2005-05-03: Successful start into the year 2005 for technotrans
revenues after 3 months up 15% / operating profit plus 35% / earnings per share of 0,22 EUR / number of employees increased by 12 % / Annual Shareholder's Meeting on May 13, 2005 to decide on dividend for 2004 of 0.45 EUR per share (+ 50%)

Sassenberg, May 3rd, 2005
technotrans, leading systems supplier of equipment for the printing industry and the manufacture of micro technology, posted revenue of EUR 30.8 million in the first quarter of 2005, representing an increase of 15.3 percent on the revenue figure for the first quarter of last year (EUR 26.7 million). All segments contributed towards this positive development, in particular the largest segment Print, which enjoyed an upswing in revenue of 16 percent. The new financial year consequently got off to a flying start.

Profitability was likewise up. Thanks to an optimised costs structure the company succeeded in boosting the operating result by a disproportionately high 35.3 percent to EUR 2.8 million (previous year EUR 2.0 million). The operating margin consequently reached an outstanding 9 percent as soon as the first quarter. In the first three months, technotrans posted a net profit for the period of EUR 1.5 million (previous year EUR 1.3 million). The rise in earnings of 13.5 percent therefore almost matched the increase in revenue. Earnings per share for the first quarter of 2005 amount to EUR 0.22 (previous year: EUR 0.20).

During the last 12 months the number of employees in the technotrans grew. On March 31, 2005 680 persons were employed (previous year: 606), comprising 470 (421) in Germany and 210 (185) abroad, a gain of 74 jobs.

Outlook
"As matters stand, we expect the positive trend of the first quarter to hold up. This would already provide a sound basis on which to achieve the targets for 2005 (revenue of EUR 120 to 125 million and a net profit for the year of EUR 7 to 7.5 million)", says Heinz Harling, Chairman of the Executive Board of technotrans AG. In parallel with the operative business, technotrans is moreover making preparations to enter a new dimension. "Based on our long-standing successful strategy of 'More technotrans per printing press', we are currently developing a blanket cleaner with which we now aim to tap into the market for cleaning systems as well." According to Harling developments are progressing according to schedule and he expects volume production to start in the second half of 2005.

The segments
technotrans is active in three areas of business: Print, Micro Technologies and Services.

The positive development of the Print segment gained further momentum in the first quarter of 2005. Revenue was up 16 percent in the first three months, to EUR 22.3 million (previous year: EUR 19.2 million) and is therefore at the upper end of the target range. The Print segment contributed more than 72 percent of consolidated revenue in the first quarter of 2005.

The result for the segment was EUR 1.8 million, representing a 41 percent rise on the prior-year period (EUR 1.3 million). The rate of return for the segment rose to 8.1 percent and is consequently higher than the level for both the prior quarter (6.7 percent) and the entire prior year (7.9 percent). The further rises in revenue planned and an advantageous product mix should help at least to maintain this welcome development throughout the year in progress.

Compared with the slack first quarter of the previous year, revenue for the Micro Technologies segment improved to EUR 1.2 million in the first three months of 2005 (previous year: EUR 729 thousand). It reflects in particular a lingering reluctance to invest within the CD/DVD sector, while the revenue contribution of the microstructure technology area remains low.

As expected, the segment was still unable to report a positive result at this level, though the figure of EUR -255 thousand represented an improvement on the prior-year quarter, when a loss of EUR -521 was posted. Appropriate measures to improve profitability have been launched and should help to avoid a loss for the year as a whole.

The positive development in the Services segment continued at the start of 2005. Revenue rose by 7.4 percent compared with the first quarter of the previous year, to EUR 7.2 million (previous year EUR 6.7 million). This segment consequently continued to generate over 23 percent of consolidated revenue.

Earnings were unable to keep pace with this growth. The result for the segment of EUR 1.2 million was slightly down (-6 percent) on the first quarter of 2004. This is attributable in the first instance to the more intensive level of service support that was required, as expected, for the new products launched in the course of the past year. The development of Technical Documentation has moreover received a major boost through a marketing campaign, which is likewise temporarily diminishing the rate of return for the Services segment. It is nevertheless still a satisfying 16.1 percent and is likely to improve further in the course of the year.

Key Data 01-03/2005

Dates:
The results for the first half year and the second quarter of 2005 will be published on August 9th, 2005.

Securities:
technotrans AG - ISIN DE0007449001 - German Securities Identification No. WKN 744 900

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These press releases contain forward-looking statements which are based on assumptions and estimations by the management board of technotrans AG. Even though the management board is of the opinion, that those assumptions and estimations are realistic the future development and the projected results may deviate substantially from the forward-looking statements. Those deviations can be due to several factors including but not limited to changes in the macro-economic situation, in the exchange rates, in the interest rates and in the graphic arts industry. technotrans AG gives no warranty and does not assume the liability for any damages in case the future development and the projected results do not correspond with the forward looking statements.