TECSTAR Announces Formation of New Optoelectronics Product Group
Newport Beach, CA. TECSTAR announced today the formation of a new Optoelectronics Products Organization to meet the growing demand for low cost epitaxial wafers used in high brightness Light Emitting Diodes (LED), and related optoelectronics devices. Ms. Ellen Linder will be head of product development.
TECSTAR Inc. operates the world s largest GaAs MOCVD foundry at its Applied Solar Division (ASD). This division s facilities will now be available to support manufacturers of high and ultra-high brightness LED devices and lamps. TECSTAR s world class MOCVD production plant powered the commercial satellite constellation revolution with IRIDIUM, OrbComm and Globalstar, all employing high efficiency solar cells manufactured in the TECSTAR facility. While solar power will remain a core product focus for TECSTAR, the high degree of similarity between the epitaxial growth and processing methods for LED s and solar cells works to assure the success of both product lines. Lessons learned in manufacturing and research will be directly applied to either product line where applicable. In addition, manufacturing two product lines will spread fixed overhead costs and mean greater cost-savings to all TECSTAR customers.
TECSTAR is establishing large epitaxial wafer supply partnerships with several of the leading optoelectronics device developers and manufactures and expects to announce initial partnership agreements in the first quarter 2000. "The formation of the Optoelectronic Products Organization will allow TECSTAR to take advantage of our existing facilities and competencies to drive the continued growth of our company," said David Van Buren, president and CEO.
TECSTAR Inc. was founded in 1954 as the country s first supplier of silicon space solar cells. Today, the privately held company is the first to manufacture and fly triple junction Cascade(R) cells and panels in space. TECSTAR employs 550 people with sales of approximately $100 million, and is ISO 9001 certified. TECSTAR products include critical avionics equipment for airborne server applications, maintenance computers, and airborne data loaders; motion control equipment for both satellites and aircraft, and advanced technology in spacecraft solar panels and arrays. The company maintains an unblemished, on-orbit performance on over 1,000 satellites involving programs such as GPS, Globalstar, Iridium, ORBCOMM, Landsat and the Mars Pathfinder mission.
Contact:
Cayce Blanchard, Director, Corp. Relations of TECSTAR Inc.,
Tel: 626-934-6504;
fax: 626-336-8694
Tel: 626-934-6504;
fax: 626-336-8694