Results for electronics designer and supplier CML Microsystems Plc were bolstered for the last six months by progress in the UK traffic and US semiconductor businesses – Microsense Systems Ltd and MX-COM Inc. The company predicts that Microsense, in particular, will provide sharply improved contributions in the second half, resulting in a modest improvement in the group’s year-end figures. The poorest were filed by the Witham, Essex-based Consumer Microcircuits Ltd division. The Consumer label is an historical accident – originally the company was going to use its signalling technology for remotel control of toys, but in the end its semiconductors found their niche telecommunications market. CML continues to be hit by declines sales of its traditional portable mobile radio and analogue cellular chips, while initial sales of its newer range of wireless modem products (CI No 2,185) are slower than expected. The situation has been depressed by recession in Europe; Germany is faring poorly and sales in France are relatively flat, according to group finance director Nigel Clark. Meanwhile the political turmoil in Italy has put a virtual stop to telecommunications spending for the next few months and the company concludes that there is unlikely to be an upturn in the business this year. Back in June the company said that its Radio Data Technology division, which produces the kind of technology that tags products on manufacturing lines was being cut back pending a re-launch. The restructuring was finished in September, but Clark says that there are no immediate plans to expand the operation, which currently has a turnover of only around UKP150,000. Over the period CML acquired two small companies – Applied Technology and Traffic Control Consultants, and despite this operating profits still rose 25%. Clark says CML is still on the acquisition path, and that it is targeting semiconductor manufacturers in particular.
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