News Article
SEZ Group announces record sales for 2004
Austrian wafer processing company SEZ Group has reported its results for the 2004 full year, with record consolidated net sales of 304.8 million Swiss Francs (CHF) – up from CHF 170.1 million in 2003 - and operating profit (EBIT) of CHF 37.8 million (2003: CHF 1.4 million loss).
Austrian wafer processing company SEZ Group has reported its results for the 2004 full year, with record consolidated net sales of 304.8 million Swiss Francs (CHF) – up from CHF 170.1 million in 2003 - and operating profit (EBIT) of CHF 37.8 million (2003: CHF 1.4 million loss).
The company’s EBIT margin of 12.4 percent was below expectations, whereas net profit - 32.1 million (2003: CHF 1.8 million) – was better than expected. Order intake improved by 53% to CHF 309.1 million.
In the first quarter of 2005, preliminary net sales of around CHF 77 million exceeded the same period last year (CHF 66.3 million), as well as the previous quarter (CHF 75.7 million). Order intake also improved by 10.6% to CHF 69.0 million compared to the previous quarter.
Commenting on the results, a company spokesman said: "While consolidated net sales advanced favourably, cost of goods sold had a less positive impact on operating profitability due to elevated pricing pressures, advances in the market and unfavourable changes in the currency exchange."
In terms of technological changes, SEZ expects the industry to shift from batch to single-wafer wet processing in 2005.
"As the market and technology leader in this industry segment, SEZ will continue to benefit from this trend, especially with its Da Vinci platform," said the spokesman.
Among SEZ's first-quarter 2005 purchase orders were multiple orders for Da Vinci tools from a Korean memory manufacturer and a large Chinese foundry.
The company has also just announced that Japanese memory manufacturer Elpida Memory has placed an order for multiple 300mm, double-chamber single-wafer cleaning systems.
The company said that it expects its Da Vinci tools to account for about 60% of the group's sales in 2005 – and it is outsourcing production to Eastern Europe to meet the expected demand.
SEZ is also forecasting that the "order momentum" would continue into the second half of this year.
The company’s EBIT margin of 12.4 percent was below expectations, whereas net profit - 32.1 million (2003: CHF 1.8 million) – was better than expected. Order intake improved by 53% to CHF 309.1 million.
In the first quarter of 2005, preliminary net sales of around CHF 77 million exceeded the same period last year (CHF 66.3 million), as well as the previous quarter (CHF 75.7 million). Order intake also improved by 10.6% to CHF 69.0 million compared to the previous quarter.
Commenting on the results, a company spokesman said: "While consolidated net sales advanced favourably, cost of goods sold had a less positive impact on operating profitability due to elevated pricing pressures, advances in the market and unfavourable changes in the currency exchange."
In terms of technological changes, SEZ expects the industry to shift from batch to single-wafer wet processing in 2005.
"As the market and technology leader in this industry segment, SEZ will continue to benefit from this trend, especially with its Da Vinci platform," said the spokesman.
Among SEZ's first-quarter 2005 purchase orders were multiple orders for Da Vinci tools from a Korean memory manufacturer and a large Chinese foundry.
The company has also just announced that Japanese memory manufacturer Elpida Memory has placed an order for multiple 300mm, double-chamber single-wafer cleaning systems.
The company said that it expects its Da Vinci tools to account for about 60% of the group's sales in 2005 – and it is outsourcing production to Eastern Europe to meet the expected demand.
SEZ is also forecasting that the "order momentum" would continue into the second half of this year.
