Thanks to high incoming orders in the first quarter the preliminary order backlog is now well up on the previous quarter at around €850m for the world’s biggest press manufacturer, which has had a torrid time since the onset of the GFC almost four years ago.

However sales results, while in line with expectations at around €520m, were down by €22m from the corresponding period in the previous year.

As expected, lower profit contributions resulting from the lower sales in the first quarter and the costs of preparing for drupa and launching new products had a negative impact on the preliminary result of operating activities excluding special items. This translated into an operating loss of €58m for the company.

As a result of the trade show, Heidelberg is expecting sales to show a distinct shift to the second half of the financial year with a corresponding improvement in profit contributions.

Heidelberg is still expecting to achieve a clearly positive result of operating activities excluding special items for financial year 2012/2013. The company is still looking to achieve a result of operating activities excluding special items of around €150m and a net profit in financial year 2013/2014.

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