Sartorius confirms strong 2011 growth figures

Sartorius has confirmed its strong annual financial results for 2011, with revenue and earnings both seeing double-digit increases for the year.

The life science firm's final sales revenue total for the 12 months came to 733.1 million euros (608.23 million pounds), up by 11 percent year on year, while earnings jumped by 31.2 percent to 112.2 million euros.

A profit margin of 15.3 percent was also achieved following a period which saw Sartorius experience growth in both its biotechnology and mechatronics divisions, while its Asia-Pacific operations saw its most significant expansion rate.

Group chief executive officer Dr Joachim Kreuzburg predicted further growth in 2012, saying: "We are off to an excellent start in the year and expect to continue on the road to success. We will be aiming at achieving around ten percent growth in both sales revenue and earnings."

Last month, the company's Sartorius Stedim Biotech division agreed a deal with Trace Analytics that will give it exclusive global rights to market, distribute and service an online analysing system called BioPAT Trace.