Research Frontiers Adds Portland, Boston and Chicago to Its "Experience the View of the Future" Tour Showcasing SPD Smart Windows and Other Products
21 November 2000
Research Frontiers Adds Portland, Boston and Chicago to Its "Experience the View of the Future" Tour Showcasing SPD Smart Windows and Other Products
WOODBURY, N.Y.--November 21, 2000--Research Frontiers Incorporated , the developer and licensor of fast-responding SPD light-control technology, has added Portland, Boston, and Chicago to its "Experience the View of the Future" tour, which is open to the public. SPD technology can be used in a variety of products including windows, skylights, mirrors, sunvisors, flat panel displays, and eyewear.The next three dates of the "Experience the View of the Future" North American tour are:
December 5-Portland, Oregon December 12-Boston, Massachusetts
December 13-Chicago, Illinois
Homeowners, consumers, investors, architects, contractors, distributors, and members of the window, glass, automotive, aviation, eyewear and display industries are all invited. For specific locations and times, please contact Research Frontiers at events@refr-spd.com or call at 888-SPD-REFR ext. 50.
Michael LaPointe, Research Frontiers' Director of Marketing for Architectural Windows and Displays, noted: "This tour is part of our goal to increase public awareness of SPD technology, in support of the marketing plans of our licensees who will be manufacturing SPD products. The first four stops on this tour, Toronto, Montreal, Houston and Dallas, were well-attended by investors, consumers, architects, and members of several industries. Since we first announced the tour, the requests for additional cities has been overwhelming. We recently received new product samples which will be exhibited for the first time in Portland. Also, our Portland visit coincides with a significant milestone achieved by one of our licensees, Lang-Mekra, who is the world's largest producer of commercial vehicle mirror systems. On December 4-6 in Portland, Lang-Mekra will present the worldwide debut of an SPD truck mirror at the Society of Automotive Engineers International Truck and Bus Meeting and Exposition."
Research Frontiers' suspended particle device (SPD) technology for controlling light has many applications, including "smart" windows for homes and buildings, skylights and interior partitions. A smart window using SPD film enables users to instantly and precisely control the amount of light passing through the window, providing relief from glare or heat without blocking view, while also enabling privacy whenever desired, protection from UV damage, promotion of energy conservation, and other benefits. SPD products can be controlled either automatically (by means of a photocell or other sensing or control device) or adjusted manually by the user by turning a knob. In automotive vehicles, SPD-smart products can include windows, sunroofs, sunvisors, rear-view mirrors, instrument panels and navigation systems. SPD eyewear products - sunglasses, sport goggles such as ski goggles, and visors - will continuously and instantly control glare to the degree needed. In the flat panel display industry, SPDs may be used in products such as laptop computers, cell phones, and handheld devices such as PDAs - Personal Digital Assistants, with significant performance and cost advantages over current technologies.
About Research Frontiers Incorporated
Research Frontiers has licensed the following companies to use its patented suspended particle device (SPD) light-control technology in emulsions, film, or end-products:
| -- | Dainippon Ink and Chemicals Incorporated-the world's largest manufacturer of organic pigments; |
| -- | General Electric Company ; |
| -- | Glaverbel, SA of Belgium - majority-owned by Asahi Glass, one of the world's leading automotive glass manufacturing companies; |
| -- | Global Mirror GmbH & Co. KG - the world's largest manufacturer of commercial vehicle mirror systems; |
| -- | Hankuk Glass Industries Inc. - Asia's largest flat glass producer (outside of Japan); |
| -- | Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd.- majority-owned and part of Hitachi Ltd.; |
| -- | Material Sciences Corporation - the world's second-largest producer of specialty window films ; |
| -- | Polaroid Corporation-the worldwide leader in instant imaging and a supplier of instant photographic cameras and films; digital imaging hardware, software and media; secure identification systems; and sunglasses to markets worldwide ; |
| -- | ThermoView Industries, Inc. - a leading integrator of businesses and technologies within the replacement window industry (AMEX: THV); |
| -- | Vision Ease Lens - the world's largest producer of polycarbonate lenses which is owned by BMC Industries, Inc. |
Research Frontiers is a technological leader in the development and licensing of suspended particle devices (SPDs)-electrically operated light-control devices using proprietary particle suspensions and films. SPD technology permits light transmission to be electrically controlled instantly, either automatically (by means of a photocell or other sensing or control device) or adjusted manually by the user. Research Frontiers' proprietary SPD technology enables users to control the amount of light passing through windows, skylights, eyewear (including prescription and non-prescription sunglasses and sports goggles), automotive sunroofs, sunvisors and rear-view mirrors, as well as enabling brighter easier to read flat panel information displays for use in computers, television, telephones and other electronic instruments and products. Research Frontiers currently has agreements in effect covering smart windows, automotive mirrors and sunvisors, eyewear, displays and other products with major international corporations and holds or has rights in over 350 patents and patent applications on SPD technology throughout the world. Licensees of Research Frontiers who incorporate SPD technology into end products will pay Research Frontiers a royalty of 5-10% of net sales of licensed products under license agreements currently in effect. Research Frontiers' common stock trades on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol "REFR." Additional information about Research Frontiers can be found on the Internet at http://www.refr-spd.com.
Note: From time to time the Company may issue forward looking statements which involve risks and uncertainties. This press release contains forward looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Actual results could differ and are not guaranteed. Any forward looking statements should be considered accordingly.