Sales in markets as diverse as smart phone technology and tattoo removal gave optical component manufacturer Gooch & Housego a record half year.
Revenue was up 13.1% at £38.9 million and pre-tax profit was 23.5% higher at £6.3m for the firm with business interests in Fife.
Gooch & Housego own Spanoptic, the Glenrothes manufacturer of precision optical instruments for aerospace and defence industries. They also provide 3D imagery services to retinal imagery company Optos of Dunfermline.
Revenue at the Somerset firm’s industrial segment was up 18%, driven by strong demand for solid state and fibre optic lasers for micro-electronic applications in smartphones, tablet devices, watches and computers.
Telecommunications was the other growth driver with a surge in demand for under-sea telecommunications components.
Life sciences revenues were up 20% driven by demand for components for laser surgery and laser treatment.
The market was boosted by the increase in people seeking tattoo removals, with Gooch & Housego’s laser technology in demand for the service.
Mark Webster, chief executive of the Somerset firm, said: “We remain focused on delivering our financial goals through our twin strategies of diversification and moving up the value chain.”
Mr Webster said they were very happy with Spanoptic which Gooch & Housego bought for £6.6m last year.
Spanoptic reported a 40% rise in pre-tax profit at £1.4m from a turnover up 10.6% at £6.8m.
Its lens manufacturing and infrared optics capabilities broadened Gooch & Housego’s range.