Den Bosch, Netherlands-based personal computer manufacturer Tulip Computers NV yesterday announced figures for the six months to June 30 that saw net profits up 96% to the equivalent of $2.1m on turnover up 18.2% to $126m, as margins slipped two per cent to 28%, as competition increased in the computer market. Terence Cooke, UK managing director, expects margins to stablise at 25% for Tulip and the market as a whole. In June Tulip unveiled around 40 new models in the launch of three lines of personal computers as part of its policy to expand its range from the corporate user to the growing small office and home office market. It has sold 3,500 of the new range so far in the UK. Since his appointment three months ago, Cooke has started to implement structural changes to the sales and marketing side of the business, focusing on the dealer side of the market. The UK end will also be ramping up its cash position to create more pull-through in the medium-sized company market segment, while still maintaining corporate activities. The Impression Line of personal computers announced in June and aimed at the retail and small business market will be available on October 1. The company as a whole has a current capacity of 120,000 production units on a daytime shift, which it says it will have to double before its new factory is opened at Rosalen in the south of the Netherlands. The company is in a cash-rich position and says it will pay for the $10m plant out of the existing funds. The factory is due to open in January 1996 with a daylight production capacity of around 300,000 units a year. No decision has been made about its existing plant, but it may be used for marketing and research and development. For the full year to December 31 the UK end expects growth of 65% to 70% in terms of units and a 50% growth in revenue. Tulip expects as a whole turnover to be up 35%. The Danish subsidiary is performing particulary well at present, as is the French arm. Net income per share was $0.47 at the end of the half, up by 90% on last year.
