Optera, Inc. has officially completed the formation of a joint venture with Taiwanese-based TPK Solutions to produce touch-screen glass for the rapidly expanding markets of personal portable devices, public information systems, mobile telephones, office systems and multi-media applications, as well as consumer electronics.

The new entity, which will be known as Optera Technology Xiamen, Ltd. (OTX), will unify Optera's 25 years of experience as the world's leading producer of touch coatings with TPK's objective to be the world's leader in small form factor touch-screen production. The new entity will initially be focused on serving Optera's existing touch customers in China as well as new touch opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region. Full production is expected to begin early in 2007.

OTX is Optera's first manufacturing site outside of the United States. The JV will be located on an expansive campus with TPK and its German plastics partner, Balda AG. TPK's management team has over 30 years of development and production experience in the display industry. OTX will be TPK's glass coatings supplier of choice on a campus which effectively includes all the expertise necessary to develop and produce touch-enabled small form factor displays under one roof.

"This venture furthers our commitment to the touch market," stated Tom Leonard, president of Optera. "The self-directed and 'user-friendly' touch screen market is rapidly growing worldwide - be it e-ticketing machines, self-checkout systems or smart-phones - with growth in some of these segments exceeding 20 percent per year. We expect new applications to continue to fuel this growth for the foreseeable future, particularly smaller formats which Optera has not served in the past. In partnership with TPK and Balda we have a compelling advantage to meet the needs of these new markets."