E2V.L Regulatory News (E2V)

10 Jun 2005 07:00

e2v technologies PLC10 June 2005 10 June 2005 e2v technologies plc - Contract Win e2v to supply imaging sensors for landmark GAIA space mission e2v technologies, a specialist developer and manufacturer of high-technologyelectronic components and sub-systems, is pleased to announce that it has beenawarded the flight phase contract to supply the European Space Agency (ESA) withCCD imaging sensors for the primary scientific instrument on its high profileGAIA space mission. This contract is worth 14.3 million Euros (£9.6m) over thecoming three years and is the culmination of a successful two-year contract forthe design and development of a custom CCD image sensor specifically tailored tothe needs of the GAIA programme. The development phase contract was placed in2003 and was valued at 2 million Euros (£1.3m) and there are further options tosupply up to another 10 million Euros (£6.7m) of flight grade sensors for thisprogramme. Anticipated for launch in 2011, GAIA aims to map our galaxy, the Milky Way, bylogging the 1 billion stars and over 100,000 objects in our solar system,creating the largest, most accurate 3D map of the galaxy to date. The sky willbe continually scanned and it is anticipated that as many as 10,000 planetsaround other stars may be discovered. The GAIA project will involve the manufacture in significant volumes of some ofthe highest performance large area CCD image sensors ever produced. These willbe manufactured at e2v's headquarters in Chelmsford. The CCD image sensors willultimately be assembled by a subcontractor selected by ESA, into the largestfocal plane ever flown in space. e2v's CCD image sensors have been supplied to avariety of high profile space projects over many years including NASA's Hubblespace telescope and ESA's ENVISAT, XMM Newton and Rosetta programmes. Thiscontract confirms e2v's position as one of the world's pre-eminent suppliers ofspecialised imaging technology to the space market. Keith Attwood, CEO of e2v technologies commented; "This is a significant contract for e2v, recognising our expertise as a worldleader in the design and supply of high performance imaging sensors for spaceand astronomy applications. We are extremely pleased to be involved with theprestigious and pioneering work being carried out at ESA. In our year end trading statement we mentioned that we had excellent engagementwith key customers for some important programmes in the new financial year andthis is a prime example." e2v technologies plans to publish preliminary results for the year ended 31March 2005 on 23 June 2005. Enquiries: e2v technologies plc Tel: 01245 493493Keith Attwood, Chief Executive Gavin Anderson & Company Tel: 0207 554 1400Laura Hickman/Keith Brookbank/Charlotte Stone -ends- NOTES TO EDITORS Further information on e2v technologies, its technological capabilities andproducts can be found at www.e2v.com Further information on the GAIA mission can be found at: www.esa.int •e2v is headquartered in Chelmsford and employs approximately 1,300 staff. •The Group has two product groups: electronic tubes and sensors. These are supplied as components or sub-systems into a diverse range of applications and customers and they typically constitute the enabling technology, which is key to the performance of the Group's customers' products. The Group's business originally derived from technology developed during the Second World War for use in radar systems. •e2v operates two production facilities in the United Kingdom, in Chelmsford and Lincoln, and distributes its products to customers directly from the United Kingdom, through its own sales subsidiaries in North America, France and Germany or through a network of independent distributors. In the year ended 31 March 2004, 69% of the Group's products were exported from the United Kingdom to over 50 countries worldwide. •e2v technologies plc was admitted to the Official List of the UK Listing Authority on 23 July 2004. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange