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LG.Philips LCD signs 10-year supply contract with American Panel Corporation to develop TFT-LCDs for avionics market
2001-01-14
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA, July 3, 2000-LG.Philips LCD Co., Ltd., (CEO: Bon Joon Koo), one of the world''s largest innovators of liquid crystal display (LCD) technology, today announced that it has signed a 10-year contract with American Panel Corporation (APC), Alpharetta, Ga., to supply TFT-LCDs for use in both military and civil avionics applications. Beginning in 2003, the contract, which is expected to reach up to $1 billion (USD) over 10 years, extends LG.Philips LCD''s existing $150 million contract, which expires in 2002. The long-term supply agreement is a critical component of LG.Philips LCD''s core strategy to expand its market leadership into arenas beyond the traditional notebook and desktop PC markets.
Commenting on the supplier contract with LG.Philips LCD, Hubert L. Naimer, APC''s CEO, noted, "Our decision to enter into a partnership with LG.Philips LCD was a direct result of the company''s ability to produce highly reliable displays in a wide range of sizes, and to supply large quantities to meet the needs of system integrators."
The agreement is spurred by the U.S. Department of Defense and major aircraft manufacturers'' anticipated transition from traditional CRT displays in instrumentation equipment to the more advanced TFT-LCD technology. As a proven interface for a wide range of avionics applications, TFT-LCDs offer a number of advantages over CRT displays, including reduced dimensions, lower power consumption, improved optical performance (when viewing angles are defined) and a longer lifecycle. In fact, as a leading supplier of displays for fighter aircraft, armored vehicles and commercial airliners, APC has delivered its TFT-LCD products to some of the world''s leading airplane manufacturers, including Lockheed Martin and Boeing.
Anticipated milestones for the long-term supply arrangement include the standardization of TFT-LCDs for airplanes, vessels and other vehicles. The proven application strength of APC, coupled with LG.Philips LCD''s manufacturing quality and capacity prowess, will prove instrumental in replacing unreliable, costly CRT displays-providing manufacturers with quality TFT-LCDs that address their stringent manufacturing and optical performance standards.
In addition to developing TFT-LCDs for avionics displays, the two companies are also planning to develop a broad range of display solutions for use in other military equipment such as armored vehicles and naval vessels.