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Saia-Burgess expands presence in the United States

Saia-Burgess expects 25 per cent growth in sales this year. Saia-Burgess

Saia-Burgess, which is active in electronics for cars and other sectors of industry, has announced two successful orders that will have major long-term benefits. However, the Murten-based company said on Friday that it was cautious about the outlook for the second half of this year.

A statement said the company had been selected by a major automotive supplier as a subsystem manufacturer for a new type of door lock. It named the partner as AvenMeritor, whose worldwide activities account for sales of $7 billion (SFr 12.57 billion).

The contract includes the design, development and manufacture of a new type of electrical subsystem with up to four microswitches for a new generation of locking systems. They will be produced for the Ford Group.

Saia-Burgess also announced that there was increased demand for motors in air-conditioning systems, which should lead to continuing double-digit growth in this sector for 2002.

In its outlook for the second half, the company spoke of the emergence of recessionary conditions in the United States and weakness in the European industrial market.

It added that to combat this, the group was accelerating transfers of production to low-cost countries.

Despite the cautious assessment, Saia-Burgess expects group sales to increase by more than 25 per cent for the full year. Turnover last year was SFr382.67 million.

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