Science & Technology
Tue, January 13, 2009Mon, January 12, 2009Sun, January 11, 2009Fri, January 9, 2009Thu, January 8, 2009AMI Australia, Distributor in Australia for Digital Angel?s McMurdo Unit, Places Its Largest Order Ever for 406-MHz Personal Re
Published in Science and Technology on Monday, January 12th 2009 at 5:21 GMT, Last Modified on 2009-01-12 05:22:31 by Market Wire
SO. ST. PAUL, Minn.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Digital Angel (NASDAQ: DIGA), an advanced technology company in the field of animal identification and emergency identification solutions, announced today that AMI Australia, one of McMurdo's distributors in Australia, has placed its largest ever order with McMurdo for E5 Smartfind 406 emergency distress beacons. The order was placed in response to growing demand for 406 EPIRBs for the leisure boating market, due to the imminent switch-over of the 121.5 MHz homing frequency for emergency beacons. Jim Fraser, AMI's Managing Director, stated, "Demand has been huge and looks set to continue for the foreseeable future."
The switch-over from 121.5 MHz to 406 MHz frequency is set for February 1, 2009, and recent Australian marine legislation has served to increase demand, not only for 406 EPIRBs for marine leisure markets but also for Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) for the private aviation industry, which currently also uses 121.5 MHz beacons. These are now being replaced by advanced PLBs such as McMurdo's MAX G 406 PLB with integral GPS capability.
Digital Angel Chief Executive Officer Joseph J. Grillo commented, "Military, commercial and recreational users of GPS personal locator beacons are increasingly focusing on the February 1 frequency switch-over deadline. McMurdo is working closely with AMI, our distributor and approved shore-based maintenance service center for Australia and the Pacific Rim market, to keep pace with demand in that region."
The industry, along with various national rescue services, has been raising public awareness of the switch-over for the past year with the hope of avoiding last-minute demand. Failure to replace an obsolete 121.5MHz beacon could create safety and rescue issues, should users decide to delay replacing these soon-to-be obsolete EPIRBs and PLBs or to ignore the switch-over warnings altogether.
About McMurdo
A division of Digital Angel's Signature Industries subsidiary, based in the United Kingdom, McMurdo is a world leading producer of Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs), Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs), Search and Rescue Transponders (SARTs), VHF Radios and NAVTEX for the maritime and leisure markets, including shipping, yachting, aviation and outdoor adventure pursuits. Products are manufactured using state-of-the art technology, and in partnership with the world's major safety regulatory organizations.
About Digital Angel
Digital Angel ([ www.digitalangel.com ]) is an advanced technology company in the field of animal identification and emergency identification solutions. Digital Angel's products are utilized around the world in such applications as pet identification using its patented, FDA-approved implantable microchip; livestock identification and tracking using visual and radio frequency identification (RFID) ear tags; and global positioning systems (GPS) search and rescue beacons for use on aircraft, ships and boats, and by adventure enthusiasts.
This press release contains certain "forward-looking" statements (as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). Forward-looking statements included in this press release include, without limitation, those concerning expectations regarding the expected benefits of the technology and its impact on the Company's financial results. These forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Additional information about these and other factors that could affect the Company's businesses is set forth in the Company's Form 10-K under the caption "Risk Factors" filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on March 17, 2008, and subsequent filings with the SEC.The Company undertakes no obligation to update or release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this statement or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law.
