Supercar brands help to light way ahead for Carclo

TECHNICAL plastics group Carclo yesterday delivered “solid” first half figures on the back of lucrative links with the world of luxury cars.

Top of the range supercars such as Aston Martin, Bugatti Veyron and Lamborghini all source their LED lighting from Carclo.

The company, which is based in Ossett, West Yorkshire, posted underlying operating profit of £2.3m in the six months to September 30, which Carclo said was in line with the previous year’s figure.

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Carclo said technical plastics maintained strong revenue streams of £29.2m, which was slightly higher than the £29.1m recorded in the same period last year.

Carclo’s precision products division benefited from the growth in the LED-based supercar lighting business.

As a result, underlying half year operating profits increased to £1.1m, from £400,000 the year before.

Ian Williamson, the company’s chief executive, said: “We have concentrated on uniquely styled LED lights. It’s technically quite an advanced area.

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“We have captured most of the premium supercar brands. It’s a great place to be right now. The super rich aren’t getting any poorer.”

Carclo’s conductive inkjet technology (CIT) also made “excellent progress” during the first half of the year.

In a statement, the company added: “We’ve provided production samples to the leading mobile device manufacturers for smartphones and tablets and are experiencing a significant ramp-up in this sampling process. We are now providing samples of touch screens for devices that are in current production.” Product sales continued to grow in technical plastics, led by a good performance from Carclo’s medical diagnostic business. Demand from developing economies, especially China, is driving significant growth in customers serving the laboratory blood testing market.

Carclo added: “Our LED optics business continues to be the division’s fastest growing segment with an increased volume of 17.2 per cent over the corresponding period last year.

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“We continue to invest to support the growth of our medical and optical businesses.”

Christopher Ross, company’s chairman, said yesterday: “Our businesses are performing well. While we are mindful of the uncertain world economic environment, we expect further progress in our second half and are on track to deliver good growth for the year as a whole, and recent contract awards will underpin further growth next year.

“Progress at CIT is exciting, with the touch screen application set to deliver a transformational contribution to the group. CIT also has many other opportunities for growth and the board is focused on delivering the value of this growth to shareholders.”