Advanced Photonix, Inc. Signs VAR Agreement with Seltek Ltd.

Agreement Covers T-Gauge® Industrial Terahertz Gauging System

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Sep 30, 2014, 08:06 ET

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Sept. 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Advanced Photonix, Inc.^® (NYSE MKT: API) today announced that it has signed a value-added reseller (VAR) agreement for its T-Gauge^® industrial terahertz gauging system with Seltek Ltd. Seltek is a leading manufacturer of measurement and process control systems for continuous web production industries.

The T-Gauge^® measurement system can be used for online or offline measurements for quality assurance and process control of web-based and converting industries. The T-Gauge^® Sensor is the world's first terahertz sensor for online process control, quality control, and nondestructive testing. With no ionizing radiation (like x-ray) and no radioactive elements (like nuclear gauges), the T-Gauge^® Sensor provides an alternative to legacy technology that requires excessive regulation and control. Terahertz energy will penetrate opaque materials, allowing measurements to be performed on any non-conductive material.

The T‑Gauge^® Control Unit (TCU™) is the central component of the T-Gauge^® family of products, and it sources the optical and electrical signals necessary to generate and detect terahertz (THz) pulses if the TCU is connected to THz accessories. It also transforms analog data into a digital signal that can be analyzed using the onboard processor.

The TCU is a 19-inch (483 mm) rack, wall, or table mountable intelligent instrument that controls the fiber-coupled THz sensor and includes a high performance waveform processor. The TCU has all the required connections for convenient interfacing to various optical and electronic components. The high-speed delay included in the TCU can be chosen from a number of delay lengths and speed options. When utilized in conjunction with Advanced Photonix T-Gauge^® accessories, the TCU enables the user to generate and detect pulsed terahertz energy that can be used to measure physical properties. The TCU has received both UL and CE marks, and can be operated in a wide range of environments. The high signal-to-noise ratio of our THz signal allows the T-Gauge^®Sensor to operate at up to a 1kHz measurement rate, which allows tight control of the manufacturing line.

API is developing a VAR partner network to enable T-Gauge^® industrial process control solutions for continuous web, discrete manufacturing and anomaly defect inspection applications. The company plans to develop a VAR network which will serve vertical markets where VARs have unique subject matter expertise. VAR partners are trained to sell, install and support API T-Gauge^® products. Each VAR will have an in house application development T-Gauge^® system to perform feasibility studies and develop new market applications for non-contact measuring of physical properties such as; multiple layer thickness measurements, density, contamination by foreign substances, sub-surface defects within a product and moisture analysis. The technology is very adaptable to different sensor configurations, including robotic controls, to support many different applications. The resulting innovative gauge will help manufacturers to improve quality and reduce costs.

Richard Kurtz, President and CEO commented, "We are always on the lookout for strong VAR partners and have been developing and building a VAR partner network. We are pleased to have established this relationship with Seltek, which has a long history of supporting a world-wide customer base for manufacturing process control. Seltek provides a global presence with world class customer support and market knowledge, which we believe will lead to more rapid market adoption of our terahertz T-Gauge^® platform."

Yasar Karadeniz, Managing Director of Seltek Ltd. said, "We are delighted about this new relationship with Advanced Photonix. Their new T-Gauge^® sensor technology complements our existing sensor technology and provides a precise, accurate and reliable system that our customers can use to monitor and control their manufacturing process manually or automatically."

Kurtz continued, "VARs are an important part of our distribution channel strategy. VARs provide the end customer the total solution. This solution is based on a Quality Control System or QCS. In web or continuous manufacturing, a typical system is made up of the scanning system that moves our T-Gauge^® sensor across the web material to measure physical properties, like layer thickness, overall thickness, density, and sometimes moisture, all at the same time. In a closed loop control system, the VARs software interfaces between the T-Gauge^® measurements and the production control system. The position or location of the sensor position relative to the web is used to control the extrusion, calendaring or composite structure of the product manufactured. The process control can be accomplished using automated or manual die, pressure and material feed controls. The VARs also take responsibility for: installation of the scanning equipment and T-Gauge^® sensor; Human Machine Interface (HMI) of the control system for operator input; service and support."

"In discrete manufacturing VARs can use robotic, two or multiple axis or fixed locations to inspect product that is an individual item, like blow molded bottles. Here depending on line speed, the size and number of points to be inspected, the VARs can either perform sampling or 100%."

Kurtz concluded, "Our VARs also have a worldwide network of sales and service personnel expanding the number of 'feet on the street' offering our T-Gauge^® Sensor to customers."

About Seltek Ltd.

Seltek is engaged in the design, manufacturing, installation and commissioning of process measurement and control systems for continuous web product industries such as metal rolling mills, paper mills, cast film lines, plastics, nonwoven, calendaring, textiles, and converting. For more information visit them at www.seltek.com.

About Advanced Photonix, Inc.

Advanced Photonix, Inc.® (NYSE MKT: API) is a leading supplier of optoelectronic sensors, devices and instruments used by Test and Measurement, Process Control, Medical, Telecommunication and Homeland Security markets. The company has three product lines: Optosolutions focuses on enabling manufacturers to measure physical properties, including temperature, particular counting, color, and fluorescence for Medical, Homeland Security and Process Control applications. The Terahertz sensor product line is targeted to the Process Control, to enable quality control, and Security markets through nondestructive testing. The T-Gauge^® sensor can measure subsurface physical properties, like multi-layers thicknesses, density, moisture content, anomaly detection and some chemical features, online and in real time. High-Speed Optical Receiver (HSOR) products are used by the telecommunication market in both telecommunication equipment and in test and measurement equipment utilized in the manufacturing of telecommunication equipment. For more information visit us on the web at www.advancedphotonix.com.

The information contained herein includes forward looking statements that are based on assumptions that management believes to be reasonable but are subject to inherent uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, unforeseen technological obstacles which may prevent or slow the development and/or manufacture of new products; potential problems with the integration of the acquired company and its technology and possible inability to achieve expected synergies; obstacles to successfully combining product offerings and lack of customer acceptance of such offerings; limited (or slower than anticipated) customer acceptance of new products which have been and are being developed by the Company; and a decline in the general demand for optoelectronic products.

CONTACT: [email protected]

SOURCE: Advanced Photonix, Inc.

RELATED LINKS: http://www.advancedphotonix.com

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SOURCE Advanced Photonix, Inc.