Replication equipment manufacturer Singulus has recorded a 47% increase of orders in its books during the first quarter of this year, rising to 67% in the second quarter, compared to the respective 2007 periods.

So, as of 30 June 2008 the order backlog rose to €129.7 million (previous year: €77.7 million). The company attributes the high order intake in the first half of the year to the interest in the new Blu-ray technology as well as in its solar panel equipment.

However, because orders for high-margin products in the Blu-ray and Solar segment in the first half of the year will only be recorded as sales in the following quarters, at €51 million, sales in the second quarter were below the €62.5 million reported in the same period last year.

Also, the weak semi-conductor activities at HamaTech and the segment coating weighed on the results in the second quarter result. At 27.1%, gross margins remained at the level of the previous year. Also, at €8.3 million in the 1st half of 2008, Singulus’ R&D spending declined significantly over the previous year (€10.4 million).

Market conditions have forced the company to review its operations, leading to the relocation of its assembly of the MoldPro injection molding machines to Kahl am Main and the closure of Singulus Molding in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, with the loss of some 50 employees. The reason given by the company is that “the commissioning of Dual Layer Blu-ray Disc machines in Kahl requires a fine tuning of the injection molding machine with the rest of the line.”

Sales so far reflect the weakness in the previous year, but not the favorable order intake, which the company says it has been experiencing since the beginning of 2008. Sales growth will mainly be reflected from the third quarter onwards. “The new products in our Blu-ray and Solar portfolio will substantially gain importance in our Group in the next couple of years and considerably impact the favorable trend at Singulus,” the company says.

Story filed 13.08.08