Gestetner chairman Jahar Sengupta told reporters that for the period from January to March this year, net sales is Rs 22.85 crore against Rs 19.98 crore in the corresponding period of the previous year.

However, other income dropped from Rs 1.99 lakh to Rs 0.42 lakh and net profit from Rs 2.34 crore to Rs 1.70 crore as interest burden increased from Rs 17.66 lakh to Rs 29.25 lakh.

Earlier, Hemant Sharma, vice president (finance) highlighted the company's financial performance during the last five years from 1994.

"Since 1994, Gestetner's sales have grown from Rs 22.51 crore to Rs 61.44 crore in 1998, registering a growth of 173 per cent. Profit after tax has improved from Rs 42 lakh to Rs 3.29 crore and the earning per share is now at Rs 9.20," Sharma said.

He said thereturn on capital employed at Gestetner India is 25 per cent. "This is one of the highest for the industry and as a recognition of the strong financial performances of the company, Crisil has awarded P1 rating to our short term borrowings," Sharma said.

Managing director Paul Wilkinson said during 1999 the company will focus on three aspects. "First, it will be customer satisfaction and then return on capital employed. Third, we want to be a leader in the application of new technology in our sector," he said.

Gestetner will soon launch a new product called Radius, which will have four facilities -- printer, fax, scanner and copier.