Staffing and engineering services company Calian Technologies Ltd. posted double-digit gains in its fourth-quarter earnings and sales, mainly due to stronger revenues for its systems engineering division.

The Kanata firm, which was founded by Mayor Larry O'Brien, posted a 33-per-cent jump in total revenues to $45.7 million, while net earnings rose to $2.1 million, or 26 cents per diluted share, from $1.8 million, or 22 cents per share.

"The diversity of our service offerings once again paid dividends as we experienced a mixture of highs and lows within the various operating segments," said Calian CEO Ray Basler in a statement.

Mr. Basler noted that the systems engineering division was especially strong in the fourth quarter, with revenues for the contract manufacturing segment jumping 51.3 per cent year-over-year to $14.3 million as a result of "solid execution of projects in (its) traditional satellite sector."

However, the strength of the systems division was slightly offset by a 0.6-per-cent decline in revenues to $31.4 million for its business and technology services (BTS) segment, which provides outsourcing services.

"The BTS division had to cope with the traditional summer slowdown as well as the continuation of a marked reduction in manpower spending in certain federal government departments," said Mr. Basler. "While our outsourcing group remained strong, this spending constraint resulted in some short-term impediments to our staffing group."

The company lost a key call centre services contract with the federal government in June 2006.

Calian said it expected consolidated revenues for fiscal 2008 to be between $190 million and $210 million, while net earnings per share are forecasted to be $1.10 to $1.25.