Soldering products manufacturer, Oglesby & Butler, continues to record good profit growth with a rise in pre-tax profit from £625,000 (€794,000) to £752,000 (€955,000) in the year ended March 31st 1999. Sales grew from £4,398,000 to £4,586,000.

Further growth is anticipated. It will be introducing its new range of glue guns on the export market shortly and benefits are expected to flow from the £300,000 investment.

Oglesby & Butler is continuing to improve its existing products, said chairman, Mr Nevin Dowling. It is also looking at new products. The group has strengthened its financial position. An asset revaluation has thrown up a £1 million surplus and it has net cash in its balance sheet. Reflecting real growth, earnings per share have risen from 4.92 pence to 6.02 pence. And shareholders are to receive a bigger payout with a rise in the final dividend from one penny to 1.5 pence, making a total of 2.5 pence, representing a 25 per cent increase.