SCIENCE/TECHNOLOGY : Micro Technology Proves an Exception to Recession’s Rule

Micro Technology Inc., an Anaheim computer products company, hasn’t suffered much from the recession or a prolonged slump in the mid-range computer market that it serves.

Steve Hamerslag, president and chief executive, said the company expects to report earnings of about $8.5 million for its fiscal year ended March 31, up 25% from $6.8 million for the year-earlier period.

Revenue was $85 million, up 57% from $54 million a year earlier. The increase came mainly from sales of new products, including a software program that helps managers control the flow of data on large computer networks, and a storage system that transfers data from a magnetic hard-disk drive to an optical disk library.

Sales were weak in January and February but bounced back in March, allowing the company to reach $25 million in sales for the fourth quarter, up 50% from $16.7 million a year earlier, Hamerslag said.

“The mid-range market is soft, but if companies can pull off their strategies, they can be successful,� he said.

Hamerslag said he expects several big product introductions this year in the company’s core markets, including a network connectivity product for the Digital Equipment Corp. minicomputer market.