German based machine manufacturer closes the financial year with a sales record and reaches new markets
Dresden, 19th July 2018 – KAMA GmbH has increased sales for the third time in a row and closed the financial year 2017/18 (ended 31st March) with a sales record of 15.6 million Euro. After a plus of 13 percent in the previous year, the German machine manufacturer achieves another growth of six percent. “Overall, we have achieved a good result and the target of 15 percent EBITDA margin is within reach – for mechanical engineering a value in the upper range”, says KAMA CEO Marcus Tralau. The innovative manufacturer achieves about 80 percent of sales with its core business, the construction and distribution of versatile finishing die cutters as well as cutting edge folder gluers for job printing and folding carton production. This is complemented by the revenues from the production of hot foil systems for labels.
Growth in Germany, East Europe and in the Far East
The increased demand from Asia, West and East Europe has particularly contributed to the growth. Around one quarter of the machine revenues were generated in Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines and Australia. The European foreign markets contributed 38 percent, with a strong increase in East European countries. After KAMA took over the domestic distribution in Germany, the business has almost doubled to a share of around 20 percent. The sales only declined slightly in the USA after a very successful previous year. All things considered, the job printing market with the trend towards high-quality products and finishing has developed well for KAMA.
The second sales driver is the new folder gluer for short-run folding cartons KAMA FF 52i, presented by KAMA at the drupa 2016. The fully automatic folder gluer, which enables extremely rapid job changes, was placed on the market just at the right time for the trend towards short packaging runs, versioning and digitally printed folding cartons. The innovative solution with patented folding and gluing line and inspection is successfully used by folding box manufacturers, for example in Germany, the USA and Italy.
Specialist for short runs
“The focus on solutions for short runs and thus also for the booming digital printing has proven to be a success”, says Tralau. “It is our unique selling proposition.” KAMA is continuing along its path of growth and intercepts the increasing personnel costs with an increasing productivity. “We focus on innovation and have exciting projects in the pipeline”, says the CEO looking ahead.
