Tomkins units post sales, earnings gains

LONDON (June 30)—Tomkins P.L.C.´s industrial and automotive engineering division—which includes Gates Rubber Co. and the Trico/Tridon wiper blade businesses—reported double-digit increases in sales and earnings for the year ended April 29. Division sales rose 12.7 percent to $3.08 billion, while operating earnings were up 13.8 percent to $304.2 million, improving the operating margin slightly to 9.9 percent. While the company´s belting business reported strong results last year, the automotive hose business suffered "another poor year," and the firm continues to rationalize capacity. Tomkins also has closed several Trico and/or Tridon plants in its efforts to consolidate the windshield wiper business.