CINCINNATI, Nov. 23, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LSI Industries Inc. (Nasdaq:LYTS) opened the doors to its new technology center at the Annual Shareholders Meeting, held at its Blue Ash, Ohio corporate headquarters this week. Called the iZone, this multi-faceted facility is dedicated to innovative new technology for lighting and graphics products. The iZone is complete with a 32-seat auditorium area and numerous displays of LSI's latest, most innovative, energy-efficient lighting and graphics products, and is designed to serve as an education center as well as an idea-generator. The iZone will be an integral tool in educating customers about LSI's advanced products and underlying technologies. It is part of LSI's ongoing commitment to developing state-of-the-art, energy saving lighting and graphics products. In particular, the primary reason for creating this industry leading technology center is LSI's focus on the continuing development of its leadership position in solid-state LED lighting and graphics.
The centerpiece of the iZone is a state-of-the-art LED video display produced and installed by LSI Saco Technologies. Comprised of over 1 million LED chips and framed by LSI's dynamic color LED VBrite product, the 13-foot wide solid-state video screen immerses viewers in a complete LSI lighting and graphics experience. Mr. Robert J. Ready, CEO of LSI Industries, told the shareholders in attendance that the iZone fulfills the company's vision to provide a facility where customers and suppliers can see for themselves how and why LSI's technology and creativity are superior. Mr. Ready stated, "We've long said that seeing is believing and we are going to create a lot of believers right here."
The iZone is only the second facility in the world to utilize an all Digital Media Control system to operate and adjust the lighting and video features throughout the room, permitting a customized experience based on the needs and interests of the audience. With motion detectors and door sensors, the room automatically welcomes visitors and is able to shut itself down to conserve energy when not in use. As part of LSI's existing videoconference network, meetings in the iZone can include subject matter experts from any LSI facility.
LSI now offers the widest array of solid-state LED lighting and graphics products to both its established niche markets and the broader commercial and industrial market. LSI's entry into solid-state LED lighting was facilitated by first a working relationship followed by the acquisition of SACO Technologies in June of 2006. More recently, LSI acquired AdL Technology and related companies in July 2009 which furthers LSI's capabilities to design, engineer, and manufacture custom designed circuit board assemblies, and sub-assemblies used to control solid-state lighting. Together with LSI's manufacturing, marketing, and sales capabilities, SACO and AdL have provided a solid foundation to build a lighting and graphics business based on advanced lighting and graphics products and solutions.
Commenting on the iZone Technology Center, Bob Ready stated, "There can be little doubt that the future of the lighting industry will be driven by cost-effective and energy efficient new technologies such as solid-state LEDs. The development and acceptance of innovative new lighting and graphics products is what LSI Industries is all about. Our opening of the iZone Technology Center is an important part of our overall program to make it easy for our customers to transition from traditional to advanced lighting and graphics solutions."
"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
This document contains certain forward-looking statements that are subject to numerous assumptions, risks or uncertainties. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor for forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as "guidance," "forecasts," "estimates," "anticipates," "projects," "plans," "expects," "intends," "believes," "seeks," "may," "will," "should" or the negative versions of those words and similar expressions, and by the context in which they are used. Such statements are based upon current expectations of the Company and speak only as of the date made. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in or implied by such forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the impact of competitive products and services, product demand and market acceptance risks, reliance on key customers, financial difficulties experienced by customers, potential costs associated with litigation and regulatory compliance, the adequacy of reserves and allowances for doubtful accounts, fluctuations in operating results or costs, unexpected difficulties in integrating acquired businesses, the cyclical and seasonal nature of our business, the ability to retain key employees of acquired businesses and any other factors that may be identified in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Form 10-K. The Company has no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.
About the Company
LSI Industries is an Image Solutions company, dedicated to advancing solid-state LED technology in lighting and graphics applications. We combine integrated technology, design, and manufacturing to supply high quality, environmentally friendly lighting fixtures and graphics elements for commercial, retail and specialty niche market applications. LSI is a U.S. manufacturer with marketing / sales efforts throughout the world with concentration currently on North American, South American, Asian, Australian, New Zealand and European markets.
Building upon its success with the Crossover(R) LED canopy fixture, LSI is committed to producing affordable, high performance, energy efficient lighting products, including solid-state LED light fixtures, for indoor and outdoor use. The Company also designs, produces, markets and manages a wide array of custom indoor and outdoor graphics programs including signage, menu board systems, decorative fixturing, LED displays and digital signage, and large format billboard and sports screens using solid-state LED technology. In addition, we provide design support, engineering, installation and project management for custom rollout programs for today's retail environment. The Company's technology R&D operation located in Montreal, Canada designs, produces and supports high performance light engines and large format billboard, sports and entertainment video screens using solid-state LED technology.
LSI's major markets are the commercial / industrial lighting, petroleum / convenience store, multi-site retail (including automobile dealerships, restaurants and national retail accounts), sports and entertainment markets. LSI employs approximately 1,400 people in facilities located in Ohio, New York, North Carolina, Kansas, Kentucky, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas and Montreal, Canada. The Company's common shares are traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol LYTS.
For further information, contact either Bob Ready, Chief Executive Officer and President, or Ron Stowell, Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer at (513) 793-3200.
The LSI Industries Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=3646
Additional note: Today's news release, along with past releases from LSI Industries, is available on the Company's internet site at www.lsi-industries.com or by email or fax, by calling the Investor Relations Department at (513) 793-3200. More information on LSI's quarterly earnings, including additional financial analysis and an earnings overview presentation, will also be available at this site after the Investor Call to be held at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time today.