STUTTGART, Germany—The Zeiss Group reported record revenue and earnings for its 2015-16 fiscal year on Friday, and cited “improved competitiveness” for its operational success. The company in its year-end earnings report also said it expects to “remain on course for further growth” even though “certain developments, such as increasing protectionism, give cause for concern.”

In the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, Zeiss reported that revenue rose 8 percent to €4.881 billion (compared with €4.511 billion in the prior year), and earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) rose roughly 67 percent to €615 million (compared with €369 million), and the EBIT margin was 13 percent. For the first time, incoming orders exceeded the 5 billion euro mark, Zeiss reported.

At a news conference held here Friday, Carl Zeiss AG president and chief executive Dr. Michael Kaschke said 2015-16 was the most successful fiscal year for the group. “The programs we have launched to increase our competitiveness are now truly coming to fruition,” he said. “Our entire portfolio is contributing to the healthy earnings. Increases were reported in all our fields of business.”

In its vision care/consumer products business segment, revenue rose 8 percent to €1.089 billion in the 2015-16 fiscal year. This compared with €1.007 billion in the prior year. In its earnings announcement, Zeiss attributed its “strong growth” in vision care/consumer products to the successful new product launches. Zeiss has recently launched branded lenses such as DriveSafe and PhotoFusion and lens coatings such as DuraVision.

Across other business segments, research and quality technology posted €1.466 billion in revenue for the period, an 8 percent increase over the year-ago period. Medical technology revenue rose 7 percent, to €1.29 billion, and revenue from the semiconductor manufacturing technology sector increased 9 percent to €972 million.

The company noted that its medical technology segment is “holding its ground on the hotly contested health care market and is continuing to expand its leading position.” Zeiss said it generates just under 90 percent of its business outside Germany, and that it was “particularly successful” in the Asia/Pacific (APAC) region, where revenue rose 17 percent to €1.123 billion after currency adjustments. In China, revenue totaled €504 million in the recent fiscal year, compared with €390 million in the prior year.

“The good figures clearly demonstrate that we are very well-positioned in the key growth markets with our broad portfolio and are meeting our customers’ needs around the world,” Kaschke said. “We have successfully implemented our Agenda 2016 and are now a much more modern, global and dynamic enterprise.”

Looking ahead, Kaschke said forecasts for fiscal year 2016-17 “anticipate moderate global growth,” with a slight slowdown in some emerging markets. “We will be successful because our portfolio is well balanced and because we shall continue to pursue Agenda 2020 and its programs for increased competitiveness. In 2016-17 we expect to see a slight revenue increase and a comparable EBIT margin overall,” he said.