Sales slip but Astek cuts losses

CHESHIRE dental products group Astek has reduced its losses but product delays have continued to hamper sales.

In August auditors handling the Altrincham firm warned it could run out of money after recording a net loss of £66,504 for the year to March 31 and struggling with production delays.

In the six months to September 30 the business reduced its half-year pre-tax loss from £99,000 to £41,000 but the directors said sales of £623,503 were down on the £821,000 taken in the second half of the last financial year.

This was down to ongoing production problems with its InSafe syringe and a downturn in sales of Astek’s proprietary disposable air water syringe system Pro-Tip.

The group, which sources its equipment in the Far East and sells it in the UK and the US, said it had also been affected by sterling movements against the dollar and the euro.