Cleantech Solutions sale surges 47.6% in Q1

First Quarter 2013 Results

Revenue for the first quarter of 2013 increased 47.6% to $13.9 million, compared to $9.4 million for the same period of 2012.

Revenue from the sale of forged rolled rings to the wind power industry and other industries increased 16.9% to $6.5 million, compared to $5.6 million in the same period last year.

The increase in revenue was mainly due to improving demand from existing customers in the wind power industry following several quarters of reduced order flow, which was partially offset by lower market demand for capital equipment related to the Company's forged rolled rings and related products for other industries.

The increase in revenue is summarized as follows:

- Revenue from the sale of forged rolled rings for the wind power industry increased by 45.7% to $3.7 million, compared to $2.5 million for the comparable period last year. 

- Revenue from the sale of forged rolled rings to other industries decreased 7.1% to $2.8 million, compared with $3.0 million for the comparable period of the prior year. 

- Revenue from dyeing and finishing equipment segment increased 92.4% to $7.4 million, compared to $3.8 million for the first quarter of 2012.

Gross profit for the first quarter of 2013 increased 66.3% to $3.1 million, compared to $1.9 million for the same period in 2012. Gross margin increased to 22.5% during the first quarter of 2013 compared to 20.0% for the same period a year ago.

The increase in gross margin for the first quarter was primarily attributable to

(i) the increased operational and cost efficiencies for forged rolled rings and related products segment, including the allocation of fixed costs primarily consisting of depreciation, to cost of revenues as the Company operated at higher production levels in response to higher revenues, and

(ii) the significant portion of revenue for the dyeing and finishing equipment segment generated from the sale of airflow dyeing machinery, which generates a higher gross margin than the Company's traditional dyeing machinery.  The principal source of dyeing revenue in the first quarter of 2012 was traditional dyeing machinery.

Operating expenses decreased 18.8% to $0.8 million, compared to $1.0 million in the comparable period last year. The decrease was primarily due to lower depreciation expenses resulting from the classification of certain equipment as held for sale in the fourth quarter of 2012, on which depreciation was taken in the first quarter of 2012 but not in the first quarter of 2013.

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2013 rose 10.8% to $0.7 million, primarily due to higher travel, entertainment and shipping costs associated with the increase in sales and an increase in stock based compensation cost.

Cleantech Solutions