Filtronic takes steps to cut costs

SHIPLEY-based mobile phone technology group Filtronic is expanding its business development activity, despite posting a full year operating loss.

Revenue from continuing operations in the year ended May 31 2011 was £15.5m, compared with £15.6m the year before.

The operating loss after exceptional items was £7.1m, compared with a loss of £1.1m last year.

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Once a company with operations in four continents, Filtronic has downsized in recent years.

The group, which was spun out of the University of Leeds in the 1970s, designs and makes technology to link and upgrade mobile phone base stations.

Howard Ford, the company’s chairman, said: “Action has been taken to reduce costs in the broadband business where an appropriate headcount reduction has been implemented.

“Meanwhile the integration of the Isotek and broadband businesses is being accelerated across the group, and specialist broadband resources are being redeployed to maximise mobile base station product opportunities. In parallel, the company is expanding its business development activity on new opportunities for its innovative filtering products as operational capacity is scaled up.”

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The firm was founded by University of Leeds Professor David Rhodes in 1977 and grew into a world leader in microwave electronic components. The company downsized when the bulk of the wireless infrastructure business was sold in 2006 to Powerwave Technologies in a £184m deal.

Land and buildings in Saltaire were also sold, and in 2008 the compound semi-conductors arm was disposed of for £12.5m.

The final sale came in late 2008 when Filtronic sold its defence electronics business for £13m.