Heavy truck makers up Bodycote profits

Heat treating and coatings firm Bodycote hailed recovering demand from heavy truck makers such as Scania and Volvo today, as it flagged up annual profits at the top end of City hopes.

Bodycote said revenues from its heavy truck business had "increased strongly" in the three months to September after a slow start to the year. It has also seen more demand from car and small truck makers.

Chief executive Stephen Harris said the market was "coming back aggressively" after dropping dramatically in the recession.

Overall sales in the traditionally quieter second half will be near first-half levels, Bodycote said, with annual profits likely to be near the £49 million upper end of forecasts.