2021 Interim Report released

“Trading in the first half of the financial year reflected generally improving end markets, in particular industrial lasers. The roll out of new technologies such as 5G and greater use of new materials in microelectronic manufacturing has fuelled demand, building on the sustained growth in semiconductors.

“Our manufacturing sites all remain fully open and are compliant with all the relevant health and safety regulations. Travel restrictions and self isolating have presented delivery hurdles during the period, but we expect these issues to ease as the vaccine roll out progresses in the UK and USA.

“The Group’s restructuring programmes are progressing well and are expected to be substantially complete by the end of the financial year. They have made a contribution to the improved profit performance in the period and are on track to deliver the expected full year benefit in FY 2022.

“The challenge of the pandemic has validated our long-term strategic goals of diversification and moving up the value chain. We intend to vigorously pursue these goals through internal investment in our target sectors and where appropriate, acquisitions.”