Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company's Q4 2024 revenue was $7.4 million, an 80.3% increase from Q4 2023, but lower than the $8.2 million reported in Q3 2024 [4][10] - Full-year revenue for 2024 was $26.9 million, an 11.5% increase from the previous year [4][12] - Gross profit for Q4 was $2 million, with a gross profit margin of 27.3%, compared to a negative gross profit of $348,000 in Q4 2023 [11][12] - The company recorded a net income of $132,000 for Q4 2024, compared to a net loss of $2.3 million in Q4 2023 [12] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue from the CBD equipment segment increased by $2.8 million in Q4 2024, driven by aerospace and industrial contracts [10] - The SDC segment saw a revenue increase of 28.8% in Q4 2024, attributed to strong demand for gas delivery systems [11] - Orders for the full year 2024 totaled $28.1 million, an 8.9% increase from $25.8 million in 2023 [6] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The aerospace and defense market is experiencing ongoing recovery, with a follow-on order of $3.5 million received from an existing aerospace customer [6] - The silicon carbide market remains challenging due to global overcapacity and declining wafer prices [5][8] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on four key strategic segments: aerospace defense, microelectronics, energy storage, and industrial [7] - The end of life for the MesoScribe product line allows the company to concentrate on core CBD and SDC product lines [8] - The company aims to build critical customer relationships while managing expenses to achieve long-term profitability [9] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expects fluctuations in orders and revenue levels due to the nature of emerging growth markets and geopolitical challenges [8][14] - The company is optimistic about its backlog, which increased to $19.4 million at the end of 2024, up 4.9% from the previous year [8] - Future profitability is contingent on new equipment orders and managing inflationary pressures [14][15] Other Important Information - The company recognized gains of $717,000 from the sale of equipment, primarily from the MesoScribe segment, which ceased operations [13] - Working capital at the end of 2024 was $13.9 million, slightly down from $14.3 million the previous year [13] Q&A Session Summary Question: How did the large $10 million silicon carbide coating order come about? - The order was a result of a developed large volume silicon carbide CMC system for aerospace, driven by customer needs and advertising [19][20] Question: Are there other entities that might need similar solutions? - Yes, there is potential for other customers in the industrial space, but it depends on market growth and demand [24][26] Question: What are the prospects for new orders for PVT200 systems? - Uncertainty exists due to overcapacity and pricing issues in the wafer market, making it difficult to predict new orders [28] Question: How many major aerospace engine manufacturers are there? - There are four major manufacturers, with the company currently having relationships with three of them [30][32] Question: Will the company see follow-up orders for spare parts from a previous customer? - Spare parts orders have been slow due to COVID, but there is an increase in demand for spare parts as operations resume [38][40] Question: Are there potential opportunities to sell to other companies in the battery materials space? - Yes, there are opportunities, but the competition is strong, and the company is in the early stages of exploring these [41][43] Question: What is the outlook for operating margins? - Margins are expected to improve, potentially exceeding 30%, depending on overhead absorption and cost management [49][54]