Rocla Oyj's industrial truck business grew more than 20 per cent in 2004, according to the company's financial statements.

"The positive development was a result of active sales promotion throughout the sales network, growing demand and the fact that industrial truck deliveries to North America, that started a year ago, continued as forecast," the statements said.

Net sales for industrial trucks in 2004 were EUR79.8 million (USD103.7 million) while operating profit was EUR 4.9 million (USD6.4 million).

The "remarkable improvement" in operating profit for industrial trucks resulted in a proposal, to be put to the annual general meeting in March, to present the unit's personnel in Finland with cash bonuses. Personnel would receive around EUR1700 (USD2209) if the proposal is approved.

Consolidated net sales for the Rocla Group were EUR91.7 million (USD119.2 million), a 13 per cent increase on 2003. Exports and international operations accounted for 77 per cent of consolidated net sales.

The share of net sales for industrial trucks was 87 per cent and 13 per cent for automated guided vehicles.