Sunningdale Tech Ltd. will add resources to further strengthen its global business development effort, Chairman Koh Boon Hwee said.

“Each quarter since the first quarter of last year has seen an improving trend and we hope to capitalize on this momentum into this year,” he said in the company’s latest financial report.

Despite the severe economic downturn in North America last year, the company remains optimistic about its automotive business.

“We are not dependent on any one market, and our customers are spread geographically in the United States, Japan, Europe and South Korea,” Koh stressed.

The consumer/information technology business segment would continue to be steady as the orders from existing customers remain strong. The group has also developed new customers to further diversify its base in this sector.

The healthcare segment continues to be the fastest growing. Orders from existing customers remain strong.

“We have invested in a clean room facility in our Malaysian plant and expect to start mass production in the second quarter of this year,” Koh said.

Sunningdale’s tooling business, the leading indicator, remains strong across all business segments. In August, the company completed a new tooling factory in southern China.

“We are now positioned as one of the largest tool makers in this region,” he said.

“Our contrarian decision, to expand our capacity during a year of crisis, puts us in a great position at this time,” he added.

The company rebounded with a net profit of S$10.6 million (US$7.75 million or CNY52.92 million) for last year from a loss of $97.5 million (US$71.3 million or CNY486.72 million) in 2008.

Sales rose by a marginal 2.4 percent to S$373.7 million (US$273.23 million or CNY1.86 billion) from $365 million (US$266.87 million or CNY1.82 billion) a year ago.