Compact Designs Fuel Growth of Rogers' Materials in Cellular Handsets
Rogers Corporation says that increasing amounts of its high performance specialty materials are being designed into new cellular telephones that offer improved features and are more compact and "user-friendly" in their design.
A variety of Rogers' specialty laminates and foams are being utilized by handset manufacturers in their new feature-rich phones. Rogers' R/Flex(R) flexible circuit laminates and cover films have recently been designed into twelve new clamshell style handsets being introduced by four different mobile phone suppliers. The Rogers' circuit laminates are used as the base material for thin flexible circuits that connect the circuitry on the folding cover, to the circuitry on the base of the phone. Production has already begun on these twelve new phones and Rogers' expects revenues from this application should exceed US$6 million for 2003.
Rogers' polyurethane and silicone foams are also gaining additional momentum in today's latest mobile phones. Rogers' foams provide supreme sealing and cushioning for LCD displays, speakers, antennas, batteries and microphones, as well as protection for delicate internal components including those found in the latest camera phones. As mobile phones incorporate larger screens and more advanced internal circuitry, the need for superior sealing and cushioning will continue to grow.
Rogers is also on the forefront in developing new innovative materials for this growing market. Thin, "flexible" electroluminescent ("EL") lamps to backlight keypads have recently been introduced by Durel Corporation, one of Rogers' joint ventures. This new style EL lamp offers superior backlighting quality compared to traditional LED's, it saves valuable space, and can offer a cost advantage to the manufacturer.
Rogers' President and Chief Operating Officer, Robert D. Wachob, commented, "We continue to realize success in working with cellular handset design engineers worldwide to find new and increased uses for our wide range of high performance materials. As a result, Rogers' sales to this important market continue to grow."
Posted to the site on 21st August 2003
