All-
The following message sure does sound like we are in a "throwaway quarter" but watch us run in the next half!
Zoltek sees impact of new lines in 2nd half
ST. LOUIS, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Zoltek Cos Inc <ZOLT.O> said Friday it expects five new continuous carbonization lines completed in 1997 to begin having a substantial impact on sales and earnings in the second half of fiscal 1998.
The company said in a statement that it expects relatively little contribution from the new lines in the first half while carbon fibers produced by them go through a period of process verification, product characterization and customer qualifications.
Zoltek's fiscal year ends on September 30.
"Having started five new continuous carbonization lines in 1997, we plan to install 11 in 1998 and another 20 from 1999 through 2000, each with a rated annual capacity of one million pounds," the company said.
"Customers and joint venture partners will now have plenty of material to work with in developing new applications. That was not the case during 1997 and much of 1996 when we were capacity-constrained," Zoltek said.
Zoltek is primarily focused on the low-cost manufacture and application of carbon fibers used as a reinforcement material in composites.
Its shares were trading up 1/4 at 26-1/2 (closing at 28 7/8).
14:55 01-16-98
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Regards,
Mike |
