Linx Printing Technologies Plc, the Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire-based company that went public last October has reported interim pre-tax profits up 2.3% to UKP763,000 – a satisfactory result in comparison with an exceptional first half year in 1991 – and turnover up 16.9% at UKP5.7m. Earnings per share fell 4.6% to 3.7 pence reflecting the increased number of shares issued following the flotation. Business has been particularly brisk in the Pacific Rim according to chairman Derek Harris, with the Japanese market now the second largest export market after Germany. Demand is expected to continue during 1993 and the company says it is now planning to supplement its Hong Kong sales office with engineering support. In all, non-European and non-American revenues rose 116.5% to around UKP1.2m. Fortunes have been mixed in Europe, with falling demand from the northern markets – particularly the UK and Germany – being more than compensated for by those of southern Europe. European revenues in total increased 3.9% to UKP4m. Sales in the ultra-competitive North American market have also been slower than hoped generating UKP612,000 – a 9.3% increase. However, the company is hoping that its 6000 series printers, launched last Spring, together with recovery in the US economy will boost its market share. Sales of the higher margin 6000 Series are expected generate an increasingly higher proportion of the company’s revenues in fact. This should be supplemented by sales of Linx ink from the company’s new ink manufacturing facility at St Ives in Cornwall and a planned drive to cut production costs. In the mean time, the company says it will continue to invest in product development – research costs amounted to 8% of its half year turnover – and is looking to branch out into what it calls new product identification technologies.
