General Binding reports net loss
NORTHBROOK - General Binding Corp. reported a second-quarter net loss of $5.1 million, or 32 cents a share, vs. profit of $2.1 million, or 13 cents a share the same period a year ago. The current figures include an $8.4 million charge for certain cost-cutting measures. The 2002 quarter included a $1.7 million charge Sales dropped 1.8 percent to $171.2 million. The company said it continues to work to improve profitability, and has made several recent changes.

DuPage Briefs
Ipsco posts net loss but revenue grows
LISLE - Ipsco Inc. reported a second-quarter net loss of $3.5 million, or 14 cents a share, vs. profit of $4.1 million, or 3 cents a share the same quarter a year ago. Higher raw material and energy costs hurt results. Sales rose 4 percent, however, to $298.2 million.

Apropos net loss, revenue decline
OAKBROOK TERRACE - Apropos Technology Inc. said Wednesday its second-quarter net loss was $1.5 million, or 9 cents a share, vs. a net loss of $3.8 million, or 23 cents a share the same quarter a year ago. Revenue was $4.7 million, down from $5.5 million in 2002.

Johnson Controls names new chairman
NAPERVILLE - Johnson Controls Inc. said it has named John M. Barth, president and chief executive officer, to the additional post of chairman as of Jan. 1. Barth will succeed James H. Keyes, who will retire Dec. 31 but remain on the Johnson board. The company has Naperville operations.

Naperville Briefs
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Lake Briefs
Circle Group gets rights to license
MUNDELEIN - Circle Group Holdings Inc., The University of Illinois and Utek Corp. said Wednesday that Utek has acquired the exclusive license to a Nutrition Analysis Tool, or NAT, Web site developed by the university's Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition. Utek has assigned the license to Circle Group in a stock deal. The NAT Web site is an interactive, Web-based system to help users select a nutrient-rich diet. Its database analyzes the nutrients in about 6,000 foods. Utek and Circle Group will collaborate to enhance NAT and make it available commercially.

General Binding reports net loss
NORTHBROOK - General Binding Corp. reported a second-quarter net loss of $5.1 million, or 32 cents a share, vs. profit of $2.1 million, or 13 cents a share the same period a year ago. The current figures include an $8.4 million charge for certain cost-cutting measures. The 2002 quarter included a $1.7 million charge Sales dropped to $171.2 million from $174.3 million.

Fox Briefs
Richardson, Crystek ink distribution deal
LAFOX - Richardson Electronics Ltd. said Wednesday it signed a distribution agreement with Crystek Crystals Corp., a privately held manufacturer of quartz crystals, clock oscillators and other frequency control products. Richardson will distribute Fort Myers, Fla.-based Crystek's complete line of quartz crystals and oscillators for communications, automotive, industrial, consumer and data processing markets. No financial terms were disclosed. Crystek's significant product depth in quartz crystals and oscillators positions it well to expand into applications and emerging markets, Richardson said.

Johnson Controls names new chairman
GENEVA - Johnson Controls Inc. said Wednesday it has named John M. Barth, president and chief executive officer, to the additional post of chairman as of Jan. 1. Barth will succeed James H. Keyes, who will retire Dec. 31 but remain on the Johnson board. The Milwaukee-based company's battery division has Geneva operations.