SDL Will be Primary Supplier of Lasers for Pumping Optical Amplifiers
SAN JOSE, Calif., April 15 /PRNewswire/ -- SDL, Inc. (Nasdaq: SDLI) today
announced that it has entered into an 18-month supply agreement with Corning
Incorporated (NYSE: GLW) to be the primary supplier of 980 nanometer (nm) pump
modules. The final value of the contract will be determined by the number of
units and the product mix required by Corning throughout the life of the
agreement.
SDL's 980 nm pumps are used to provide optical power to a variety of
Corning optical fiber amplifiers. Corning is the world's largest manufacturer
of erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs) that are used in dense wavelength
division multiplexing (DWDM) network applications.
"Over the last 12 months, the continuing build-out of DWDM fiber optic
systems for long-haul terrestrial and undersea communications applications has
more than doubled demand for our 980 nm pump module products," said Donald R.
Scifres, SDL's chairman and chief executive officer. "We are very pleased
that Corning has chosen to partner with SDL. These 980 nm products represent
the fruition of our investments to improve our product design and to upgrade
and expand our manufacturing line over the past two years. We believe our
product now represents the best combination of power, reliability, wavelength
stability and price in the industry today, as evidenced by this major contract
with Corning."
"Market demand for Corning optical amplifiers continues to increase," said
Gerry Fine, vice president and general manager of Corning Photonic
Technologies. "To keep pace with this growth we decided to partner with SDL
as our primary supplier of pump modules. SDL has established itself as one of
the leading developers of 980 nm pump modules in the world and we look forward
to our ongoing relationship with them."
Established in 1851, Corning Incorporated creates leading-edge
technologies for the fastest-growing markets of the world's economy. Corning
manufactures optical fiber, cable and photonic products for the
telecommunications industry; and high-performance displays and components for
television and other communications-related industries. The company also uses
advanced materials to manufacture products for scientific, semiconductor and
environmental markets. Corning's total revenues in 1998 were $3.5 billion.
More information on the company is available at Corning's web site,
http://www.corning.com.
SDL designs, manufactures and markets fiber optic-related products, lasers
and opto electronic-based systems. The company's products are used in a
diversity of markets such as telecommunications, cable television, dense
wavelength division multiplexing, satellite communications, printing, medical
and materials processing markets.
Statements in this press release which are not historical, including
statements regarding SDL's or management's intentions, hopes, beliefs,
expectations, representations, projections, plans or predictions of the future
are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include statements regarding
the terms of the supply agreement and the performance and price advantages of
the company's products. It is important to note that the Company's actual
results could differ materially from those in any such forward-looking
statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially
include risks related to manufacturing processes and capacity, yield
fluctuations, delays or changes in Corning's order rates, lack of Corning's
acceptance of products, and the risk factors listed from time to time in the
Company's SEC reports including, but not limited to, the annual report on Form
10-K and 10-K/A for the year ended January 1, 1999.
SOURCE SDL, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.corning.com
CONTACT:
Donald R. Scifres, Chairman and CEO, or
Michael L. Foster, VP Finance and CFO, both of SDL, Inc.,
408-943-9411; general, Lisa Horn Chainey, investors, Kristi
Larson, or media, Jose Mallabo, all of the Financial Relations
Board, 415-986-1591; media, Jodi L. Thomas of Corning, Inc.,
607-974-2822, thomasjl@corning.com
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