April following preliminary disclosures on 26 March.

The global economic downturn had a disproportionately severe impact on the inflow of orders for batch-produced sheetfed presses, which plunged 22.6% to €598.5m (2007: €773.5m). The web and special press division, where multi-unit installations with lengthy production times dominate the schedule, exerted a stabilizing influence, with new orders totalling €643m (16.9% below the prior-year figure of €773.4m). Group orders therefore shrank 19.7% to €1,241.5m (2007: €1,546.9m).