ATL results dip due to HDI 5000 intro

HDI 5000 may represent the future for ATL Ultrasound, but expenses associated with the rollout of the new super-premium ultrasound scanner had a negative impact on the Bothell, WA, company's financial results for the third quarter (end-September). Still, ATL executives say HDI 5000 is off to a roaring start, with deliveries scheduled for this quarter.

ATL had revenues of $93 million for the third quarter, down 7% compared with sales of $100.3 million in the third quarter of 1996. The firm's net loss for the most recent period was $2 million, compared with net income of $3.8 million in the same quarter a year ago.

ATL attributed the lower revenues to delays in customer order placement that followed HDI 5000's introduction in July, while expenses rose as the company readied the product for market (SCAN 8/6/97). Revenues and gross margin were also affected by the higher dollar, which negatively impacted the company's international business.

In other ATL news, the company announced last week that it has released a radiology version of its Tissue Harmonic Imaging technique, which previously had been available only for cardiology applications. The technique is available on the company's HDI 3000 scanner and will be offered on HDI 5000 when it begins shipping.