Lasers & Sources

IMAX chooses Necsel as exclusive supplier of lasers for its projection systems

June 17, 2014

Necsel is now the exclusive worldwide provider of specified lasers for projection systems by IMAX, supplying red, green, and blue visible lasers and laser systems.

Conard Holton

Necsel (Milpitas, CA) is now the exclusive worldwide provider of specified lasers for projection systems by IMAX (NYSE:IMAX; New York). Necsel's technology comprises red, green, and blue visible lasers and laser systems that meet performance, size, and cost requirements for laser cinema projection and other specialty lighting uses.

"Our laser projection solution represents IMAX's largest R&D investment to date and, as part of this development, we have aligned ourselves with only the best worldwide technology partners," said Robert Lister, chief business development officer of IMAX. William Mackenzie, founder, chairman, and CEO of Necsel, said, "Necsel's technology is transforming cinema projection and we look forward to helping IMAX redefine the premium movie-going experience." Necsel is a group company of Ushio (Tokyo, Japan), which also owns Christie Digital Systems (Cypress, CA)--estimated to control 40% of the digital cinema market with Barco (Kortrijk, Belgium), Sony, and NEC (both in Tokyo) capturing the remaining majority.

IMAX's laser projection system incorporates the intellectual property exclusively licensed from Eastman Kodak and relies on Barco's system manufacturing expertise. It will enable IMAX's largest screens to deliver the highest-quality digital content available with greater brightness and clarity, a wider color gamut, and deeper blacks. IMAX's first laser projection systems are expected to be rolled out by the end of this year.

In the January 2014 Laser Focus World article on the the laser marketplace, Necsel VP of sales & marketing Greg Niven said, "The laser digital cinema industry is finally getting ready to launch in 2014. With 40,000 theatre screens in the U.S. and an estimated 120,000 worldwide, a $20K to $60K laser projection engine comprised of 200 W to 600 W RGB laser modules to make up to a 70,000 lumen projector—more than twice as bright as the 30,000 lumen limitation of today's Xenon projection lamps—translates to a potential billion dollar laser market assuming even 50% penetration."

About the Author

Conard Holton | Editor at Large

Conard Holton has 25 years of science and technology editing and writing experience. He was formerly a staff member and consultant for government agencies such as the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and the International Atomic Energy Agency, and engineering companies such as Bechtel. He joined Laser Focus World in 1997 as senior editor, becoming editor in chief of WDM Solutions, which he founded in 1999. In 2003 he joined Vision Systems Design as editor in chief, while continuing as contributing editor at Laser Focus World. Conard became editor in chief of Laser Focus World in August 2011, a role in which he served through August 2018. He then served as Editor at Large for Laser Focus World and Co-Chair of the Lasers & Photonics Marketplace Seminar from August 2018 through January 2022. He received his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, with additional studies at the Colorado School of Mines and Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.