The German company posted earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of €4.5m ($5.8m), compared to €400,000 in the same period last year.

Sales in the first-half of 2010 reached €85m, up from €31.6m in the corresponding six months of 2009.

The Freiburg-based firm is confident of achieving its 2010 forecasts of between €190m and €210m sales, with EBIT ranging from €8m to €11m.

Chief