- New Blu-ray orders
- BLULINE II for 50 GB Blu-ray to be unveiled on February 27
- Optimistic view of future prospects following Toshiba decision
Kahl am Main, February 26, 2008 – SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES (SINGULUS) is able to report the receipt of new orders for Blu-ray production lines of the type BLULINE.
Now that the Japanese electronics giant Toshiba has announced its intention to pull out of HD DVD business, project activity in the Blu-ray disc segment has gathered further momentum. This decision confirms the Blu-ray standard, promoted by Sony and Panasonic, as the successor to the DVD. The established DVD does not offer sufficient capacity for storing the larger data volume of high-definition films. The higher resolution delivers a far superior picture quality on modern flatscreen televisions. Other uses of the successor to the DVD are for the storage of music and data. A doubly coated, or dual layer, Blu-ray disc (BD) can store 50 Gigabytes of data.
SINGULUS will be presenting its newly developed BLULINE II production line to an international audience during a two-day in-house exhibition on February 27. SINGULUS' experience in the field of Blu-ray already goes back some years thanks to its early, exclusive partnership with the format developer Sony in 2005 and has already installed several Blu-ray production lines of the BLULINE II type at the world's leading disc manufacturers. SINGULUS is likewise cooperating closely with Sony on the development of dual layer Blu-ray disc technology. In the words of SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES CEO Stefan A. Baustert, "Our productive collaboration with Sony DADC has helped SINGULUS very rapidly to establish its reputation as a prime partner to Hollywood in the market for new disc formats. SINGULUS is outstandingly well positioned in the optical disc market. Our aim is to achieve a world market share of over 65% for Blu-ray machines too. We are absolutely convinced that 2008 will see the worldwide market penetration of the Blu-ray Disc. SINGULUS therefore expects to see considerable growth for Blu-ray business." Stefan A. Baustert continued: "The development of the Blu-ray line was technologically far more demanding than the development of a DVD machine, but it also represents a major technological advance. It means that there are far fewer competitors
in the market for Blu-ray."
Brief profile of SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES
SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES is the market leader for optical disc production lines and the only manufacturer in the world to offer the full product range: mastering, moulding and replication lines.
In addition to the further development of optical disc core business, diversification into new areas is its principal strategic challenge.
SINGULUS has gained a foothold in solar systems business through its acquisition of STANGL AG Semiconductor Equipment AG. The new Solar Division will be expanded rapidly over the next few years.
SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES AG, Hanauer Landstrasse 103,
D-63796 Kahl am Main, Germany, ISIN: DE0007238909, WKN: 723890
For further information, please contact:
Bernhard Krause, Company Spokesperson,
SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES AG, tel.: + 49 (0)170 92029 24