- First four Blu-ray machines generated sales
- Three new orders for Blu-ray equipment received
- First dual layer Blu-ray machine about to be delivered
- Double-digit growth for Blu-ray expected
Kahl am Main, November 6, 2007 SINGULUS was able to realize its first sales for the work area Blu-ray in the 3rd quarter 2007. The first four Blu-ray machines were successfully commissioned in the main US market. In the US the disc producers are operating at ever increasing utilization rates in the daily Blu-ray disc production. Therefore, a double-digit growth is also expected.
It becomes more and more clear that “Hollywood� is opting for Blu-ray. Between this year’s January and September 2.6 million Blu-ray discs were sold, which is nearly twice the amount of HD DVD movies sold according to a study by the market researchers at Home Media Research published on October 23, 2007. According to the "Home Media Magazine� the influential Hollywood studio Warner is now also
considering an exclusive agreement with Blu-ray.
In the run-up of this year's Christmas sales, the prices for the Playstation 3 and other players are declining significantly. Inexpensive players and blockbuster movies from Hollywood in HD quality will increase disc sales rapidly and require capital spending on part of our customers for new equipment technology. According to Understanding & Solutions the disc production will triple.
Nonetheless, first orders for Blu-ray disc production equipment from the BLULINE range were also received from customers in Europe and Asia. The increasing demand from Europe and Asia shows that Blu-ray does not only play a more important role in the former main market US, but that Blu-ray is also beginning to become increasingly accepted in other markets.
SINGULUS upgraded its Blu-ray disc equipment and is also prepared for the production of the 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray disc.
The market introduction of the 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray disc was a show-stopper for the entertainment industry. The extremely high storage capacity of the format enables optimum audio and video high-definition quality and also offers the possibility to store bonus material such as additional trailers, interviews with directors and stars as well as BD-Java-based applications enabling viewers a never before enjoyed interactive movie experience.
In the work area Optical Disc the era of the Blu-ray disc and here in particular the dual layer Blu-ray disc will commence in 2008. SINGULUS expects significantly double-digit growth for the Blu-ray activities. SINGULUS will deliver the first dual layer Blu-ray production modules this year.
Short profile SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES
SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES is market leader for optical disc production lines and is the only manufacturer globally to offer the complete range of products: mastering, molding and replication lines.
In addition to the further development of the core activities of Optical Disc, the diversification into new work areas is the most important strategic target.
With the acquisition of 51 % of the STANGL AG SINGULUS successfully entered the solar equipment market. The new business area Solar will be strongly expanded in the next couple of years.