MicroEmissive Displays (MED) today formally opened its new volume manufacturing facility in Dresden, Germany.

The new MED production site consists of a 396 square metre state-of-the-art cleanroom, with 16 manufacturing and technical staff, representing a total investment to date of more than $10 million. MED has plans to more than double its staff in Germany over the next two years enabling it to significantly ramp up production.

»We have sited our volume manufacturing plant alongside the Fraunhofer IPMS, which is recognised internationally as a centre of excellence for organic semiconductor innovation. We are now poised to become a leading player in cutting-edge commercially available microdisplay technology,« said Bill Miller, CEO for MED.

He continued, »Customers with exciting applications such as video glasses for watching TV via mobile phone; wearable head-up displays for sporting, industrial and leisure uses; and electronic viewfinders for digital cameras, camcorders and night vision systems can now be fully supported with large volumes of high quality new eyescreen™ microdisplays.«

Thomas Jurk, Saxony State Minister for Economic Affairs and Labour stated, »An important criterion for MED’s decision in favour of Saxony is the outstanding research environment available here. This is enabling them to experience the perfect interaction of research and production in the highly innovative sector of microelectronics. The members of this industrial branch say that Dresden has evolved into a ›Centre of Excellence‹. We say that this deserves our continued support.«

Prof. Karl Leo, deputy director of Fraunhofer IPMS commented, »MED and Fraunhofer IPMS will work together to advance the development of OLED microdisplays in close co-operation. As part of this co-operation, we will be developing new concepts for Active-Matrix-OLEDs integrated into Silicon, and developing complete systems. We congratulate MED on the opening of a cleanroom facility alongside us.«

Dr. Horst Dietz, managing director Invest in Germany added, »In our effort to attract leading technologies to Germany, we are very pleased that MED has chosen Dresden as its new production location for organic displays. Dresden combines expertise, innovation and experience with organic semiconductors in a manner that is unique in Europe. Invest in Germany collaborated closely with MED during the investment decision process and is delighted to have contributed to the success of this project.«

About MicroEmissive Displays

MicroEmissive Displays (MED - AIM, London Stock Exchange) is a leader in polymer organic light emitting diode (P-OLED) microdisplay technology. The company was founded in 1999 and has developed a unique emissive microdisplay technology by using a P-OLED stack on a CMOS substrate. In late 2004, MicroEmissive Displays floated on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange (AIM) and having established a pilot production line in Edinburgh, made its first product release and commercial shipments in December 2005.

MicroEmissive Displays has been awarded ISO 9001:2000 registration for the research, design, development and marketing of digital microdisplay solutions and is working towards full registration in 2007. MicroEmissive Displays is headquartered at the Scottish Microelectronics Centre, Edinburgh, Scotland and employs 56 people; its manufacturing plant is in Dresden, Germany. The company also has sales representatives and applications support located in Asia, the USA and Europe.

About eyescreen™

MicroEmissive Displays’ eyescreen™ products are the world’s only polymer organic light emitting diode (P-OLED) microdisplays. The full colour eyescreen™ combines superb TV quality moving video images that are free from flicker, with ultra-low power consumption, enabling greatly extended battery life for the consumer. This enhancement in battery usage time made possible by the eyescreen™ will play a vital role in the widespread adoption of portable head-sets for personal TV and video viewing in the consumer marketplace. The innovative design of the eyescreen™, with its integrated driver ICs and its digital interface, offers product design engineers a fast, robust design-in solution for smaller, lighter-weight, stylish products of the future, all for a size comparable with the pupil of the human eye.

Awards

Short-listed for the Best of British Industry Awards 2006, Next Generation Award

Winner of IEE Innovation in Engineering Award 2005, Emerging Technologies Award

Winner Gannochy Medal 2004, Professor Ian Underwood - Scotland’s Top Innovator

Winner European Semiconductor Start-Up of the Year 2004

Listed in Tornado Insider’s Top 100 in 2003

Listed in Tornado Insider’s Top 100 in 2002

About Fraunhofer IPMS

Fraunhofer IPMS carries out customer specific developments in the field of microelectronic and microsystem technology in Dresden. The aim is to act as a business partner in helping to transfer innovative ideas into new products. The Fraunhofer IPMS has pilot line production facilities at small and medium scale for production of modern CMOS compatible MEMS technology products in its own cleanroom facilities. About 200 scientists work with modern equipment to provide customer specific solutions in the field of circuit design, sensors and sensor systems, micromechanical actuators and actuator systems, light-modulating microsystems, image processing and image transmission and organic electronics.

About Invest in Germany

Invest in Germany is the official investment promotion agency of Germany. Its mandate is to assist and consult international companies about investment opportunities in Germany. The range of services includes strategic planning, market research and competitive analysis. Invest in Germany provides comprehensive support services from site selection to the implementation of investment decisions. Its industry teams ensure professional guidance for successful business launches in Germany. Companies planning to establish or expand business operations in Germany can obtain information concerning the business environment, such as the corporate investment framework, tax regulations and subsidies.

Invest in Germany offers client support from its Berlin headquarters as well as its international offices in the USA, Japan and China.