Elsicon is a privately held company based in Newark, Delaware that specializes in optical and electro-optical materials, components and processing systems for information display, storage, communication, and computer applications. Elsicons near-term market focus is to satisfy the needs of the fast growing liquid crystal display (LCD) industry for non-rubbing liquid crystal alignment manufacturing technology. Elsicon plans to establish its patented optical alignment technology, OptoAlignTM, as the new industry standard for liquid crystal alignment, a critical process in manufacturing liquid crystal displays. Longer-term, Elsicon will leverage its LCD related expertise into a variety of new products for non-display applications, such as high capacity information storage and optical signal processing. Such products include liquid crystal based storage media, liquid crystal diffractive and holographic elements, phase and polarization devices, document security, and fast optical communication devices. Elsicon has achieved significant milestones since it began independent operation in April, 1997. Leveraging technology developed under an Advanced Technology Program (ATP, for more information visit www.atp.nist.gov) awarded in 1993 by the Department of Commerce, Elsicon was awarded a contract from the United States Display Consortium (USDC, for more information visit www.usdc.org) in 1997. Under USDC contract, Elsicon has scaled up synthesis of OptoAlignTM alignment materials and developed UV Exposure Equipment. The marketing and sales support for materials and equipment in Japan have been established. In September, 2000, Elsicon relocated to new facilities in Newark, Delaware. OptoAlignTM product evaluation is currently underway with LCD manufacturers in the Far East, Europe and North America.
