Philips wins AMLCD order from Smiths

Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands has secured an order for its active-matrix liquid crystal display (AMLCD) technology from Smiths Aerospace. Under the terms of the contract, Philips will deliver customised 4x4 AMLCD modules (5.6-inch diagonal active area) for integration into primary flight-control instrumentation as part of a major commercial airline's cockpit upgrade programme.

Volume production and immediate delivery will commence in July 2003, with the newly upgraded planes expected to be in the air by the end of the third quarter.

The deal signals the first time Philips will work with one of Europe's leading avionics integration firms, but it also marks one of the first inter-Europe supply management-based decisions in the avionics display sector for Philips. While the AMLCD panels will be manufactured at Philips' Kobe, Japan, site, development and customisation will occur at the company's facilities in Heerlen, Netherlands.

"Our decision to team with Philips versus the competition was based on a number of critical factors. First off, the company has demonstrated the ability to deliver the cutting-edge AMLCD technology that meets our rigorous design and performance requirements. This fact -- coupled with Philips' strong European-based manufacturing capabilities, which enable it to ramp up quickly to ensure timely delivery of customised, high-quality platforms -- was also instrumental in our decision," said Smiths' Project Director Ray Curnow.

According to Peter Hopper, CEO for Philips' Mobile Display Systems' Group, "AMLCDs afford a number of significant advantages over older technologies in the avionics arena, including substantial space savings, lower power consumption, improved performance and longer lifecycles,"

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