Growth for KCI

KCI Konecranes reported a 12 % rise in sales for the full year 2004. Sales in the group reached €728 million (US$ 944 million). In the group sectors sales of special cranes rose by 19 % to €214 million ($ 277 million) and standard lifting equipment sales were up 9 % to €231 million ($ 299 million).

The company also reported that orders rose by 20 % over the course of the year, indicating an increase in both market share and market growth.

KCI described 2004 as “good“ but highlighted the fact that the poor performance of the US Dollar had eliminated the effects of restructuring savings.

Looking forward to 2005, KCI points to the Asia-Pacific region as the strongest, while North America, Europe and Scandinavia will remain “on a low level”.

The acquisition in December 2004 of Morris Material Handling in the UK is expected to contribute to figures this year although the company warned that developments in the US Dollar exchange rate throughout the group is “expected to continue to burden results”.