Aug 16, 2011. /Lesprom Network/. During the 2Q 2011, Ponsse Group’s net sales grew by 23% compared with the corresponding period and stood at Euro 81.2 million. Compared with the corresponding period, the service business continued to show strong growth, as the company said in a press release received by Lesprom Network. The operating result amounted to Euro 5 million during the 2Q. During the past quarter, the result was burdened by impairment of Euro 2 million related to external trade receivables in South America, which are included in other operating expenses. Ponsse's consolidated net sales in January – June 2011 amounted to Euro 153.2 million, i.e. 31% more than in the comparison period. International business operations accounted for 67.7% of total net sales. 1H 2011 operating result was Euro 10.4 million, equalling 6.8%of net sales in the period under review. An impairment loss worth about Euro 2.6 million related to external trade receivables in South America was recognised as an expense during the period under review. Consolidated return on capital employed (ROCE) stood at 14.1%. After the strong growth in 2010, however, the Group’s net sales are expected to increase at a more moderate rate in accordance with the Group’s strategy. The Group’s full-year profitability and cash flow in business operations are expected to develop positively and improve compared with 2010. The capacity of the factory will be increased during the year and moderate recruitment will continue throughout the whole Group. The company will make strong investments in its service network in Iisalmi and Jyvaskyla. In addition, the company will invest in machining and welding capacity and automation of the Vierema factory. President and CEO Juho Nummela said: “During the first half of the year, the strong demand for forest machines continued. In our main market areas, our customers’ positive work situation continued, which further increased the demand for services and new machinery. In the 2Q 2011, the availability situation of forest machine materials and components improved, and machines were available for deliveries as planned. At the end of the period under review, the Vierema factory was on schedule. Compared with the corresponding period the previous year, the order books more than doubled (+124%), amounting to Euro 112.1 million at the end of the review period.” Ponsse Plc is a company specialising in the sales, manufacture, servicing and technology of cut-to-length method forest machines. The company was established by forest machine entrepreneur Einari Vidgrén in 1970, and it has been a leader in timber harvesting solutions based on the cut-to-length method ever since.