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Westaim: iFire Technology's pilot plant operational
Westaim: iFire Technology's pilot plant operational.
About this update from Westaim Corporation
[{"type":"text","content":"\n\n\n\n\nTDEL technology aims to be lower cost and higher quality than existing \nflat panel TVs\n\nTORONTO, Jan. 3 /CNW/ - The Westaim Corporation today announced that its\niFire Technology Corp. subsidiary's pilot production facility is operational.\nThe pilot facility is intended to produce engineering samples of \nhigh-definition 34-inch flat panel display modules based on its proprietary\nthick dielectric electroluminescent (TDEL) technology and to simulate\nmanufacturing in a commercial environment.\n\"We have had excellent early output of TDEL panels from the initial runs\nthrough the pilot plant,\" said Barry M. Heck, President & CEO of Westaim. \"As\nwe continue to ramp up pilot production we will be sharing TDEL displays\nproduced in the pilot with OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) and\npotential partners for their evaluation. iFire intends to begin demonstrating\ndisplays early this year.\"\nThe US$35-million pilot facility was completed on time and on budget.\nThrough pilot production, iFire intends to complete the baseline processes for\nthe manufacture of its displays and focus on continual improvements to both\nperformance and manufacturing efficiency.\n\"As an emissive display technology, TDEL will offer a viewing experience\nthat is much closer to the CRT and superior to other flat panel TV\ntechnologies,\" said Nick Khoury, President of iFire. \"In addition to better\npicture quality and a thinner, lighter form factor, TDEL offers lower capital\ninvestment and has a potential 30 to 40 percent manufacturing cost advantage\ncompared to other technologies, which will translate into more affordable\nconsumer products.\"\niFire expects to commercialize its technology in partnership with\nindustry leaders and plans to initially target the 30- to 45-inch screen size\ntelevision segment. The pilot plant will provide information and experience to\nallow iFire to work with partners to construct and operate the first volume\nproduction facility. Initial planning work for this facility is under way.\niFire Technology Corp. has developed a flat panel display with low cost\nand high performance potential called thick dielectric electroluminescent\ntechnology (TDEL). With superior video performance characteristics and a\nsubstantial manufacturing cost advantage over other flat panel display\ntechnologies, iFire's p...