Improving markets help Carclo trading

The company, based in Osset, West Yorkshire, said it had stronger second half trading.

Profits at its technical plastics arm are expected to beat last year thanks to a "robust performance" in its medical and optical business.

In precision products, trading was affected by subdued demand at its aerospace businesses.

Its vehicle components business, Wipac, had a stronger second half due to "significant" revenues from design, development and tooling for supercar lighting programmes. However, delays to two customers' orders will mean a "modest" reduction in profit recognition this year and an increase in the new financial year.

"There are tentative signs of an improvement in the general trading environment and, if sustained, this should benefit the parts of our business that have been affected by the downturn," said the company.

"We continue to win new medical and optical business and the capacitive touch screen project at CIT is rapidly gaining momentum. The board is therefore confident of delivering further progress in the new financial year."

Carclo continues to make strides forward with its Conductive Inkjet Technology business.

Last year it won a landmark deal to develop and launch a new touch screen for use in mobile phones.

The deal, worth up $2m (1.2m) with US electronics heavyweight Atmel Corporation, will see Conductive Inkjet Technology install a new production line at its Cambridge facility to produce touch screen sensors.

The production line will be operational in the second half of this year, with mass production beginning in 2011.

It has also joined forces with lighting specialist Cambridge Display Technology to produce an innovative new lighting device.