Sales within Lucas Industries Plc’s Applied Technology division have been hit in the six months to January 31, following the firm’s streamlining operation last year. The division, which sold off Lucas Acoustic Instruments and Lucas Accoustic Power, saw sales slump 37.6% to UKP107.5m, while operating profit took a steeper dive, falling 81% to UKP0.8m. The division has been rapidly slicing away at its structure – (it is one of the few organisations to implement Business Process Reengineering techniques rather than just paying lip service), but reduced demand has offset the immediate benefits that this might have bought. The Lucas Industries group doesn’t break down figures much further than its three separate divisions – Aerospace, Automotive and Applied Technology, the last of which supplies technologies to the former two. Following the sale of the two non-core business for a combined UKP17.5m, there are now four companies within Applied Technology. The Applied Electronics company, which comprises UKP80m of sales, deals with supplying electronics technology to the two other divisions. Lucas Management Systems, which accounts for UKP65m of revenue, was originally Metier Management Systems before it was acquired by the group in 1990. It markets the Artemis project management system. Lucas Engineering Systems, which contributes UKP50m in sales, is the firm’s consultancy arm, providing Business Process Reengineering and information technology restructuring services. Finally, the division’s Lucas Control Systems company produces sensors for use in a variety of industries including medical applications. As a whole, Applied Technology makes 9% of group sales.
