DisplaySearch Expects iFire's TDEL Technology To Challenge PDPs for Supremacy in the Large Flat Panel TV Market.

Business Editors & High-Tech Writers

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 5, 2002

DisplaySearch, the worldwide leader in flat panel display (FPD) market research and consulting, is pleased to announce the immediate availability of the latest section of its Alternative Display Technology Report - iFire's Thick Dielectric Electroluminescent Display Technology (TDEL). iFire Technology Inc. is located in Toronto, Canada and is a subsidiary of the Westaim Corporation. This report provides an overview of the producer and its technology, derived benefits, target markets, process requirements, manufacturing details, current status, a forecast and assessment. TDEL has been studied for years, but until iFire demonstrated a full color 8.5" display, the technology was never considered for commercial production. The company has demonstrated panels as large as 17" and is in the planning stages of building a pilot fab large enough to produce a 34" display. iFire's manufacturing process is so simple that its capital requirements are less than 25% and 50% of comparably sized TFT LCD and PDP fabs respectively. Additionally, the material costs of TDEL are significantly lower than either of the other competing technologies.

iFire's potential is based on a very low cost manufacturing process, which is similar to making printed circuit boards (PCBs) and does not require the fine line geometries of TFT LCDs or the expensive physical steps to produce barrier ribs required in the manufacture of PDPs. In addition, iFire has the expertise to continually improve the chemistry underlying the display technology. iFire has targeted the rapidly growing large flat panel TV market, which shipped 235,000 units for $638 million in 2001 and is forecasted to grow to 3.2 million units and $3.7 billion by 2005. iFire expects to be in production in late 2004 or early 2005, and should be in a position to compete with PDPs and large-area TFT LCDs. iFire has demonstrated adequate performance up to now and is being challenged to increase its brightness and contrast ratio. The company has already demonstrated that it can meet the CIE requirements for TV displays. The technology is emissive and has superior response times, viewing angles and operating conditions. While its cost is a clear advantage, iFire must demonstrate the required performance and the ability to scale the process. In the interim, iFire has a $25 million partnership with the Japanese company TDK to develop small and medium displays for the automotive, industrial and medical markets. TDK has yet to release a commercial product but has shown prototypes.

According to DisplaySearch Vice President and CFO Barry Young, "iFire, with its unique Thick Dielectric process, is poised to cut as much as 40% of the cost out of manufacturing large flat panel TVs. The technology has the potential to eat into the market share of both PDPs and TFT LCDs for large, flat panel TVs."

iFire, the sole producer of this TDEL process, is in the negotiation stage with a number of TV manufacturers in Asia and possibly Europe to commercialize the technology. iFire's intent is to form joint ventures to exploit the technology with partners that can provide product design, sales, marketing and distribution expertise.

The Thick Dielectric Electroluminescent Display Technology (TDEL) Report is available for $2,000. The report is also available as part of DisplaySearch's annual Alternative Display Technology Report (ADT), which includes OLED, LCOS, PDPs, Alien, E Ink, iFire and Carbon Nanotube display technologies. For more information on any DisplaySearch product or service, please contact DisplaySearch at TEL: [phone], FAX: [phone], email: [e-mail] or Web: www.displaysearch.com.

About DisplaySearch

Founded in 1996, DisplaySearch is the worldwide leader in flat panel display market research and consulting. The company is focused on all FPD markets, technologies, materials, production equipment and FPD-related ICs. DisplaySearch works closely with all layers of the FPD food chain, which enables delivery of the industry's most valuable market forecasts, technology assessments, surveys, studies and analyses. In just six years, more than 500 companies from 20 countries have become customers. DisplaySearch is also holding its 4th annual US FPD Conference from March 20 - March 22 in San Diego, California, where more than 60 informative presentations on all aspects of the FPD industry will be given. For more information on any DisplaySearch product or service, please contact DisplaySearch by phone: [phone], fax: [phone], email: [e-mail] or visit http://www.displaysearch.com.