MESA, Ariz. and TEMPE, Ariz., Sept. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — During the month of September, Duraswitch (Nasdaq: DSWT – News), a licensor of electronic switch technologies and Three-Five Systems (NYSE: TFS – News), a global electronic manufacturing services company with a unique expertise in displays, will showcase their technologies on the Domestic Appliance European Tour 2003. The mobile marketing tour visits over 30 major manufacturers in Europe, including Electrolux, Miele, Whirlpool, Bosch Siemens, Merloni, Panasonic, Sharp and Candy.
“This is an excellent opportunity to highlight our combined capability to provide completely integrated display and switch solutions for the appliance market,” said Paul Chambers, TFS’ director of sales and marketing, Europe.
In November 2002, Duraswitch and TFS announced an agreement to join marketing efforts aimed at a large base of OEM customers, with the appliance industry as a key target.
European manufacturers play a major role in the global appliance industry. An estimated 70 million appliances were produced in Europe in 2002.
“The roadshow format allows us to meet directly with groups of engineers and executives from these companies rather than one or two delegates at a trade show,” said Tim Kuhn, vice president, business development, for Duraswitch. “It is a tremendous way to quickly build awareness and understanding of how Duraswitch technologies and TFS’ display expertise can provide solutions for a broad range of appliance applications.”
Duraswitch will display its patented electronic switch technologies including the PushGate® pushbutton, thiNcoder® rotary dial, and MagnaMouse(TM) multi-directional switch. Its thiNcoder 5B rotary technology was designed specifically for the white goods industry and is integrated on thin film flex-circuit substrate like the original thiNcoder. This thin rotary switch can function as a five-bit encoder, a two-bit repeating grey code, or a selector switch. Absolute five-bit, 32-position encoding provides a distinct electrical output at each detent position, using only six connections. Further advantages of this cutting-edge engineering solution are: no soldering or through-holes required, and no secondary assembly processes, in addition to customizable detent and stops.