News Article
Production MBE market back on track, says Riber
After toughing out a sharp downturn in demand for production MBE machines, equipment supplier Riber says that wireless communication applications are now driving a resurgence in business.
MBE equipment supplier Riber saw its 2005 sales climb by more than 30% over the previous year thanks to greater demand for production machines.
The French company sold 14 machines in all last year, and posted a total revenue of €17.7 million, compared with only €13.5 million in 2004.
That bounce was largely the result of its sale of three production MBE machines for a total of €6.1 million. Two of those production machines are being used to make RF components, while the third was bought by an optoelectronics manufacturer.
Despite the improved picture, Riber will still post a net loss for 2005, which it partly blames on the unfavorable euro-dollar exchange rate, as well as the "limited" impact of its cost reduction efforts thus far.
