From REFR annual meeting
- - Other smart glass technologies, liquid crystal and electrochromic glass, have been reduced to niche positions. 3M quit the LC business as to expensive and EC devices are too complicated and expensive. Donnelly, Schott and Pilkington have all opted out of EC glass technology. Where as once SPD was a dark horse and these other technologies were ahead, now SPD is first with a large market before it.
The glass industry is unique in how new technologies are developed and accepted. Pilkington did with float glass, EXACTLY what Robert Saxe did with SPD. People have asked "why don't they manufacture products themselves?" or "what is taking so long?" Even Pilkington had to license their technology to other players to get it incorporated as an industry standard. That is exactly what Saxe has done with SPD. In the glass industry you need sponsorship, you don't have 1000s of start ups as you do in other technologies.
Now that SPD has that sponsorship, it's only a matter of ramping up commercialization. With partners like Hitachi, Isoclima, Hanglas and more to come, SPD will enter the 21st century as the predominant "smart" glass technology.
Introducing a technology that will literally reshape several billion dollar industries is an awesome venture and Robert Saxe has done it. Unfortunately this momentous occasion is marred by the attack from short sellers who have by their many public statements shown NO understanding of the glass business, and SPD's affect on it. They ignore all information that flies in the face of their contention that REFR is a short sale.
It is too late for them now. The products are emerging, more companies are recognizing that SPD is the only affordable and viable technology for the large "smart" glass markets. We now understand the complexity and the steps involved in introducing products. We are patient and we are not going to let a cybersmear campaign by shorts detract from the very real accomplishments of Robert Saxe.
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