Koenig & Bauer has hit its revenue and profit targets despite tough market conditions thanks to efficiency measures under the Spotlight programme in previous years and despite economic volatility.
CEO Stephen Kimmich says: “The 2025 results demonstrate the effectiveness of our measures to increase efficiency and thus mark a step forward in our operating profitability. Despite massive macroeconomic headwinds, we met our forecast and closed the year with a positive free cash flow. A strong performance by the entire Koenig & Bauer team.”
Revenue increased in both its print and paper packaging sheetfed systems and its special and new technology divisions, though new orders in both slipped. Group revenue increased to €1,302 million (€1,274 million) with print and paper packaging sheetfed contributing €741.5 million and special and new technologies providing €596.0 million.
The lift in revenue from the sheetfed division is attributed to fulfilment of orders from Drupa. The roll though of this meant new orders at the end of the year were €704.0 million.
Revenue in the special and new technology division had been elevated by delivery of a huge order to the US Bureau of Engraving and Printing in order to produce new dollar bills. New orders stood at €558.4 million.
Nevertheless the order backlog at the end of the year was €970.6 million compared to €1,038.8 million at the end of 2024. This puts the company on a good footing to maintain sales close to the last year’s level the company says.
If revenue was 2% above last year, operating Ebit was significantly better. Thanks to the strength of the final quarter, the company closed the year at €36.6 million, at the lower end but inside, the range of €35-50 million it had told the market to expect. This is a €21.3 million increase on last year from €15.3 million.
There as a shop reduction in non-operating extraordinary items to €5.3 million (€50.4 million). This helped lift Ebit to €31.3 million, a €66.4 million swing from -€35.1 million. This fed through to a free cash flow surplus of €7.3 million for the year as a hole.
Looking ahead, the company anticipates operating stability despite ongoing uncertainty around tariffs.
