Company News • 14.10.2009

Planar Systems Wins Contract with Thomson's PRN to Deploy Digital Displays

Planar Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:PLNR), a worldwide leader in specialty display systems, today announced it has been awarded a digital display contract by the leading provider of television networks at retail, Thomson's Premier Retail Networks, Inc. (PRN). In alignment with Planar's corporate strategy to provide innovative display solutions for retail applications, PRN chose Planar for its unique ability to provide a myriad of specialty displays that meet the exact requirements of PRN. Under the agreement, Planar will provide customized small format touch-screen displays and customized large-format displays.

Serving PRN's multiple display categories as part of its retail media network systems solution, Planar display solutions will now be used in a large percentage of the in-store networks operated by PRN. PRN works with retailers, content partners and advertisers to create in-store programming that engages, informs and motivates consumers where they shop. PRN's programming alliances include major television networks and other media properties, as well as movie studios, record labels and magazine and newspaper publishers. PRN's retailer customers include ACME, Albertsons, Best Buy, Carrefour, Circuit City, Costco, Jewel-Osco, Pathmark, Sam's Club, Shaw's and Star Market, ShopRite and Walmart Stores.

"PRN selected Planar because of its years of proven display innovation and because it has been extremely responsive to our schedule requirements," said Scott Francis, Chief Technology Officer for PRN. "We wanted to work with a manufacturer who could combine the quality assurance systems and capabilities of a large vendor with the flexibility and speed of a smaller supplier. The Display System is a critical component in the PRN solution and we've found Planar to be a nimble and valuable partner."

With headquarters in the United States and multiple specialty display technologies and applications served by its four business units (commercial, industrial, home theater and control room & digital signage), Planar offers display solutions that fit the most demanding applications, ranging from ruggedized industrial products found in airplane cockpits to massive video wall displays found worldwide in major mass-transit systems.

"Planar's partnership with PRN validates our strategy to provide unique display products for challenging applications," said Doug Barnes, general manager and vice president of Planar's industrial business unit. "We have assembled the right engineering expertise and platform of products to serve the demanding needs of customers like PRN and their retail partners. Our ability to provide customized display solutions makes us ideally suited for projects that require more than a plain vanilla display."