HONG KONG – ASM's Siplace unit reported 2011 sales of $626.3 million, good for 37.8% of its new parent company's sales last year.

The results helped boost ASM to a record $1.66 billion in revenue last year, up from $1.22 billion in 2010.

The SMT placement machine unit's revenues grew 2.3% sequentially in the second half, from $309.6 million in the first six months of 2011. It generated a gross profit margin of 28.3% – a significant increase over previous years, said ASM Assembly Systems CEO Günter Lauber.

ASM has yet to report the full-year operating results for the unit. Siplace lost about $31 million in the first half of 2011.

ASM acquired the business in early 2011 from Siemens, renaming it ASM Assembly Systems. (The unit continues to brand itself as Siplace.)

In its 2011 annual report, Siemens reported total losses related to the sale of Electronics Assembly Systems amounted to €107 million, including a loss amounting to €1 million and €106 million in fiscal 2011 (ended Sept. 31, 2011), and 2010, respectively. All told, ASM paid €86.7 million to acquire the unit.

Siplace's revenue grew 116% year-over-year in 2010, ASM said in its 2010 annual report.  ASM's fiscal year ends Dec. 31.

Ed.: 1 HKD = 0.128840 USD

1 EUR = 1.30962 USD

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