Lydall Inc. in Manchester said a pickup in fourth-quarter sales helped the maker of commercial and bioscience filters and automotive insulation narrow its quarterly loss.
Lydall lost $3.4 million, or 21 cents a share, in the three months ended Dec. 31, down from a loss of $13.8 million, or 84 cents a share, the same period in 2008.
Fourth-quarter revenues rose to $72.5 million from $60.8 million a year earlier.
For 2009, the company lost $14.2 million, or 85 cents a share, up from a loss of $5 million, or 31 cents a share, in 2008.
Revenues dropped to $248.9 million last year from $305.7 million the previous year.
Lydall President and CEO Dale Barnhart said that despite the improvement in fourth-quarter sales the company suffered an operating loss due to certain quarterly expenses.
Among them was the cost to restructure its NA Auto business and ramp-up costs stemming from the transfer of business from Vermont, Barnhart said.
Lydall also incurred severance costs tied to employee layoffs, he said.
Lydall and its subsidiaries make industrial filters and filters and packaging for human body fluids. It also makes automotive heat and sound insulation.
