News: Suppliers
6 August 2021
Riber’s first-half revenue down 20% year-on-year due to pandemic-driven pause in system sales
For first-half 2021, Riber S.A. of Bezons, France – which manufactures molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) systems as well as evaporation sources and effusion cells – has reported revenue of €9.3m, down 20% on €11.6m in first-half 2020, as orders were booked later in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
MBE system revenue was €2.8m, halving from €5.6m. Following logistical difficulties due to the health restrictions, the delivery of one research machine was delayed to third-quarter 2021.
Evaporator revenue is not significant (level at €0.1m) due to the lack of investment in the organic light-emitting diode (OLED) screen industry.
Revenue for Services & Accessories was €6.4m, up 8% on €6m a year previously.
Of total revenue, 29% came from Europe, 63% from Asia, 7% from North America, and 1% from other regions.
Despite the pandemic and travel restrictions, the level of new orders improved during first-half 2021, compared with the significant slowdown seen in first-half 2020. During the period, Riber received two orders for production MBE systems and two orders for research MBE systems, while further strengthening the development of its Services & Accessories business.
The total order book at end-June 2021 was €17.4m, down just 5% on €18.2m a year previously. Specifically, the Systems order book was €10.5m (down 16% on €12.5m), and includes five systems to be delivered in 2021 (including one production system). This does not include the additional order for a research system announced on 19 July. Evaporator orders remained zero. However, Services & Accessories orders were €6.9m (up 21% on €5.7m), including a major order for MBE services in the USA to be delivered during 2021.
In view of these developments, Riber expects to improve net income for full-year 2021.
Alongside this, during second-half 2021 the firm expects to see an improvement in orders, benefiting in particular from the first investments made in the semiconductor industry as part of post-Covid stimulus plans around the world.
Riber grows margin and makes profit in 2020 despite 10% drop in revenue
Riber delivers first MBE 8000 system
Riber’s net loss rises year-on-year in first-half 2020
Riber revises order book following refusal of export license
