Argox experienced record growth over the first six months of 2004. Compared year-on-year with 2003, Argox had a 60% increase in sales revenue. The contribution to growth was evenly divided between our scanner and printer business, with new products and new distribution channels picking up in volume. For the next six months Argox looks forward to continued growth and another banner year.

Argox will be at the Frontline Solutions Conference and Expo, September 13~15, in Chicago. This year our booth is hosted for the first time by Argox NA, whose staff are coming all the way from their head office in Ventura, California. Our focus for the show will be to demonstrate our cost-effective printing solutions, emulation capabilities, and plug & play products that require minimal service and support. Featured products will include the Amigo series and Refine series barcode printers. This is our fifth year exhibiting at the Frontline show. If you are in Chicago for the show, please stop by and say hello.

In July Argox exhibited at the Retail Business Technology Show in Melbourne, Australia. Attendees were mostly end-users interested in technology applications for use in retail. For barcode technology Australia is a mature market where users are already familiar with barcode applications and solutions. Many of the attendees we talked to have definite opinions and requirements, and many were looking for total solution packages. Some of the applications that we discussed included retail weighing systems, health care, POS systems, and inventory management.

A highlight of the show was our AS-8310 Long Range Imager demonstrations. Many people were amazed by the performance of the AS-8310. They couldn't believe that a CCD scanner could read 100mm barcode from a distance of five meters. This type of capability is usually associated with more expensive laser scanners.

The show was the first time Argox exhibited in Australia, and our entire line of products was on display. Our goal was to show our brand and provide full-scale support for our distributors. We now provide our full line of products and complete support for this territory. The Retail Business Technology Show in Melbourne was a great success and we look forward to attending our next show in Australia.