THE weak dollar has hit profits at air filtration group domnick hunter (DH), despite a 15 per cent rise in turnover.

Preliminary results posted yesterday showed sales had increased from £136.9m in 2003 to £158.2m last year.

But pre-tax profits only rose 1.3 per cent to £12.8m. The group, based in Birtley, near Chester-le-Street, said that was because of reorganisation costs arising from acquisitions, partly in the US, and the impact of a weak dollar.

Colin Billiet, chief executive, said: "The currency has caused a bit of a headwind, but the underlying growth of the business has been very strong."

Last April, the company expanded into the US when it bought PTI Advance Filtration, along with its UK operation, PTI Technologies, for £9.8m.

Chairman Brian Thompson said: "Such companies, which have technologies and routes to market capable of adding an extra dimension to our existing business, rarely become available. Prior to our ownership, the acquired businesses were making significant trading losses."