Ayer Firm's Parent Company Posts Positive '08 Results

Dynasil Corp. of America, owner of Ayer-based Optometrics Corp., reported that its fiscal year profits rose $660,000 over the previous year.

The New Jersey-based company saw its revenues increase 56 percent, reaching $17.1 million in 2008, compared to $10.9 million in 2007. Its profits rose to $1.16 million in 2008 from $500,000 in 2007.

Its fourth-quarter financial results were also released. The company's revenues reached $8.6 million during the three-month period, compared to $2.7 million during the same time the previous year.

The company attributed the revenue growth to Dynasil's acquisition of Radiation Monitoring Devices Inc. of Watertown. RMD specializes in radiation detector materials, nuclear instrumentation, and custom detector applications.

Dynasil makes photonic products such as optical material, components, coatings and instruments for the medical, industrial and defense industries. Optometrics in Ayer makes optical components including lenses, filters and laser optics.