Judges Scientific in line with expectations, but problems persist

Judges Scientific said it expects results to be in line with expectations, despite a slow start to the 2016 with a slow order intake, but the scientific instrument maker admitted difficulties experienced last year still persisted in 2017.

Organic order intake grew 3% for the 2016 calendar year, despite a slow start at the beginning of 2016, but this was followed by an “excellent” third quarter and a “respectable” fourth.

However if Armfield, its Hampshire-based instrument maker which it bought last January, was not part of the organic growth on a like-for-like basis and was included, the order intake would show a 2.3% drop.

The company said that a slow order intake at Armfield and one of its organic businesses, as well as production issues at another business, were partially offset by a good performance from the remaining businesses and the contribution of the four businesses it bought during 2016.

AM-listed Judges said that it started 2017 with a “robust” order book and a positive foreign exchange environment, but the difficulties experienced last year are still lingering.

Its shares were down 1.8% to 1,500p at 1045 GMT.