Singulus Technologies AG signed a contract with Oerlikon Balzers AG, on January 31 for the acquisition of the Blu-ray disc equipment operations.

With this acquisition Singulus takes over the entire Blu-ray activities as well as the servicing of the Blu-ray disc production lines already delivered by Oerlikon so far. Oerlikon has in addition announced that it will discontinue its CD and DVD production line operations. This will further strengthen Singulus' market lead in this segment.

The parties have agreed to keep the purchase price for the transaction confidential. Besides the production machines Singulus will acquire all important optical disc patents and licenses as well as Oerlikon's customer base.

Singulus is a supplier of optical disc production lines covering the entire product range: mastering, molding and replication lines.With the acquisition of the STANGL Semiconductor Equipment, Singulus has also entered the solar equipment market.

Oerlikon is the world's biggest maker of spinning machines for textiles.