SWEDEN – Top 40 EMS firm PartnerTech reported 2009 net sales of SEK 2.15 billion ($298.4 million), down 15% year-over-year.

The company swung to an after-tax loss of SEK 21.5 million, down from a profit of SEK 5.2 million last year. The operating loss was SEK 3.5 million, down from a profit of SEK 28.5 million in 2008.

For the year, the return on operating capital was -0.4%.

It was the company’s lowest sales total since 2005.

In a statement, PartnerTech said it would continue to improve its performance in 2010 while concluding a major reorganization project.

PartnerTech said it plans to open a plant in Poland later this year. "Given our target of accelerated sales growth in Eastern Europe and China, we decided to start a new Polish plant in 2010. The availability of highly trained employees at lower costs than northern Europe is good news for our customers," said Rune Glavare, the company’s outgoing president and CEO.