Norland bucks densitometry trend

Bone densitometry manufacturer Norland Medical Systems turned in financial results for the first quarter (end-March) that showed none of the problems that have been dogging other bone-mass measurement companies in recent weeks. For the period, Norland had sales of $4.8 million, up 134% compared with $2.1 million in the first quarter of 1998. The firm’s net loss shrank to $615,000, compared with a net loss of $1.9 million in the same period the year before. Norland executives said the company’s numbers should improve even further as it begins recognizing revenue from its new Excell dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry axial scanner, which began shipping in March.