Kiwi Company To Make Sweet Sounds For World's Airline Passengers
Slab DSP Limited To Supply U.S. Aerospace Manufacturer With Noise Cancellation Electronics For Passenger Aircraft.
Auckland, 6 August 2002 - New Zealand's Slab Group announced today that its revolutionary noise reduction product would
soon be making a big difference to the ears of the world's airline passengers.
Slab DSP (Digital Sound Processing) Limited has secured a commercial contract with In-Flight Peripherals Limited for the
supply of noise cancellation electronic equipment to giant U.S. aerospace manufacturer Rockwell Collins.
Rockwell Collins Passenger Systems will start using Slab's noise reduction system in January 2003 with a view to making
the product a standard part of their in-flight entertainment package supplied to the world's passenger airlines.
Mark Donaldson, Head of Research and Development for Slab Group says the deal is very exciting for company which has
been at the forefront of developing sound systems with active noise reduction specifically designed for commercial
passenger aircraft.
"Slab has invested in a purpose built research studio which includes part of an aircraft cabin with the aim of bringing
our unique, Kiwi designed product to supply the world's commercial airlines with a superior, high quality sound that
passengers are unable to get from present in-flight entertainment systems," says Donaldson.
"This technology provides the airlines with a very effective, versatile and cost competitive on board solution for
active noise reduction. We are hopeful that the world's airlines will now consider deploying our unique product
throughout all passenger classes given the many in-flight entertainment benefits it delivers.
"The Rockwell Collins deal is also significant because of the volume potential and revenue growth it represents for
Slab's product. Rockwell supplies and installs most of the world's existing and new airlines with their in-flight
entertainment systems, so their adoption of our product is about as big as it gets," says Donaldson.
Donaldson says Slab's proprietary product will be incorporated in a small audio-jack for installation in the armrest of
the passenger seat on commercial passenger aircraft. In-flight Peripherals Limited, a UK-based avionics company, will be
responsible for the installation of the product.
"To complete this product Slab has also developed a range of headphones to operate with this integrated noise reduction
solution. Airline passengers will connect a special headphone to the noise cancellation audio-jack in their armrest,
which monitors the ambient noise conditions and provides an appropriate controlling response that cancels a significant
proportion of the problematic noise.
According to Donaldson, Slab's analogue noise cancellation product therefore enables passengers to experience modern
in-flight entertainment programming without the disturbing affects of noise normally associated with aircraft travel.
"What this means is that airline passengers can experience sensational, surround sound free from engine noise or other
interference. The latest avionics research has also indicated that in-flight entertainment noise reduction systems
greatly reduce passenger fatigue and stress which can be particularly beneficial to comfort levels during long-haul
international flights," says Donaldson.
ENDS For further information please contact: Mark Donaldson, Head of Research and Development, Slab Group of Companies,
Phone (+64) 9 308-8282, Fax: (+64) 9 308-8289, E-mail: mark.donaldson@slabdsp.com
About Slab DSP: Slab DSP Limited is the leader in advanced analogue and digital signal processing technologies for audio
enhancement and noise reduction. Slab DSP has a substantial portfolio of technologies for the suppression of noise on
aircraft using headsets and flat panel speakers. Slab DSP is part of the Slab Group of Companies, which has headquarters
in Auckland, New Zealand. Slab's research and development interests include patented flat panel speaker systems,
advanced audio transducer technologies, patented noise cancellation algorithms and software solutions for controlling
the audio environment. One of the major shareholders in Slab International are funds associated with AMP Private Capital
NZ Fund and AMP Life, which are managed by AMP Henderson Private Capital NZ Limited. See also www.slabdsp.com
About Rockwell Collins: Rockwell Collins (NYSE: COL) is a leader in aviation electronics and communications for
government and commercial applications. The company maintains headquarters and manufacturing operations in the United
States in addition to locations in Europe, Australia and Mexico. See also www.rockwellcollins.com
About Inflight Peripherals Limited: Inflight Peripherals Limited (IFPL) is an innovative product development company
based in the UK, specialising in providing peripheral audio equipment to the avionics market as well as engineering
solutions to the IFE industry. See also www.ifpl.com