Komori trims losses as sales slip

Ongoing Covid uncertainty in Europe and Asia dented press giant Komori’s 2020/21 sales by 7.5 per cent, even as it saw recovery in North America and China.

The company recorded an operating loss of ¥2.3bn (A$27m) on sales of ¥71.8bn (A$838m). In the prior year its operating loss was 50 per cent more at ¥3.4bn, on sales of ¥77.6bn. The 2021 figures amounted to a ¥5.8bn (A$68m) drop in sales with a A$10m cut in losses.

The company said it is focusing its development in three areas; offset presses, digital printing with its Landa based machine, and printed electronics. It is also planning to launch new products which it says will combine its expertise in presses and its new MBO finishing solutions subsidiary to develop “seamless” print and finish systems. Komori will continue to develop its cloud based technologies and robotics.

Its litho focus will be on its Advance presses, with increases in speed and automation on the agenda. Its digital presence is based on its N40 Impremia, which is effectively the Landa S10 with the Komori front end. Komori is also integrating the sheet checking technology it uses on its security printing presses onto the N40.

Its printed electronics division is developing a flatbed gravure system which the company says is more accurate than the traditional screen printing method, and consequently sales of its printed electronics technology rose last year.

Komori is represented in Australia and New Zealand by Print & Pack. Its B1 and B2 presses have proved popular over the years.