Date Announced: 02 Feb 2005 Carmanah Technologies Corporation (TSX Venture: CMH) is pleased to announce two new and technically enhanced LED (light-emitting diode) edge-lit roadway signs that will make night driving easier and safer in North America:- Model R409 Edge-Lit LED Street-Name Sign- Model R450 Edge-Lit LED Traffic SignTraffic agencies in 12 states have already installed Carmanah's next-generation LED-illuminated roadway signs. Customers include the cities of St. Charles (MO), Camarillo (CA), Broomfield (CO), and Tyler (TX)."These popular products integrate over 11 years of sign lighting expertise from our wholly-owned subsidiary, Carmanah Signs, into our successful line of roadway lighting products," said Art Aylesworth, CEO of Carmanah.Carmanah Signs Inc. (CSI), formerly AVVA Light Corporation, has been manufacturing LED edge-lit illuminated signs since 1993 and has an installation base exceeding 50,000 units. Carmanah's road signs, developed and extensively tested over several years, incorporate the superior illumination characteristics and energy-saving advantages of CSI's renowned architectural and retail point-of-purchase signs.Many traffic agencies are very receptive to LED technology, having recently benefited from the widespread conversion to LED traffic signals. This new technology is already saving them up to $1,000 annually per intersection, through reduced electricity costs and bulb replacements.Carmanah's LED edge-lit technology brings similar benefits to internally illuminated street name and traffic signs. The signs offer an unprecedented clarity and uniform brightness that makes them easily readable and attractive. They enhance the streetscape and promote safer and more efficient traffic flow, particularly at busy intersections and tourist areas. Additional advantages include:- "Green" energy efficient technology - up to 90% less electricity consumption than fluorescent signs and 50% less than backlit signs with LED retrofitting.- LED lifespan of 50,000 hours - up to 15 years of maintenance-free operation with no bulb or ballast replacements.- Slim, lightweight and easy to install - as little as 1.38 inches thick with a built-in power supply.- Highly durable and glass-free - manufactured of unbreakable LEDs mounted to a tough acrylic face.Traffic safety trends, changing vehicle designs and an aging population are spurring a shift toward more sign illumination. This is particularly true for overhead signs, which receive only 10 percent of vehicle headlamp illumination compared to roadside signs.Changes in headlight specifications reducing the amount of upward light are expected to reduce the retro-reflective illumination of overhead signs by one-third. Meanwhile, the U.S. population over 65 will rise from 13 to 20 percent in the next 15 years, meaning more drivers needing better sign illumination and greater reaction times - the amount of light a driver needs to see at night doubles every 13 years after the age of 20.For the reasons above, the U.S. Federal Highway Administration's 2003 Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) explicitly recommends that overhead signs be illuminated unless an engineering study shows that it is not required."Our entry into the road sign market is well-timed," said Aylesworth. "Many cities are investigating greater sign illumination, typically installing a small number of signs for evaluation in their busiest intersections and then following up with larger orders. Long-term plans could call for illuminating signs at every major intersection as funding becomes available, installing illuminated signage at all new intersections, or replacing all fluorescent signs with LED illuminated signs to reduce maintenance costs."For more information about Carmanah's LED edge-lit road signs and self-contained, solar-powered LED road lights, please visit www.roadlights.com
Contact
Mark Komonoski, Director, Investor Relations Telephone: +1 (403) 252-6047 Toll-Free: 1-800-665-3749 Fax: +1 (403) 252-5580
E-mail:[email protected]
Web Site:http://www.carmanah.com
