FRANKLIN, MA, Sept. 7-- Speedline Technologies Inc. (speedlinetech.com) reported second quarter sales up 61% over the same period last year. Bookings also rose, growing 85% over Q1 2003. At the end of the period, the business backlog was 3.5 times higher than at the same time last year.

 

"We saw continuation of the rigorous market recovery in electronics manufacturing that started in the first quarter," said Pierre de Villemejane, Speedline's president. "Cell phone and computer production was exceptionally strong, driving higher spending for capital equipment to expand capacity."

 

For the first half of 2004, sales were up 52% over the same period last year, while bookings climbed 69%.

 

de Villemajane indicated that sales were strong across all geographic regions: "In the Americas, electronics capital spending was expansion-driven, and our large contract electronic manufacturing customers invested heavily in new equipment. Mexico and Brazil also exhibited particularly strong signs of recovery."

 

According to de Villemejane, Hungary has emerged as the fastest growing European market. The expansion of lead-free processing is also driving growth in the U.K., Poland, Czech Republic and Turkey. Speedline's fastest growing Asian markets are China and Thailand.