Gross operating profits of $108m were predicted for 2007 so the year exceeded expectations, owing to an increase in orders from the pharmaceutical industry.
This resulted in IMA's consolidated order book at the end of 2007 being 26.5 per cent up on the previous years, taking the total to $376m.
In the statement IMA also look ahead to 2008's results, with Alberto Vacchi, IMA's chairman and managing director, stating: "The international pharmaceutical industry is in fact continuing to achieve significant rates of growth, while the biotechnology sector is launching a number of new drugs on the market."
This optimism appears to be well founded, with factors pointing to a successful 2008 for IMA.
Extrapolating from the new orders made in the first few months of 2008 IMA is predicting another rise in profits, with gross operating profits of $135m anticipated.
This success is put down to a further strengthening of the company's position in the market for machines for processing and packaging pharmaceutical products.
An additional increase in revenue of $117m is predicted for 2008 as a consequence of the acquisition of BOC Edwards Pharmaceutical Systems, a specialist in freeze-drying machinery.
BOC Edwards has since been rebranded as IMA Edwards and this new name was on show at Interpack recently, where the company showed a range of freeze-drying and aseptic filling machines and related equipment.
By acquiring BOC Edwards IMA strengthened its hand in the field of pharmaceutical freeze-drying, which Vacchi believes "to be one of the fastest growing in the entire pharmaceutical industry, with great potential in the field of biotechnologies".
This commitment by IMA to improve its market standing in the freeze-drying machinery sector was further highlighted by the acquisition of Edwards Tianli Pharmaceutical Systems for $13.9m.
By purchasing Edwards Tianli, a Chinese freeze-drying machinery manufacturer, IMA also reinforced its industrial presence in China.
It has been a busy 12 months of acquisitions for IMA, which has also acquired Zanchetta and a stake in Pierrel since April 2007.
IMA will be hoping that these acquisitions pay dividends as it seeks to increase its share of the market against fierce competition from the likes of GEA Pharma.
