Press Release
E INK AND MIDORI MARK ANNOUNCE MANUFACTURING AND MARKETING AGREEMENT FOR RETAIL POINT-OF-PURCHASE DISPLAYS
Ink-In-Motion displays can incorporate motion and color for retail signage
Cambridge, MA. and Tokyo, Japan - October 5, 2004 – E Ink Corporation, the world's leading developer and marketer of electronic paper display technology and Midori Mark Corporation, a major manufacturer and distributor of advertising and promotional displays, today announced an agreement for Midori Mark to manufacture and market Ink-In-Motion™ electronic paper displays for the retail point-of-purchase (POP) market. Under the terms of the agreement, Midori Mark will purchase E Ink's revolutionary electronic ink imaging film to manufacture and assemble pre-programmed electronic paper displays including electronics. Midori Mark has non-exclusive rights to sell these displays to the POP market anywhere in the world.
Ink-In-Motion is a flashing electronic display that gives advertisers the proven promotional sales lift of motion displays in a paper-thin package. Because a typical Ink-In-Motion display can animate continuously for up to 6 months using just two AA batteries, these displays are ideal for high-impact POP signs in retail environments where power plug access is often limited. In addition to long battery life, these displays can be easily viewed from all angles and under virtually any lighting condition.
"Midori Mark is excited and pleased to be the first manufacturing partner in Japan for Ink-In-Motion POP displays using E Ink's electronic ink technology. We will leverage our more than fifteen years experience in the POP display market to offer our customers next-generation animated POP signs in a practical and effective product," said Midori Mark president, Tsuneo Midorikawa.
"Midori Mark is ideally positioned to introduce Ink in Motion to the Japanese marketplace. They have earned an excellent reputation with POP customers across Asia and have many established relationships," said Ryosuke Kuwada, vice president of E Ink's marketing & sales. "The POP market is a strong growth opportunity for E Ink and we can rely on partners such as Midori Mark to penetrate it rapidly and effectively."
This agreement allows Midori Mark to offer its customers highly differentiated motion-based POP products while targeting a rapid two-week turnaround for orders. In addition to simple flashing text messages, Midori Mark will offer displays with custom animations and color overlays. Development of curved displays is underway and expected to be available to customers in the near future.
About Midori Mark
Midori Mark is a leading developer and manufacturer electro luminescent (EL) displays, touch panels, and membrane switches to the electronics and advertising industries. It has been successfully supplying products to global customers with its one-stop-solution service for over 20 years. More information about Midori Mark and Ink-In-Motion can be found at www.midorimark.co.jp.
About E Ink Holdings
Founded in 1992 by Taiwan's leading papermaking and printing group YFY (1907.TW), E Ink Holdings Inc. "E Ink" (8069.TW) is the pioneer of TFT and ePaper business in Taiwan. Its corporate philosophy aims to deliver revolutionary products, user experiences, and environmental benefits through advanced technology development. This vision has led to its continuous investments in the field of ePaper display as well as its 2008 acquisition of Hydis Technologies, manufacturer of the world's best wide viewing angle LCDs and its 2009 acquisition of E Ink Corp., the worldwide leader in ePaper. Listed in Taiwan's GreTai Securities Market and the Luxembourg market, E Ink is now the world's largest supplier of displays to the eBook market. For corporate information, please visit www.einkgroup.com; for EPD information, please visit www.eink.com / tw.eink.com; and for FFS information, please visit www.hydis.com.