Bobst Issues Preliminary Key Figures for 1H 2018

Bobst Group SA expects to achieve sales of CHF 763 million ($768 million) in the first half year of 2018 compared to CHF 643 million ($671 million) in the same period in 2017. The 2018 first half year results will not develop in line with sales but are expected to be 10%-15% below the levels in first half of 2017, when the group achieved CHF 40 million operating profit (EBIT) and CHF 28 million net result.
 
Based on strong sales growth and a good overall market situation, the group has accelerated some measures to:
• Invest in quality upgrades on some new products launched in recent years.
• Launch a range of digital printing products;
• Strengthen its activities in Internet of Things (IoT).
• Increase its sales and service network, and capabilities in growing markets.
 
All these measures, combined with an unfavorable product mix in Business Unit Web-fed, and higher than expected restructuring efforts at one of Bobst’s German entities, have a significant negative impact on the group’s 2018 profitability.
 
For the full year 2018, the Group expects to improve its sales compared to 2017 by 5% to 7% (sales 2017: CHF 1 529 million), which is at the higher end of the guidance issued at the end of February 2018.