Order bookings for the Uzwil, Switzerland-based group in fiscal 2004 reached CHF 1.47 billion, which is about 6 percent above the figure of a year ago. Sales growth of the Buhler Group was even sharper, amounting to CHF 1.47 billion or 10 percent above the previous year.
In Buhler's basic market, Grain Processing plant and equipment, Optical Sorting systems experienced the sharpest growth. The strongest growth was achieved in the Die Casting division.
The European market was relatively weak compared with other regions and only East Europe showed a brighter side. But one of the main focal markets for the Group remains Asia, which developed with varying success. In the US market, Buhler grew despite the weak dollar.
With these appreciable increases in 2004, Group management expects a marked improvement in the operating profit (EBIT), which amounted to CHF 52.2 million in the previous year. The detailed financial statement and annual report will be published April 7, 2005.
Buhler is a global Technology Group and a system partner in the supply of plant and equipment and process know-how in the fields of food and feed processing,chemical process engineering, and die casting, with a payroll of about6100 worldwide.
