The Swiss injection moulding machine maker made a net profit of SFr17.8m for the year

The Swiss injection moulding machine maker made a net profit of SFr17.8m for the year

Netstal has boosted net profit by 47% to SFr17.8m (E11.3m) in the year to the end of September 2003, the first full reporting period since chief executive Bernhard Merki took up the top post in early 2003. The Swiss injection moulding machine maker also increased orders by 8% to SFr323.7m (E205.9m); net sales rose by 5% to SFr321.8m (E204.7m).

New products helped towards the good result. Netstal launched its e-Jet electric machine for the optical disc market in May and by the end of the year had delivered 70 machines. The disc market increased markedly in 2003, according to Netstal, noting growth of DVDs and rising demand in Asia. The company claims to have increased its share of the world moulding machine market for optical discs to 25%. As well as e-Jet, Netstal makes the Discjet machine for producers of blank discs.

The group said market shares for its SynErgy standard machine range held steady. The markets for medical mouldings and packaging in western Europe resisted the generally slow economy. There was increased demand for closures for beverages, foodstuffs and cosmetics, it said.