Pharmaceutical packaging drives Gerresheimer growth in first half

Published: 16-Jul-2009

Growth in pharmaceutical packaging and systems helped Gerresheimer achieve its 2008 level of sales in the first half of 2009, in spite of the continuing worldwide economic crisis. Vials, syringes and drug delivery systems account for more than 70% of group sales.


Growth in pharmaceutical packaging and systems helped Gerresheimer achieve its 2008 level of sales in the first half of 2009, in spite of the continuing worldwide economic crisis. Vials, syringes and drug delivery systems account for more than 70% of group sales.

By contract, sales fell in the more cyclical segments of laboratory glassware and cosmetics packaging.

Sales in the second quarter to 31 May 2009 fell by 4.3% to Euro 264.4m. For the year as a whole, Gerresheimer expects sales, excluding technical plastics, which was sold earlier this month to FBH Group, Germany, to be +1% to -3% with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 18-18.5%.

"Growth in our core markets of pharma and life science has been and remains the basis of our profitable business development. This applies all the more at a time of economic crisis," said Dr Axel Herberg, ceo of Gerresheimer.

Major contributions were made by medical plastic systems, which continue to be a particular growth generator, and good sales of pharmaceutical primary packaging such as ampoules and vials in Europe and China. Installation of the third RTF(R) syringe line was completed according to plan so that customer-specific validations could begin.

The company said sales of laboratory glassware products were affected by inventory reductions and purchasing cautiousness by customers.

You may also like