LONDON (ShareCast) - Catalyst technology company Catalyst Solutions saw interim pre-tax losses double as new business from major car manufacturers trickled through more slowly than expected.

Revenue in the first half of 2006 was up 4% to $26.8m from $25.7m a year earlier, thanks to a contribution from the newly acquired Engine Control Systems business unit, which more than offset the phase out of orders from General Motors that started in the latter part of 2007.

Loss before tax widened to $9.9m from $4.9m, a higher level than anticipated by the management as new business expected from Honda, Renault and Mintec did not arrive until the second half of the year.

Volumes of business are now approaching the levels anticipated.

The company said it is also making progress in the energy systems business, as demonstrated by a $16.5m order from Jacobs Engineering Group announced today, for the design, engineering and fabrication of five selective catalytic reduction systems.

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