News Briefs (March 16, 2006)

Aixtron AG, a provider of deposition equipment to the semiconductor industry, announced that Taiwan-based LED manufactuer Epistar recently bought five Aixtron gallium nitride (GaN) epitaxy reactors: the AIX 2800G4 planetary reactor with 42 by 2 in. capacity, and four AIX 2600G3 planetary reactors with 24 by 2 in. capacity. After its recent merger with United Epitaxy Co., Epistar became one of the largest LED epi (echo planar imaging)-based manufacturers. It makes ultrahigh-brightness LEDs for applications such as cellular phones, automotive lighting, full-color screens and displays, traffic signals and indicators for electronic equipment. Its LEDs are also used as lighting sources in the fiber optics industry. . . . Cree Inc., a Durham, N.C., maker of LED solid-state lighting components, said it has signed an agreement with Innovative LED Technologies SL, a new company based in Gava, Barcelona, dedicated to distributing XLamp LEDs in Spain and Portugal, particularly for high-power applications. . . . Daktronics, of Brookings, S.D., is providing new lighting display equipment at eight major league ballparks and more than 20 minor league ballparks for the upcoming season. Venues include St. Louis Cardinals ballpark Busch Stadium; Miller Park in Milwaukee; Dolphins Stadium, home of the Florida Marlins and Miami Dolphins; and Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Minor league facilities that will use new Daktronics equipment this year include Isotopes Park, home of the Albuquerque Isotopes; Blair County Ballpark in Altoona, Pa.; and McCormick Field in Asheville, N.C. The company will provide technology such as large-screen LED video displays, amber LED displays, LCDs, scorboards and fascia (ribbon boards).