Technology-led plastics group Carclo (Ossett, West Yorkshire / UK; www.carclo.co.uk) reported a solid performance in its first half-year – despite the uncertain economic environment. Results were in line with expectations, although the group said it expects profits to rise even more in the second six months of its financial year, which runs to 31 March 2012. The financial position remains strong and a bank re-financing exercise is well under way, with terms agreed, and the group remains confident in its outlook for the full year.

The Technical Plastics precision injection moulding business, which accounts for two-thirds of group sales, benefited from further growth in its US medical activities and, what is termed, significant expansion of its Indian business – see also Plasteurope.com of 14.6.2011. Profits for the division will be slightly behind last year’s first half, which was unusually strong, but a stronger second half-year is expected to provide continuing growth in profitability.

In the Precision Products division, growth in the Wipac specialist LED supercar lighting business has been positive. Profits are ahead of last year and new programmes continue to be won. Carclo will cease supplying antennas and cables to Ford Motor Company by the end of the financial year, allowing Wipac to focus its resources on growth in LED lighting. The aerospace activities have traded well and returned to profit growth.

The “Fine Line Technology” project at Conductive Inkjet Technology has made a significant advance with the pilot line facility at Cambridge / UK ready for production. The pace of sampling for smart phones and tablets has stepped up as Carclo’s commercial partner, Atmel Corporation (San Jose, California / USA; www.atmel.com), has introduced the technology to a wider market. Production yields are said to be encouraging and volume manufacture is expected to start early in 2012.