Annual Report 2005

22
Business Unit “Documents”
The technical foundations for winning new customers
and sales markets were laid in 2005 with
the introduction of special adhesive coating
technologies for these business areas.
Consequently, sales in these areas are expected
to continue to increase significantly in the future.
We have also been able to expand our position
as the leading service provider in Germany in the field of mass deacidification of modern
papers by utilising the “Bückeburg Conservation Procedure (BCP)” for modern archival material.
The “Archive Centre West” which was opened in Brauweiler, Cologne in summer 2004
has been operating at full capacity and as a result it has reached its target in respect of turnover
achieved.
Our small site in Kornwestheim was closed following the successful start-up of the “Archive
Centre West”. Activities were relocated to the sites at Brauweiler and Berlin which meant that
the level of turnover was subsequently sustained.
In France, initial orders have also been received for the C 900 small conservation unit installed
at our subsidiary. Sales of the C 900 have lead to further expansion of exports as planned. We
are also expecting an exceptionally high level of growth and very high profits for the single
sheet deacidification procedure.
Development of a conservation procedure for bound archival materials and books continued
in 2005. The intention was to offer a worldwide solution to libraries as well as to the archives
market which is now established. We are planning to conclude this development shortly and
to start marketing within the current financial year.
We are expecting a definite improvement in sales and financial results in this business unit over
the next few years and a return to the EBIT margins of previous years.
Demand for our classic protective films and repair tapes for books has been increasing in
Southern and Eastern Europe.