The company said that orders grew faster than expected in the period.
But it admitted that buying a new crane now costs more and takes longer than before. “It continues to be a challenge to supply materials and components under these conditions,” the company admitted. “Furthermore, Palfinger was not only faced with increases in material prices but also with higher contract awarding costs. At the beginning of the year 2007 sales prices were raised in line with the increase in material prices, but due to the high order backlog and the resulting long delivery periods these price increases will not have an effect on the results before the second half 2007,” the company said.
Palfinger said it is continuing to expand its production to try to meet demand, and is planning a post-2008 expansion programme as well. “Capacities have been and will continue to be expanded. The largest investment programme in the history of Palfinger (approximately EUR 80 million) is scheduled to be completed by 2008. A subsequent extension programme is already being planned. These measures will contribute to a capacity increase and to the ongoing improvement of efficiency and quality,” the company said.
“On the basis of the continuous positive development in terms of new orders, management again expects record revenues and earnings in the 2007 financial year although the growth rates in the next months will have a flatter tendency as compared to the already very strong second half 2006,” the company said.
Palfinger PK 74002 Palfinger PK 74002
