North Bay Business Journal

SANTA ROSA — Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) rounded out the its fiscal year with a strong fourth quarter, seeing revenues and orders rise 10 percent from the previous year. The Electronic Measurement Group headquartered in Santa Rosa saw revenues jump 12 percent from the same quarter last year, although orders were flat for the period.

According to Ron Nersesian, group president, the aerospace market was flat, but electronic communications revenues, especially in Asia, were up 20 percent.

“The growth of wireless communication devices has been excellent for us. We’re already embedded with major tablet manufacturers,” he said.

The European markets were soft, U.S. markets in-between.

For the year, Electronic Measurement had the highest gross margins it has ever had, at 24.4 percent, he said.

“Our employees put in stellar work supporting our products and innovating new ones. We maxed out our bonus program at 200 percent for both halves of the year. That means all EMG employees received a 14 percent salary bonus twice, and some received up to 20 percent. That’s money that goes into the local economy,” said Mr. Nersesian.

Agilent’s Electronic Measurement Group employs 1,150 in Santa Rosa.