TOKYO -- Japanese machinery maker Daifuku likely logged an April-June record of 5.5 billion yen ($48.5 million) in operating profit, improving 27% year over year thanks to strong demand for automation from logistics centers and factories.

Sales are seen growing 15% to 85 billion yen. Daifuku benefited from the proliferation of online sales, as retailers and other companies build large logistics centers. Orders for automated systems that help carry and sort packages in these facilities have thrived amid Japan's labor shortage. Sales likely beat expectations, though Daifuku does not release a quarterly earnings forecast.

Foreign demand also is growing. In China, automation for factories drew strong interest, with sales rising for equipment tied to producing organic light-emitting diode screens used in car monitors and smartphones. Sales also have been brisk for systems that convey parts and products at semiconductor factories.

In the U.S., automakers are introducing automated equipment to production lines as they replace aging machinery. Daifuku's orders for conveyor systems at airports are growing at a European subsidiary, lifting total profit.

Orders for the April-June quarter are believed to be worth 90 billion yen to 100 billion yen, surpassing the previous year's result for the same period. This pace beat company expectations, and Daifuku could top its 210 billion yen forecast for the April-September half. Orders are a leading indicator of sales by a few months.

The Japanese company's shares have benefited from growing investment in labor-saving technology, reaching an all-time high of 3,565 yen June 6 before investors took profits. The share price closed at 3,325 yen Tuesday.

Analyst forecasts for Daifuku are more bullish than company expectations. The QUICK Consensus predicts a 22% increase in consolidated operating profit to 28.2 billion yen for fiscal 2017, while the company targets 26.6 billion yen.

(Nikkei)