TIR Systems Restructures to Focus on SSL Technology for General Lighting
April 14, 2006... Cost Reductions in Fixtures Business will Enable Increased Focus on LEXEL Technology
Vancouver, British Columbia--TIR Systems Ltd., a world leader in enabling technologies for LED-based Solid State Lighting (SSL), announced today that it is restructuring its operations, effective immediately, in order to concentrate its resources on the commercialization of Products and technology for general lighting applications.
TIR is moving to accelerate and capitalize on the transition to solid state lighting for the US$91 billion worldwide general lighting marketplace, said Leonard Hordyk, President & CEO, TIR Systems. We are focusing our resources on what we do best - developing and commercializing market -leading, SSL technology -- while aligning ourselves to what lighting manufacturers do best -- designing, manufacturing, marketing and distributing finished luminaires. The momentum is building as lighting manufacturers recognize they can now offer high quality, white light SSL products based on TIRs LEXEL technology without having to change their business model.
The market response to TIRs introduction of the LEXEL technology has been strong. TIR has already entered into collaborative agreements with four of the worlds leading lighting manufacturers - The Genlyte Group, Zumtobel AG, Lighting Services Incorporated, and Spectral GmbH. TIR is currently shipping LEXEL Units to these partners in support of their plans to introduce LEXEL-based luminaires this year. TIR is also in discussions with several other lighting manufacturers and expects the resulting consortium, supporting the LEXEL as a new standard in Solid State Lighting, to continue to expand Driven by the demand from the global lighting fixture industry, future investment activity will be focused on the development and commercialization of TIRs LEXEL technology and its expanding intellectual property portfolio.
Going forward, TIRs lighting manufacturing partners will lead the development of new finished luminaire products incorporating TIRs SSL technology, and will distribute those products through their powerful sales channels under their respected brand names. TIR will continue manufacturing, selling and supporting its existing lighting products, Instructed with was cost in the elimination of 42 jobs with annual cost reductions estimated to be approximately $5, including: Destiny?, ColorTrace, LightMark and Light Pipe. The restructuring announced today was necessary in order to more closely align TIRs operations with those of its partners. Million. The company expects to take a restructuring charge, the amount and timing of which will be announced in conjunction with Q2 financial results.
Conference Call Information
The company will be holding a teleconference call on April 13th, 2006 at 1:00 pm Pacific Time, 4:00 pm Eastern Time, to discuss this announcement.
To participate, please dial in on 1-800-701-7176 toll free.
A playback will be available from 4 pm (Pacific Time) on Thursday, April 13th until Thursday, April 27th, 2006. To listen, call 1-416-626-4100 or 1-800-558-5253 and quote reference number 21290133. A recording of the conference call will also be made available on the TIR Systems website at from Monday, April 17th, 2006.
About the Company
TIR developed the LEXEL, which is the first, fully integrated, Light Emitting Diode (LED) based light source, designed specifically to produce high quality TIR developed the LEXEL, which is the first, fully integrated, Light Emitting Diode (LED) based light source, designed specifically to produce high quality The benefit of the LEXEL technology will encourage a more rapid adoption of Solid State Lighting and the LEXEL is positioned to become a new standard in the global lighting market.
This News Release contains forward-looking statements or information concerning the development, design and marketing of SSL technology and its expected impact on the Companys business. Forward-looking statements or information are statements about the future and include, but are not limited to, our Success developing, designing and marketing the sales of our products or technologies in response to the continuing change in technology, evolving industry standards and changing customer preferences and requirements. Such statements or information are inherently uncertain, and the actual events or results could be materially different Twen those expectations in those forward-looking statements as a result of numerous factors, including without limitation, our ability to successfully address these developments on a timely basis or at all; as well the other risks and uncertainties affecting the Company and its business, as Contained in the Companys most recent Annual Information Form and othe r subsequent news releases and filings with the Canadian Securities Regulatory Authorities, any of which could cause actual events or results to vary materially from the Companys expectations. Forward-looking statements or information are based on the beliefs, opinions and expectations of the Companys management at The time they are made, and the Company does not measure any obligation to update its forward-looking statements or information if those beliefs, opinions or expectations change, or there is new information or other circumstances should change.
The TSX has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this News Release.
Contact:
Gary Brown
TIR Systems Ltd.
Chief Financial Officer
(604) 294-8477 or Toll Free: 1-800-663-2036
(604) 294-3733 (FAX)
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