Furon Turns Things Around; Sales Climb 21%

Furon Co. posted a profit for the fourth quarter, compared with a loss a year earlier, as sales climbed 21%.

The manufacturer of engineered products said net income for the fiscal quarter ended Jan. 31 totaled $6.1 million, or 32 cents a share, compared with a net loss of $52.3 million, or $2.93 a share, a year ago. The 1996 figure included special charges of $58 million related to the acquisition of Medex Inc., completed in January 1997. Sales climbed 21% to $124.1 million from $102.9 million.

For the year, Furon reported net income of $21.7 million, or $1.16 a share, contrasted with a net loss of $39.8 million, or $2.24 a share, for the prior year. Sales rose 24% to a record $485.6 million from $390.1 million.