The Co Cavan building materials supplier Kingspan said 2001 has got off to a satisfactory start with operations performing better in the first quarter than in the same period last year.
The company added: "In anticipation of further increased demand for the group's main products we will be pressing ahead with the installation of increased capacity to augment the considerable additional capacity that was put in place in 2000."
The company's comments came as it reported a 15 per cent rise in pre-tax profit to euro 67.5 million in 2000 on a rise in turnover of 24 per cent to euro 662.6 million.
It said a downturn in the US - if deeper and longer than expected - could restrict the growth prospects of its unit Tate, which it bought last year. But it said its remaining businesses should not be adversely affected.
"The immediate emphasis will be on maximising the returns from our recent and ongoing capital expenditure programmes and Tate, our most significant acquisition to date," Kingspan said.