Electronics firm Filtronic is expecting to record a dip in its wireless infrastructure sales of around 15 per cent in the second half of the financial year.

The firm, which employs more than 250 staff at the former Fujitsu plant at Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, manufactures transmitting chips for mobile phone base stations and antenna for hand-sets.

In a statement released Wednesday, executive chairman Professor David Rhodes said the 15 per cent dip in sales in the company's largest business, wireless infrastructure, was anticipated with continued low volumes in 3G (third generation) services and pricing pressures in 2G and 2G systems.

"Although we have manufactured and supplied a similar quantity of product as in the first half of the financial year, sales in the second half are expected to decline by approximately 15 per cent impacting margins," he said.

But he said that additional sales in their other businesses was likely to reduce the overall sales decline to about six per cent.

"The group's operating profit prior to exceptional items, goodwill amortisation and impairment charges, is expected to be similar to that achieved in the first half," he said.