That liquid metal look for vehicles and other products is finally here. Flex Products, a JDS Uniphase company has released its next generation of special effects pigments -- SpectraFlair pigment. First previewed at the November SEMA 2001 and the January 2002 Greater Los Angeles Auto Show, SpectraFlair pigment is a unique diffractive colorant for automotive and industrial coatings. This new pigment utilizes the light manipulating Color-by-Physics technology from Flex Products, The ColorShift Leader. By controlling physical dimensions and surface microstructure, SpectraFlair pigment generates the appearance of multiple, bright rainbow-producing prisms moving over a silver base color.
The new SpectraFlair technology can be seen on numerous show cars including the LA Auto Show's Lexus IS 300 SportCross and the Ram Rod, a Dodge Ram 1500 modified by Performance West Group. The Ram Rod will be in the Dodge exhibit at the Daytona International Speedway during Speed Week. "The liquid metal look that SpectraFlair produces gives the automotive market a new exciting effect," states Larry Weiner, president of Performance West Group. "The reaction of the public and the trade to the Dodge Ram Rod, previewed at SEMA 2001, has been overwhelming."
The combination of the rainbow-like color, aluminum core and fine particle size in SpectraFlair pigment creates an appealing iridescent, liquid silver metallic appearance. Products coated with SpectraFlair pigment have dramatic visual appeal. Because of the structure of SpectraFlair pigment, viewers see a smooth, continuously changing rainbow of colors. This effect is not possible with other special color effect materials currently available. In paint, SpectraFlair pigment changes from a typical metallic appearance seen in low illumination, to a vivid, multi-rainbow paint seen in direct bright light.
SpectraFlair pigment is similar to ChromaFlair pigments in the application and use of the pigment in paint formulations. It is a "stir in" pigment. SpectraFlair pigment's rainbow colors provide many styling opportunities when combined with other pigments and dyes. Flex Products Inc. is the world leader in the development and manufacture of color shifting light interference pigments for paints, plastics and consumer products. Currently, Flex Products produces ChromaFlair pigments, which are used by the world's major automotive and industrial paint companies. For details, visit www.colorshift.com.
JDS Uniphase is a high-technology company that designs, develops, manufactures and distributes a comprehensive range of products for the growing fiberoptic communications market. These products are deployed by system manufacturers worldwide to develop optical networks for the data communications, telecommunications and cable television industries. JDS Uniphase is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol JDSU, and the exchangeable shares of JDS Uniphase Canada Ltd. are traded on The Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol JDU. More information on JDS Uniphase is available at www.jdsu.com.