ZURICH, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Swiss technology group Oerlikon (OERL.VX) is still aiming to return to an operating profit in 2010, but cautioned restructuring and financing costs would continue to weigh on its bottom line.

Oerlikon Headquarters Pfaeffikon, Switzerland - Photo: www.oerlikon.com

The group, which posted a 35 percent drop in order intake to 2.3 billion Swiss francs on Thursday 22 October, in line with forecasts, said it had seen signs that demand was beginning to pick up again in its key textile, coating and vacuum units.

Oerlikon, which makes a range of products from coatings used in Formula One racing cars to machines used to make solar cells, has been hit hard by the sharpest economic downturn in decades.

"Oerlikon Group confirms its goal of returning to profitability on operational basis in 2010. However high financing and restructuring costs will continue to impact net profit adversely," the group said in a statement.

The debt-laden group has issued a series of disappointing figures throughout the year, prompting major shareholder, Russian billionaire Viktor Vekselberg, to force out CEO Uwe Krueger earlier this year and replace him with turnaround expert Hans Ziegler.

Oerlikon, which has launched several cost-cutting rounds, is now looking to sell business units to raise cash to alleviate the debt it took on to pay for the acquisition of textile machinery and car parts maker Saurer in 2006.

(Reporting by Katie Reid; editing by Elaine Hardcastle)

($1=1.011 Swiss Franc)