NEW YORK -- Dover Corp. reported fourth-quarter sales rose 19% to $1.61 billion over last year. For the period ended Dec. 31, earnings from continuing operations rose 30% to $125.1 million, while net earnings were $116.1 million.

For the year Dover had revenue of $6.08 billion, up 17%, and earnings from continuing operations of $474.5 million, up 21%.

December revenue, at $551 million, was up 4% sequentially. The Electronics and Technologies divisions posted their highest quarterly orders of the year.

For the year, Dover reported revenue growth of 17%, to $6.1 billion, a company record. Net earnings for the year were $510.1 million, up from $412.8 million in 2004. Earnings from continuing operations hit $474.5 million. Income reached its highest point since 2000. Orders were up 18% to $6.63 billion.

Revenue and earnings were up in five of its six divisions.

At quarter's end the company had a backlog of 1.28 billion, up 28% year-over-year. Inventory turns were up 1.1 turns, to six turns. The company generated $159 million in net proceeds from the sale of several businesses during 2005.

For the quarter, Dover Electronics had income of $19.6 million, up 86%, on sales of $212 million, up 57%. For the year, the division returned a profit of $49.3 million, up 20%, on a 31% sales gain, to $473.8 million.

Dover Technologies grew 20% to $423.8 million, while income jumped 92% to $42.5 million, reflecting higher demand over last year and the acquisition of DataMax. Sales for the year were up 8% to $1.59 billion. Bookings at the technology groups were up 23% versus a year ago.

"DEK and Vitronics Soltec posted impressive gains," noted chief executive and president Ron Hoffman on a conference call with analysts.

Dover Technologies also includes Hover-Davis, Universal Instruments, Alphasem, OK International and Everett Charles.

“Backend semiconductor outlook and strong backlogs project a strong first quarter,” added Rob Kuhbach, vice president of finance and chief financial officer.

Sequentially, circuit assembly and test sales were down 3% and earnings were off 13%, not including a one-time charge of $6.4 million. Bookings were up 13% from the September quarter. The unit has a book-to-bill of 1.05 and bookings of $145 million going in the March quarter.

During the quarter Universal recorded its highest bookings and shipments of platform machines for the year, but still faces a lot of challenges, Hoffman said.

One trend Dover has spotted is that demand for circuit assembly and test gear is seeing more activity in U.S. and Europe, he said.