Zytronic scores record order book

Dec 8 2010 By Karen Dent, The Journal

TYNESIDE hi-tech company Zytronic has shrugged off the downturn in the computer gaming market to boost its profits by more than a quarter and pull in record orders of almost £20m.

The Blaydon-based firm, which makes touchscreens and has an impressive list of customers including Coca-Cola, said sales jumped by 16% to £18.5m in the year to the end of September and profits increased by 27% to £2.9m.

It comes after the slowdown in the gaming sector saw its sales grow by just 3% in the first half of its year.

But the company, which exports 90% of its products, said its efforts to broaden its geographical reach and create new products were paying off.

Zyronic, which has three factories on Tyneside where it assembles touch sensors, optical filters and other glass and plastic laminates, has recently expanded its international sales network to include Brazil and South Africa.

Chairman, David Banks said: “Increased sales in the self-service and kiosk markets have offset the downturn in sales to the gaming market, which has been hard hit by the recession.

“The growth in total sales was driven principally by sales of optical filters to the cash dispenser (ATM) market where volume increased by 36%.”