JDSU's Santa Rosa-based optical division saw sales grow almost 3 percent to $58.3 million in the third quarter, driven by demand for its anti-counterfeiting technology, the company said Wednesday.
Revenue from the division's currency pigment business has increased more than 7 percent since last year, CEO Tom Waechter told Wall Street analysts.
The United States and more than 100 other countries use JDSU's color-shifting pigments to print their currencies. The technology is designed to make it simple to identify real currency and discourage counterfeiting.
JDSU said it is rolling out a new printing process with a magnetic feature that makes currency even harder for counterfeiters to duplicate.
JDSU's Santa Rosa division also develops authentication technology for the pharmaceutical industry, which faces a rising tide of phony drugs sold on the Internet.
JDSU makes three-dimensional images for drug labels and product seals that help consumers identify genuine pharmaceuticals. Other JDSU technology lets pharmaceutical companies track products digitally through the distribution chain.
The company provides similar authentication technology for credit cards.
JDSU has about 500 employees in Santa Rosa, headquarters for its Advanced Optical Technologies division.
Companywide, Milpitas-based JDSU reported $409 million in sales for the third quarter, down 10 percent from the same period a year ago.
JDSU's two largest business units, which make communications test and optical communications technology, took a hit as network operators cut capital spending in the quarter ended March 31, Waechter said.
JDSU lost $17.4 million in the period, compared to a profit of $38.6 million a year ago.
The company's results came in short of analyst forecasts and JDSU shares fell almost 4 percent in after-hours trading Wednesday. Shares closed at $12.04 on the Nasdaq exchange, down 2 percent from Tuesday's close.
UPDATED: Please read and follow our commenting policy: