According to preliminary figures released by the Singulus Technologies Group, the German optical disc replication line manufacturer achieved sales of €116.4 million in the financial year 2009. Singulus says it is within the range of its own forecast.

The order intake for the full-year 2009 came to €80.9 million, which was significantly below the level of the prior year and hence reflects the global financial and economic crisis. The order backlog as of 31 December 2009 in the amount of €34.7 million was also negatively affected by these trends.

Singulus delivered its first production systems for Blu-ray to major international customers in 2005. In 2009, the company entered new markets for the Blu-ray production machines. For example, the first BLULINE II system was sold in Japan and an additional one in Brazil.

To date, Singulus has delivered more than 70 Blu-ray production machines to customers around the world. Except for Sony DADC, almost all Blu-ray manufacturers are today producing discs on equipment made by the German maker.

As the overall economic situation is expected to improve in the coming months, with a sharp growth in consumer the take-up of Blu-ray, and BD-based 3D developments coming fast, forecast growth rates for both core activities Blu-ray give rise to optimism, says the company, who is also heavily involved in the promising Solar market.

Story filed 02.03.10