Orbital back in black as profits reach $500k

Balcatta-based engineering company Orbital Corporation Ltd has recovered from a first half net loss of $1.4 million to post a net profit of $500,000 after a concerted marketing campaign for its consultancy division.

Orbital Powertrain Engineering Services consultancy division had suffered in the first half of the year, and it was only after focusing on growing markets in China and India that results improved. The company announced it had engineering orders on hand in excess of $8 million at July 1 this year.

In February Orbital's joint venture with Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation, Synerject, acquired BRP US Inc.'s electronic components manufacturing facility in Delavan, USA.

The purchase paid off, with Orbital's share of profits increasing by 41 per cent to $4.1 million, up from $2.9 million the previous year.

Synerject's revenue had increased to US $57.5 million, or 37 per cent for the year.