technotrans says it has made a good start to 2016, despite a 0.5 per cent fall in revenue attributed to the mechanical and plant engineering sector.

Net profit for the period matched the prior-year figure at 1.5 million Euros, and the return on sales held steady at 4.8 per cent.

"Despite the many global economic and geopolitical challenges, we have made a satisfactory start to the new financial year," chief executive Henry Brickenkamp says. "The group remains on a steady course of growth, underpinned by its various market areas."

Negative exchange rate movements amounting to 200,000 Euros ate into the operating result (EBIT), which was down by 10.2 per cent down on the comparative figure for the strong prior-year quarter, putting the margin at 6.8 per cent against the previous year's 7.5 per cent.

For the first time, activities outside the printing industry were unable to contribute towards revenue growth, meanwhile print business continued to develop healthily. A positive trend in service business continued in the first quarter, with revenue from this growing 5.7 per cent to 10.4 million Euros.

At the annual meeting on May 12, a dividend of 0.48 Euros per no par value share is to be proposed.