TPT November 2009

I ndustry N ews

Prize for laser technology announced

the jury session in April next spring. “The capacity for innovation is the key to the future. The issues that arise around the world can be solved only by continual progress in science and technology,” Professor Berthold Leibinger, the founder of Berthold Leibinger Stiftung noted. With the innovation and research prizes the non-profit foundation Berthold Leibinger Stiftung promotes laser technology research and development and showcases the results to the public. Since 2000, the foundation has been awarding the innovation prize and a research prize every other year. Berthold Leibinger Stiftung – Germany Fax: +49 715630 335205 Email: sven.ederer@leibinger-stiftung.de Website: www.leibinger-stiftung.de

application or generating of laser light. The application deadline is 11 December 2009. Nominees will be invited by the foundation to make a presentation of their work during

DEVELOPERS and researchers who work in the field of laser technology can now apply or be proposed for the Berthold Leibinger Innovationspreis 2010. The international prize of the private foundation Berthold Leibinger Stiftung is granted every other year for innovations pertaining to the application or generating of laser light. At the prize ceremony on 9 July next year – fifty years after the invention of the first laser – the €30,000 for the first, €20,000 for the second and €10,000 or the third prize will be awarded. Those eligible to apply or be proposed for entry include individuals and project groups worldwide whose main development efforts and market potential lies in the THE SIMONA Group had to contend with a decline in revenue over the course of the first half of the year. The downturn affecting its principal sales markets – the chemical industry and the mechanical engineering sector – prompted a contraction in revenue by €50.8mn to €106.3mn. This corresponds to a year-on-year decline of 32.3%. Despite the considerable decline in sales revenue, SIMONA managed to post positive earnings for the period under review. Profit before tax amounted to €3.5mn (previous year: €13.5mn). This was made possible by the timely introduction of a cost-reduction programme that included not only short-time work but also a critical assessment of material- and equipment- related expenses. As from the date of production start-up at the end of 2008, the new multifunctional

 The prestigious BLS award

Simona targets positive EDITBA for financial year

plant in Litvinov, Czech Republic, made a positive contribution to earnings, as well as significantly improving SIMONA’s market position in Eastern Europe. Compared to 31 December 2008, total assets increased by €4.7mn to €249.5mn, while cash resources continued to rise. SIMONA invested €6.3mn (prev. year: €12.0mn). In property, plant and equipment in the first half of 2009. SIMONA anticipates that the financial year as a whole will remain challenging. “The continued weakness in terms of incoming orders has had an adverse effect on companies’ propensity to invest, which is of particular importance to our business. We anticipate that business over the course of the second half of the year will progress sideways, without benefiting from any major impetus,” said Wolfgang Moyses, CEO of SIMONA,

adding, “our revenue target of €200mn is ambitious, but we remain committed to generating positive EBITDA for 2009.” SIMONA AG – Germany Fax: +49 6752 14211

Email: mail@simona.de Website: www.simona.de

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N ovember 2009

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