3M Touch Systems and Touch International Announce Equipment Sale Agreement
Methuen, MA – June 27, 2007 – 3M Touch Systems, a wholly owned subsidiary of 3M Company, today announces an agreement to sell all manufacturing equipment assets located in its Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada production facility to Touch International, Inc., a Texas-based company. This equipment has primarily been used for manufacturing 3M’s Specialty Resistive touch screen product line, which is currently in the final stages of an end-of-life program. This equipment transfer will not affect 3M Touch Systems’ currently scheduled Specialty Resistive product deliveries to existing 3M customers as committed to in Last Time Buy arrangements made through the end of August 2007.
According to this agreement, after September 1, 2007, Touch International may utilize this equipment to produce similar resistive products, as well as hire former 3M Touch Systems manufacturing employees to staff the Vancouver operation. The result of this equipment sale agreement should provide an additional sourcing option for former 3M Specialty Resistive customers, as well as employment opportunities for some former 3M Touch Systems Vancouver employees.
3M Touch Systems will continue to manufacture touch sensor products in its Methuen, MA and Milwaukee, WI facilities, and remains committed to offering customers innovative touch interface solutions based on its capacitive-base technology platform as well as new and emerging technology platforms. 3M Touch Systems solutions include MicroTouch capacitive sensors, MicroTouch EX II controllers and firmware, MicroTouch MT 7 touch drivers and software, a wide array of MicroTouch-brand chassis and general-use touch monitors, the MicroTouch DST System (based on Dispersive Signal Technology) for large-format interactive digital signage, and the recently-introduced MicroTouch Flex Capacitive sensor for handheld and mobile electronic devices.
About Touch International
Touch International, headquartered in Austin, Texas, was founded in 2002 by Michael Woolstrum and long-time veteran, Gary Barrett, the company’s CTO. TI has become a world leader in touchscreen, EMI filter, and enhanced display technology. The company operates its engineering and design facility and corporate headquarters in Austin, Texas as well as a high volume production facility is located in Shenzhen, China.
