AESCH, SWITZERLAND -- SMT process equipment supplier Essemtec today said March sales were up 15% and "the bottom has been reached."

In comparison to February, we recorded an increase in [sales] of more than 15% for March,” chief executive Martin Ziehbrunner said. “We think that the bottom as such has been reached for us. In the next weeks and months we expect a continual but slow increase in the orders,”

Numerous rescheduled projects at customer sites have been are now turning into orders, he added.