KBA Reports Sheetfed Press Orders Hit Harder than Web

Prospects for 2009
In view of weak global demand, unfavourable economic indicators in the ad-dependent printing industry and a drop of more than 36% in the group order backlog, KBA expects sales to be some 20% lower than in 2008. Management is hopeful that the timely implementation of the restructuring measures, which will mainly focus on sheetfed activities, will rapidly bring capacities and costs in line with the smaller global market anticipated in the medium term. The group payroll will be reduced to around 7,000 by the end of the year.