The Olympus Europe Group has announced a record-breaking result for the 2003/2004 fiscal year, which ended March 31, 2004.

According to an Olympus press release, the result is even more remarkable because the company invested heavily in new service centers and acquisitions throughout Europe and in the pan-European logistics center at its headquarters in Hamburg.

Sales of the Imaging Systems division of Olympus Europa GmbH increased by more than 30 percent to Euro 804.3 million, while the digital photography market was affected by a decline in prices of around 30 percent. For the eighth consecutive year, sales of digital cameras continued to grow, while the re-alignment of sales and marketing also contributed to the division’s results in the last fiscal year. Olympus also managed to maintain its leading position in the European analog camera market and expanded its leadership in the voice recording segment. Sales of binoculars stayed at previous year’s level.

Sales of the Medical Systems division of Olympus Europa GmbH increased by 4 percent to Euro 414.7 million. Turnover of the Microscopy division declined slightly to Euro 78.5 million, due to the shrinking market, and the company’s Diagnostica division posted a sales growth of 13.1 percent to Euro 133.5 million.