A 20% increase in Continental European sales, and continued strong performance from its Asian businesses, helped Domino Printing Sciences to an 8% rise in overall sales for the half-year ended April 30, 2004, to £85.9m, compared with the same period in 2003. Pre-tax profits rose 45% to £11.4m.
RPC delivered “record performance at all levels” in the year ended March 31, 2004, with sales up 6% to £430m and pre-tax profits rising by 8% compared with the previous 12 months to £23.17m. Ceo Ron Marsh said the year had been characterised by “a more benign UK trading environment”.
Dispensing system, closure and pump manufacturer Rieke Packaging Systems has set up a wholly-owned Chinese subsidiary. Its $15m investment in a new factory follows the recent establishment of a second manufacturing plant in the US. The 100,000 ft2 factory, employing 400, is located in Hang Zhou, two hours from Shanghai.
AEA Investors has agreed to buy packaging machinery manufacturer Convenience Food Systems from UBS Private Equity and Cinven for an undisclosed sum. CFS ceo and president John Ole-Hansen said: “AEA will strengthen the financial structure to such an extent that the investments in identified market and cross-company improvement projects will be accelerated.”
The Child-Safe Packaging Group (CSPG) has become the latest industry group to be affiliated to the Packaging Federation.