The Swiss manufacturing group, Von Roll, has announced that its first half profit rose to SFr3 million ($1.8 million) from SFr1 million for the same period last year.

A statement from company headquarters in Zurich said that sales, at SFr830 million, were down five per cent.

During the first six months, Von Roll said orders rose by eight per cent to SFr994, mainly because of a contract for the construction of three waste treatment plants in Germany and the United States. Operating profit rose nine per cent to SFr994 million.

The company said in a statement that these plants would have a positive effect on increased sales next year.

Von Roll, which is transforming itself into a materials technology group, said it expected to continue with the progress made during the first half, provided that the economy did not slacken further. However, it added that it was difficult to make a confident forecast for the second half of the year.

swissinfo with agencies

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