Continued nervousness in the UK and Europe contributed to a flat year for sales and profits at the company behind renowned vacuum cleaner brand Henry.
But Somerset-based Numatic International remains upbeat with a “positive” budget for 2013.
The company, whose main manufacturing base is in Chard, posted sales of £110.4m for the period to 31 December 2012, down from £111.2m a year earlier, while operating profit rose slightly from £5.6m to £6m. Pre-tax profit decreased by £1m to £4.1m.
Alongside its Somerset base, Numatic has operations in Germany, the Netherlands, France and South Africa.
As well as the popular Henry range, the company also designs, makes and distributes commercial and industrial cleaning equipment, mops and trolleys, employing 850 staff.
A report accompanying the newly filed accounts said: “Once again, for the year of 2012, we can only report a good holding operation with trading conditions, both in the UK and Europe, fairly flat as a result of continued nervousness with regard to UK debt and austerity and the fragile condition of the euro in a large percentage of the Euro countries.
“Our RD input still remains strong and new products shown at ISSA in Amsterdam will imminently enter 2013 production.
“Due to poor performance in our Dutch subsidiary, we made a senior management change at the year end and expect to see improvements in the coming year.
“Our budgeting for 2013 is positive and we expect to see the first signs of a return to growth in our major markets.
“Other parts of the world, however, principally the Middle East, are still very unsettled which will not help and could influence the price of oil which has a direct effect on material cost stability.”
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Article source: http://www.insidermedia.com/insider/south-west/99947-