New technology and services continue to drive Calgon Carbon sales growth
Calgon Carbon Corporation today issued a mid-year update on sales results and related developments at the company.
PITTSBURGH, July 9, 2001 — Calgon Carbon Corporation today issued a mid-year update on sales results and related developments at the company.
Sales for the first half ended June 30, 2001 were up 2.7% versus 2000, and increased 5.3% when adjusted for foreign currency translation. Sales for the second quarter were $74.9 million, a 3.7% increase as compared to the second quarter of 2000.
Sales growth was strongest in the Engineered Solutions group due to a large contract for removal and destruction of perchlorate from drinking water using the company's new, proprietary ISEP+ system and higher demand for its traditional ion exchange and solvent recovery systems. Engineered Solutions sales of $25.6 million were nearly double its sales for the second quarter of 2000. Service sales also increased by 5.1% as compared to the second quarter of 2000.
In the second quarter of 2001, sales by business segment as a percentage of total sales were: Activated Carbon: 37%, versus 44% for the second quarter of 2000; Service: 34%, on par with the second quarter of 2000; Engineered Solutions: 19%, as compared to 10% for the second quarter of 2000; and Consumer Health: 10%, versus 12% for the comparable period last year.
"We are pleased with our second quarter sales growth given the slow economy. The results confirm that we are successfully implementing our long- term strategy and shifting our business toward value-added service and solutions," said Jim Cederna, Calgon Carbon's president and chief executive officer.
Other highlights in the second quarter and recent developments include:
— A patent awarded by the Canadian Intellectual Property Office for Calgon Carbon's ultraviolet light technology for controlling
cryptosporidium in drinking water. The company was granted a U.S. patent for the same technology last year.
— A record backlog ($5 million) in carbon equipment, including a major contract on the highly competitive West Coast.
— Ongoing negotiations on new labor contracts with hourly workers at the Big Sandy plant in Catlettsburg, Kentucky and the Feluy, Belgium facility. The contract with the Big Sandy workers expired on June 6, and the workforce continues to operate the plant as negotiations continue. The contract with the workers at Feluy will expire on July 31. The negotiations on these contracts have not affected sales growth, and both facilities continue to operate at capacity.
— Improving charcoal sales in July following weak demand in the second quarter due to cold and rainy weather in Germany.
— Successful launch of Purrfectly Fresh™, a new consumer product for odor control, in approximately 200 Giant Eagle grocery stores in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio and test-marketing of Purrfectly Fresh at 77 Pet Smart stores.
— Through a partnership with Source One, approximately 100 TV airings in major U.S. markets of infomercials and commercials for Purrfectly Fresh and Wave Zorb™, a new consumer product that blocks microwaves emitted by cellular phones.
Second quarter earnings, which will be announced at the end of July, should be approximately $0.10 per share.
Cederna concluded, "In a difficult economic environment, Calgon Carbon's people are meeting the challenge of growing our sales and increasing shareholder value."
Calgon Carbon Corporation (www.calgoncarbon.com), headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a global leader in services and solutions for making air and water cleaner and safer. The company employs approximately 1,000 people at 13 operating facilities and 12 sales and service centers worldwide.
