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ST. LOUIS, Nov. 4 -- LaBarge Inc. today reported first-quarter 2005 revenues rose 47% year-on-year, the best quarter in the company's history.
For the quarter ended Oct. 3, LaBarge posted net sales of $43.6 million, up from $29.7 million a year ago. Net earnings from continuing operations rose 68% to $2.3 million, versus $1.4 million last year. Total net earnings grew 81%; fiscal 2004 first-quarter earnings included a net loss from discontinued operations of $102,000. The first-quarter 2005 results include net sales of $12.9 million and earnings from the company's Pittsburgh operation, acquired in February 2004.
Gross margin remained 23%. Selling and administrative expense declined as a percentage of sales to 13%, from 16% in 2004. Total debt rose to $41 million, up from $37.7 million sequentially.
The company said bookings of new business -- particularly from the defense, government systems and natural resources market sectors -- were strong during the quarter. Order backlogs were down 5% sequentially to $149.5 million.
Defense customers made up 42% of sales, industrial 20%, natural resources 19%. The remaining 19% came from commercial aerospace and government systems, among other sectors.
The company guided for second-quarter sales and earnings substantially higher than last year and slightly higher than the first quarter.
Manufacturing grew for the 17th consecutive month, ISM said, based on its monthly poll of the supply chain. ISM said that while growth remains strong, inflation worries are rampant.
"Strong growth continues, but at a slower rate than in September," said ISM chairman Norbert Ore. "However, energy prices and commodity price inflation are major concerns for manufacturing buyers."
The PMI measure of economic activity fell 1.7 points to 56.8%, but remained above the benchmark 50% level for the 17th straight month.
New orders rose 0.2 points and production declined 6.8 points. "Manufacturing experienced three quarters of strong growth this year [and] the decline in order backlogs is an indication that manufacturing has peaked," said Ore.
Trends in pricing (higher) and customer inventories (lower) continued. Order backlogs dropped in October, yet imports and exports rose.
Electronic Components and Equipment, and Industrial and Commercial Equipment and Computers were among the sectors reporting growth.
June July August Sept. Oct.
PMI 61.1 62.0 59.0 58.5 56.8
New orders 60.0 64.7 61.2 58.1 58.3
Production 63.2 66.1 59.5 61.6 54.8
Inventories 51.1 49.9 51.7 51.0 48.2
Customer inventories 39.0 37.5 45.5 41.4 43.5
Backlogs 58.5 58.0 55.0 55.0 49.0
Source: Institute for Supply Management, November 2004
ATLANTA, Oct. 19 — The ninth annual PCB Design Conference East featured a sold-out show floor of more than 50 exhibitors and enjoyed a double-digit increase in overall attendance, conference organizers said.
The Oct. 4-8 event attracted 585 conference and expo-only attendees, a 30% increase over 2003, said UP Media Group Inc. in a press statement. (UPMG is the parent company of Circuits Assembly.) The conference drew 158 attendees, a 56% increase over 2003.
The numbers do not include PCB East exhibitors.
"The electronics design and manufacture industries certainly struggled from 2001 to 2003 but began to pick up steam in early 2004. That growth is evident in the soldout show floor and increased attendance," said UP Media Group president Pete Waddell. "I'd like to thank our attendees, many of whom have supported PCB East since it was founded in 1996, and our exhibitors, who continue to recognize that PCB East is a must-attend annual event."
PCB East 2005 will be held Oct. 10-14 at the Radisson Hotel Manchester in Manchester, NH. For more information and to download the conference brochure visit www.pcbeast.com.
The 14th annual PCB Design Conference West takes place March 7-11 at the Santa Clara (CA) Convention Center. For more information, visit www.pcbwest.com.
Third quarter sales of handhelds fell 4.6% sequentially and 8.7% year-on-year, to 2.1 million units.
Market success will go to those that extend handheld devices into markets beyond core PIM functionality, such as GPS bundles, IDC said.
China's electronics industry size is now more than three times that of southeast Asia's, and is projected to become five times as large by 2010.
"Electronic exports from China will decrease from the current 25% of total output as the domestic market for consumer electronics, telecommunications, computing and advanced automotive products picks up," Fusion said. "The 3G revolution and the 2008 Olympics in Beijing will really give this sector a boost."
Meanwhile, southeast Asia's electronics market will reach $96 billion by 2010, an annual growth rate of 7.6%. Fusion says.
The firm predicts Singapore will be the region's top producer, with output of $17 billion by 2010, followed by Thailand ($14 billion), Malaysia ($9 billion), Indonesia ($7 billion), and the Philippines ($6 billion).
The Kester lab will use a SlimKIC 2000 and Navigator tools for defining process windows and selecting ovens or wave solder recipes.
"We are excited about this opportunity to work so closely with Kester Europe. Kester's solutions are in line with KIC's high standard of quality, and we feel that the SlimKIC 2000 and Navigator tools will help Kester elevate their solutions and customer service to the next level," said Bjorn Dahle, President of KIC.
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