Press Release
E INK AND VOSSLOH SYSTEM-TECHNIK GMBH TO DEVELOP ELECTRONIC INK-BASED SIGNAGE FOR THE EUROPEAN TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY
Executives of Both Companies Will Discuss the Benefits of E Ink's New Paper-Like Display Technology at Next Week's Air Transport and Travel Information Systems Expo in Amsterdam
Cambridge, MA. and KIEL/KARLSFELD, Germany - February 19, 2002 – E Ink Corporation, the leading developer and marketer of electronic ink technology for paper-like displays, and Vossloh System-Technik GmbH (VST), Kiel / Karlsfeld, a leading supplier of mobile and stationary passenger information systems, today announced an agreement to jointly develop electronic ink-based signage for the European transportation industry.
Reinhold Hundt, president of VST, believes the joint development agreement will have a significant impact on the transportation market. "We are developing a completely new generation of signage technology for the transportation market, which will exceed the visual performance parameters of the technologies available," said Hundt.
Under the terms of the agreement, E Ink will produce custom electronic ink display cells based on its new character and segmented display platform. Vossloh will develop the electronics and integrate the display cells into signage for the rail, bus and air travel markets. The two companies will commercialize the signs in the near future.
Electronic ink provides the superior look of ink on paper with the dynamic capability of an electronic display. Electronic ink displays are exceptionally thin and lightweight and require up to 500 times less power when compared to displays and monitors typically used in the transportation industry. In addition, because it contains the same coloring agents as normal ink and paper, electronic ink is three to six times brighter than reflective LCDs, exceeds newspapers in contrast ratio and reads easily from any angle in both dim light and full sunlight.
"One of the biggest challenges in developing signage for the transportation industry is ensuring that signs are easy-to-read in any type of lighting from any angle. Electronic ink is the ideal medium for many transportation applications because it has all of the qualities we look for in a display - readability; durability; thin, light form factor; ease of integration and ultra-low power consumption," said Werner Malcherek, executive vice president at VST. "In the future, through our development agreement with E Ink we hope to offer these advantages to our customers in the rail, bus and air travel markets."
"VST is one of the early adopters of our new character and segmented platform," said John Thorn, director of business development at E Ink. "We are excited to be working with Vossloh. Integrating our technology with their know-how in this space will allow us to extend the market for our electronic ink display technology beyond retail signage and into vertical markets such as European transportation."
E Ink and VST will discuss the benefits of this new display technology next week at the Air Transport and Travel Information Systems Conference and Expo (ATTIS) in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. At the conference, Malcherek and Thorn will present a paper titled "Display Technologies for Traveler Information Systems" on Wednesday, February 27 at 10:30 a.m.
About Vossloh System-Technik
Vossloh System-Technik GmbH (VST) which has its head office in Kiel is a leading IT company specializing in information and communications technology for rail transport companies in Europe. The company develops planning and management systems, operations monitoring and control systems, interlocking and signalling systems, passenger information systems and simulation systems. VST belongs to the international Vossloh Group, which has almost 5,650 employees world-wide and achieved a turnover of approx. 900 million Euros in 2001.
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.