Jan 14, 2013. /Lesprom Network/. Vaahto Group’s turnover for 1 September 2011 – 30 November 2012 was Euro 57.2 million (compared with Euro 55.3 million for the reference period 1 September 2010 – 31 August 2011), with an operating loss of Euro 5.7 million (compared with an operating loss of Euro 1.3 million). Turnover grew by 3% from the reference period level, but the operating result was weaker than in the reference period. The Group’s order book grew by 13% during the period under review and amounted to Euro 25.4 million on 30 November 2012. The length of the reference period is 12 months, when the length of the reporting period is 15 months, as the company said in a press release received by Lesprom Network. On 19 June 2012, Vaahto Group Plc Oyj’s extraordinary general meeting approved an amendment to the statutes, based on which the company’s normal financial year was changed to 1 January–31 December. Consequently, the duration of the current financial year will be 16 months (1 September 2011–31 December 2012). Vaahto Paper Technology's was Euro 34.4 million (reference period Euro 39.7 million) and the operating loss Euro 5 million (operating loss Euro 0.1 million). The turnover fell 13% from the reference period (12 months), and combined with the weak profitability of the project business, it caused the result to remain clearly weaker than that of the reference period. There have been clear signs that the market situation of the project business is now very challenging and additionally being affected by the financial situation of the company. The market situation of the service business is intensifying. As part of the strategy work at Vaahto Group, the possibilities for clarification of the structure and organisation of the project business unit, as well as potential options for business acquisitions or sales, are being analysed. The company has made a strategic decision to focus on the service business in the Vaahto Paper Technology division, where possibilities for utilising Vaahto’s paper technology expertise have made themselves evident. Vaahto Process Technology's turnover of the Vaahto Process Technology division for 1 September 2011 – 30 November 2012 was Euro 22.9 million, and its operating loss was Euro 0.7 million (operating loss Euro 1.2 million). The turnover increased by 46% compared to the reference period (12 months). The operating result improved but still remained negative. The result was impacted by the low profitability of the vessel business during the first six months of the financial year. In terms of pricing, the market situation remained difficult for the division’s vessel business, but the number of confirmed orders and of projects in the tender stage is rapidly growing. In August 2012, Japrotek Oy Ab received a substantial order from Sasol Technology (Pty) Limited in South Africa for the design, fabrication and site-assembly of eight large tank structures. Vaahto Process Technology’s market situation in the agitator business has remained good, and the size of the order book has clearly grown. Profitability objectives for the agitator business have almost been met in the period under review. The agitator business is considered part of the Group’s strategic area of focus. Vaahto Group is a globally operating high technology company serving process industry in the fields of pulp and paper machinery and process machinery.