Figures for 2009

Schweiter Technologies / Figures for 2009 processed and transmitted by Hugin AS. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. 

Better prospects for 2010 - strong strategic positions in all divisions. Cash
holding around CHF 300 million - operating loss in 2009

Horgen,  March 23, 2010 - In  2009, the order intake  from continuing operations
amounted to CHF 175.2 million (2008: 134.7). Revenues from continuing operations
amounted  to  CHF 132.6  million  (2008:  158.1). Both SSM Textile Machinery and
Ismeca  Semiconductor suffered from the weak state  of the industry. Thanks to a
marked improvement in the second half of the year, both divisions ended the year
as  a whole with single-digit losses.  The acquired composite materials business
3A Composites  was consolidated for one month. On  a pro forma basis, sales came
to CHF 679 million in 2009 (2008: 907) and EBITDA  CHF 60.3 (2008: 95.7).

The  Group's  consolidated  operating  profit  (EBIT) totalled CHF -20.4 million
(2008: -2.9).  The result was a net loss of CHF -20.4 million (2008: 450.7). The
impact  of IFRS-related purchase price adjustments and the cost of 3A Composites
becoming an independent entity depressed the 2009 operating result by around CHF
5.5 million.

The  Group posted year-end liquidity totalling CHF 302 million. The equity ratio
exceeds  70 %. A dividend of  CHF 9.00 per bearer share  will be proposed at the
Annual          General         Meeting         on         May         12, 2010.

Schweiter  Technologies is holding its annual  results press conference today at
the Hotel Marriott, Neumühlequai 42, in Zurich, beginning 11.00 a.m.




                                  Key figures





                                                     Total   Total     Change



 Schweiter Technologies Group
 (in CHF millions)                                    2009    2008



 Orders received - from
 continuing operations                               175.2   134.7         +30%

 Gross revenues - from
 continuing operations                               132.6   158.1         -16%

 Operating profit - from
 continuing operations                               -20.4    -2.9            -

 Net income                                          -20.4   450.7           --





 Segment information by division (in CHF millions)



 Continuing operations:



 SSM Textile Machinery



 Orders received                                      47.9    74.2         -35%

 Gross revenues                                       38.6    81.7         -53%

 Operating result                                     -7.3     0.1            -



 Ismeca Semiconductor



 Orders received                                      54.2    60.5         -10%

 Gross revenues                                       45.9    75.9         -40%

 Operating result                                     -8.2    -0.3            -



 3A Composites (December)



 Orders received                                      73.0       -

 Gross revenues                                       47.6       -

 Operating result                                     -3.6 *     -



 * incl. purchase price adjustments and the cost
 of creating an independent entity.






SSM Textile Machinery

In  an extremely difficult market environment,  sales were 53% lower at CHF 38.6
million.  Strict cost management and short-time  working hours reduced the fixed
costs significantly. The operating loss amounted to CHF -7.3 million.

The  sharp drop in  new orders from  mid-2008 onward became  more accentuated in
2009. All  regions reported a substantial decline  in demand. Even markets which
have  historically been strong and stable, such as China, India and Turkey, fell
to  their lowest levels for years.  Investment in these markets practically came
to  a  standstill  because  of  a  dramatic  slump  in  both  exports  and local
consumption of textile products.

It was not until the third quarter that a steady recovery in new orders began to
emerge,  led  by  the  Asian  countries  and  first  and  foremost China. A more
optimistic assessment of the future, growing local markets and an improvement in
consumer  behaviour led to a clear revival in  the market. Toward the end of the
year, there was also a renewed increase in investment in capacity expansion.

SSM  saw the emergence of an attractive new market in eastern Europe and central
Asia;  although in absolute  terms this is  still of secondary significance, the
growth outlook is encouraging.

Continuing  investment in  development even  during the  crisis has ensured that
product  innovations will be ready  for the ITMA Asia  trade fair (2010) and the
ITMA 2011 in Barcelona. Moves to relocate capacity to our own plant in China are
steadily continuing. 2010 will witness the market launch of the first product to
have  been developed  and manufactured  entirely in  Asia, generating additional
cost savings.



Ismeca Semiconductor

The  sharp downturn in the semiconductor  industry reached a historic low during
the  first half  of the  year. With  Ismeca Semiconductor  unable to escape this
downturn,  sales came to no more than  CHF 45.9 million - representing a decline
of 40%. The gross margin was maintained despite the unfavourable environment. In
Ismeca's  case  too,  further  reductions  in  fixed  costs kept the loss within
limits. The operating result came to CHF -8.2 million.

In  2009, the market  declined by  a massive  70% compared to  2006/2007. In the
second  half  of  the  year,  there  was  a  moderate upturn which really gained
momentum in December.

Despite  the crisis,  Ismeca focused  on expanding  its strategic  position. One
result  of this  was that  development expenditure  reached a ten-year peak. New
testing/finishing  machines for very small chips  and very high frequencies were
successfully    launched   on   the   market.   Further   innovations   in   the
semiconductor/LED  sector were prepared  for market launch  in the first half of
2010.

More  than 70% of  production has  now been  relocated to Malaysia, resulting in
substantial  improvements in margins and less  dependence on the US dollar.  The
parent  company in  La Chaux-de-Fonds  is still  concentrating on innovation and
special machines.



3A Composites

As of November 30, 2009, a deal to take over Alcan Composites was concluded with
the Rio Tinto Group.

This new division of Schweiter makes composite panels and materials for sandwich
constructions  and focuses on the  architecture, display, marine, transportation
and  wind power  markets. The  company is  regarded as  the market leader in all
target  markets. Suitable combinations of materials  are formulated on the basis
of  the requirements of the relevant  applications and are manufactured in large
volumes using industrial processes.

In  all  target  markets,  3A Composites  offers  a unique product range for the
respective  high-end  segment  and  owns  the  brands  that define the category,
including Alucobond, Airex, Baltek, Dibond, Gator, Kapa, Alucore and others.

The  division sees itself as  a global industrial company  which aims to grow at
2-3 times  the rate  of the  global economy,  while at  the same  time achieving
solid, double-digit EBITDA margins.

In  the consolidated financial statements 3A Composites was consolidated for one
month.  Extraordinary  expenses  in  connection  with purchase price adjustments
("purchase  price accounting") and the cost of making the company an independent
entity depressed the annual result by around CHF 5.5 million.

Outlook

All  divisions began the new year with well-filled order books. Although 2010 is
not  yet likely to see a return to  the boom years, a significant improvement is
emerging in comparison with 2009. SSM Textile Machinery and Ismeca Semiconductor
are  back in the black. Both are currently focusing mainly on output and meeting
delivery deadlines. 3A Composites is once again increasingly focusing management
capacity  on the market and customer service, despite numerous spin-off projects
and projects to create independent entities.

The  composite and core materials business   developing according to plan and is
making better progress than last year.

The main strategic focus is still on channelling the available liquidity - which
still  stands  at  around  CHF  300 million  -  into  investments  which  create
shareholder                                                               value.



Please find the media release in the PDF attached.


Schweiter Technologies AG, Neugasse 10, CH - 8812 Horgen, Switzerland
Tel. [phone] Fax [phone] [e-mail]
<mailto:[e-mail]>
www.schweiter.com  <

http://www.schweiter.com%20/>



[HUG#1396048]



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Schweiter Technologies
Neugasse 10 Horgen Switzerland

WKN: 879123;ISIN: CH0010754924;

    Media Release (PDF): 

http://hugin.info/100347/R/1396048/352585.pdf