Uniroyal Forms Joint Venture for LED Manufacturing

The newly-formed Uniroyal Optoelectronics Division of Uniroyal Technology Corp. (Sarasota, FL) has entered into a joint venture with Emcore (Somerset, NJ) to produce high-brightness light-emitting diode (LED) epitaxial wafers, lamps, and display devices. The wholly owned Uniroyal subsidiary will be the majority owner and managing partner of the joint venture. Commercial sales are slated to begin in the third quarter of calendar 1998.

The initial focus of the venture will be on the manufacture of gallium nitride (GaN) devices. The current GaN-based blue and green portion of the LED market is approximately $140 million, which is double from the previous year. The GaN product market is projected to reach the $3 billion level by 2006. Uniroyal Optoelectronics has already demonstrated blue LEDs with output powers greater than 1 mW.

Uniroyal Technology Corp. manufactures and sells proprietary plastic products and specialty chemical and polymer products. The company has three additional business segments: high performance plastics, coated fabrics and specialty adhesives.