07.26.18
Bobst Group recorded very good first half-year sales of CHF 762.5 ($768 million) million for the first six months of 2018, compared to CHF 643.2 million in the first half of 2017. The operating result (EBIT) decreased by CHF 4.6 million to CHF 35.2 million ($35.5 million). Order entries increased by 13% and the order backlog is 14% higher than in the previous year.
During the first half of 2018, consolidated sales amounted to CHF 762.5 million, representing an increase of CHF 119.3 million, or 18.6%, compared with the same period in 2017. This evolution was mainly driven by a high backlog at the beginning of the year and an overall good level of activity in all three business units.
Business Unit Sheet-fed increased its operating result (EBIT) by CHF 17.1 million to reach CHF 29.7 million due to the strong increase in sales in the first half of the year and an optimal utilization of the industrial capacities.
Business Unit Web-fed continues to have an unfavorable product mix and high pressure on margins. The ramp-up of the new site in China and of the product lines structure, as well as higher than expected restructuring efforts at one of our German entities, had also a negative impact on the business unit’s profitability. The operating result (EBIT) was CHF -20.2 million in the first half of 2018 compared to CHF -5.3 million in the first six months of 2017.
Business Unit Services has significantly increased the number of field service technicians and technical support people, according with the Group’s strategy. The induction and training costs have a negative impact on the Business Unit’s operating result (EBIT), which was CHF 27.4 million in H1 2018 compared with CHF 33.2 million in the same period in 2017. All three Business Units have higher costs due to the ramp-up of the Group’s digital printing activities (Mouvent), which have been part of BOBST since June 1, 2017.
During the first half of 2018, consolidated sales amounted to CHF 762.5 million, representing an increase of CHF 119.3 million, or 18.6%, compared with the same period in 2017. This evolution was mainly driven by a high backlog at the beginning of the year and an overall good level of activity in all three business units.
Business Unit Sheet-fed increased its operating result (EBIT) by CHF 17.1 million to reach CHF 29.7 million due to the strong increase in sales in the first half of the year and an optimal utilization of the industrial capacities.
Business Unit Web-fed continues to have an unfavorable product mix and high pressure on margins. The ramp-up of the new site in China and of the product lines structure, as well as higher than expected restructuring efforts at one of our German entities, had also a negative impact on the business unit’s profitability. The operating result (EBIT) was CHF -20.2 million in the first half of 2018 compared to CHF -5.3 million in the first six months of 2017.
Business Unit Services has significantly increased the number of field service technicians and technical support people, according with the Group’s strategy. The induction and training costs have a negative impact on the Business Unit’s operating result (EBIT), which was CHF 27.4 million in H1 2018 compared with CHF 33.2 million in the same period in 2017. All three Business Units have higher costs due to the ramp-up of the Group’s digital printing activities (Mouvent), which have been part of BOBST since June 1, 2017.