KBA Sees Perceptible Upturn in Printing Press Sector

Said Hansen: “While we are always open to constructive approaches for resolving the industry’s problems, our primary focus is on pursuing an independent course. Mergers or acquisitions without consolidation do nothing to resolve capacity issues, but individual players can make a signal contribution by rigorously adjusting their resources. In this respect KBA has done more than many others.”

Tighter focus on packaging technology and digital print
Referring to the group’s intention, expressed last year, of boosting earnings, growth and employment by entering a new line of business, Hansen reported that print-related packaging technology and digital print soon proved to have the greatest appeal for KBA. He said: “Having made some promising contacts in these two fields and shortlisted a number of projects, we are now screening potential acquisitions or alliances. I am confident that we shall soon be able to reveal further details.”

No dividend for 2009
With the economic recession continuing to impact on sales, resulting in a net loss by the parent, Koenig & Bauer, and ongoing personnel adjustments within the group, the management and supervisory boards recommended foregoing the payment of a dividend for 2009.