Bobst Group recorded a good first half-year in 2017. Sales amounted to CHF 643.2 million for the first six months of 2017, compared to CHF 600.4 million in the previous year. The operating result (EBIT) increased by CHF 21.8 million to CHF 39.8 million. The net result reached CHF 27.7 million, up from CHF 9.7 million in the previous year. Order entries increased by 20% and the order backlog is 5% higher than in the previous year. Mouvent, its new start-up company, will become the digital printing competence centre and solutions provider of Bobst, focusing on innovation, with the objective to gain new markets in this area.
During the first half of 2017, consolidated sales amounted to CHF 643.2 million, representing an increase of CHF 42.8 million, or +7.1%, compared with the same period in 2016. This evolution was mainly driven by an overall good level of activity in all three Business Units and a slow start of Business Unit Web-fed in 2016. Volume and price variances had a positive impact of CHF 48.9 million, or +8.1%. An improvement of CHF 1.3 million, or +0.2%, came from the acquisition of the German company Boxplan.
The unfavorable exchange rate evolution due to the conversion of foreign currencies for consolidation accounts for CHF 4.4 million, or -0.7%, and the transactional impact on sales volume from its Swiss operations accounts for CHF -3.0 million, or -0.5%.
The operating result (EBIT) reached CHF 39.8 million compared with CHF 18.0 million for the same period in 2016. The increase in the operating result (EBIT) is mainly due to the positive contribution from higher sales and a good utilization of capacities. All Business Units improved their operating results (EBIT) with higher sales. The biggest increase comes from Business Unit Sheet-fed, where they are benefitting from the transformation measures implemented in recent years, but also from Business Unit Services, which continues to improve its processes. Business Unit Web-fed continues to have a less favourable product mix and high pressure on margins.
