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NORTH BILLERICA, MA - BTU International, a maker of thermal processing equipment, swung back to profitability despite lower quarterly sales.

Net sales for the quarter ended Dec. 31 were $13.6 million, down from $15.4 million sequentially but up from $7.8 million a year ago. Net income was $70,000, versus a net loss of $2.4 million sequentially and a net loss of $1.6 million last year. BTU took a one-time restructuring charge of $1.6 million in the third quarter.

For the year net sales nearly doubled to $54.6 million, versus $28.5 million. The net loss for was $4.2 million, including $1.6 million in charges. BTU lost $6.8 million in 2003.

In a press statement, chairman and CEO Paul van der Wansem said, "The general trend in capital spending levels in many of the markets we serve has been cautious, with an indication of growth in Asia and Europe. The operations in China are proceeding according to plan."

This week the staff of Circuits Assembly is reporting live from the Apex trade show. Click here to read the latest news from Anaheim, CA.

FRANKLIN, MA - February 16- Frost & Sullivan has named Speedline Technologies its 2005 Surface Mount Technology Company of the Year, citing the firm's "tremendous success, focus on process expertise and excellence in operations, competitive strategy and industry leadership."

Speedline is a maker of capital equipment for electronics manufacturers. The company's "dramatic turnaround and performance over the past two years," despite tough overall economic times for the industry, was key in the selection, according to Keith Robinson, industry manager of F&S.

Speedline's process knowledge expertise, especially in lead-free manufacturing, its customer service and its used equipment programs were cited as additional factors in the award.

"Speedline provides increased value to its customers through its innovative product offerings and close work with their customers' R&D teams to refine the emerging lead-free manufacturing process," said Robinson. "Speedline treats customer service as a separate business and cross-trains its customer support team to work with various types of equipment," said Robinson.

The award will be officially presented to Speedline at a banquet on May 25 in Naples, FL.