烟草在线据联盟新闻报道编译　　工程与服务公司莫林斯公司8月28日表示上半年转赢为亏，虽然中东和东欧的不利市场状况影响了其烟草机械部门的业绩，但公司表现大致符合管理层预期。

　　公司股价下跌18%，至131.10便士，为52周来的新低。

　　位于密尔顿凯因斯的莫林斯公司发布截止6月30日公司税前损失10万英镑，相比于去年同期的盈利为70万英镑，收入从4780万英镑下滑至4000万英镑。

　　莫林斯公司表示公司上半年的表现基本与内部预期相符。

　　但是，公司表示其为烟草业提供的设计、生产、市场及服务业务的销售额从去年同期的1800万英镑下滑至1000万英镑。

　　莫林斯公司表示烟草机械部门的结果反映了一些主要市场中的不利市场环境，这些市场出现了订单需求和售后活动减少的情况。特别是中东和东欧的两个大订单交货期均延迟了。

　　另一方面，科技服务部门销售额从同期的1140万英镑增长至1170万英镑。该部门为烟草和其它产业部门开发、供应和维护工艺以及质量控制的设备和机器。

　　“工艺和质量控制设备和机器的销售增长，在我们的主要市场中对质量控制仪器的需求保持强劲，而且对卷烟烟雾捕捉机器的需求提前，”莫林斯公司表示。

　　同时，以当地货币计算，包装机械的销售额增长9%，但受到英镑走强的影响，导致按英镑计算，略有减少，从1840万英镑减至1830万英镑。该部门通过在英国、荷兰、加拿大和新加坡的工厂提供工程技术服务和资产设备。

　　正如在上一年度，莫林斯曾表示全年业绩将明显受到下半年业绩影响。

　　“董事会对英镑走强和当前烟草机械部门的市场状况印象深刻，”行政长官迪克·亨特在一份声明中说：“科技服务和包装机械部门的前景依然令人鼓舞。”

　　鉴于公司的困境，莫林斯维持其中期股息每股2.5便士不变。

Molins Swings To Loss As Tobacco Machinery Sales Hurt By Order Delays

　　Engineering and services company Molins PLC Thursday said it swung to a loss in the first half, a performance which was broadly in line with management expectations, although market conditions in the Middle East and Eastern Europe adversely impacted its tobacco machinery division.

　　The stock was quoted down 18% at 131.10 pence, a new 52-week low.

　　Milton Keynes-based Molins posted a pretax loss of GBP100,000 for the six months to June 30, compared with a GHBP700,000 profit a year earlier, as revenue slipped to GBP40.0 million from GBP47.8 million.

　　Molins said its performance in the first half was broadly in line with internal expectations.

　　However, it said sales from its business that designs, manufactures, markets and services specialist machinery for the tobacco industry dropped to GBP10.0 million from GBP18.0 million a year earlier.

　　Molins said the tobacco machinery results reflect adverse market conditions in some of its main markets, with the division experiencing reduced order demand and aftermarket activity. In particular two large orders to the Middle East and eastern Europe, which had been expected to have been delivered in the period, were deferred.

　　On the other hand, the scientific services division saw sales increase to GBP11.7 million from GBP11.4 million. The division develops, supplies and supports process and quality-control instruments and machinery for the tobacco industry and other industrial sectors.

　　"Sales of process and quality control instruments and machinery grew, with demand remaining strong for quality-control instruments in our major markets and demand for cigarette smoke capture machines ahead of the prior period," Molins said.

　　Meanwhile, sales at the packaging machinery business grew 9% in local currency, but were impacted by the strength of sterling, resulting in a marginal reduction in sterling terms to GBP18.3 million from GBP18.4 million. The division supplies engineering services and capital equipment through its operations in the UK, the Netherlands, Canada and Singapore.

　　As in previous year, Molins said its full-year trading performance will be significantly weighted towards the second half.

　　"The board is mindful of the strength of sterling and current market conditions for the tobacco machinery division," Chief Executive Dick Hunter said in a statement. "The prospects for the scientific services and packaging machinery divisions continue to be encouraging."

　　In light of its woes, Molins left its interim dividend unchanged at 2.5 pence per share. Enditem