Blue Ray Technologies opens (independent) manufacturing plant in Washington

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here's the source link: prweb


Blue Ray Technologies opens $12 million plant in Spokane, making it the first independent U.S. Blu-ray manufacturer. Plant is important to TV producers and indie filmmakers who can't wait in line for high definition discs at plants controlled by major studios busy filling their own pipelines. Distribution offered too by Edge of Light Media, a co-venture with John Daly ("Terminator," "Platoon"). GE supplies materials for eco-friendly operation.

Spokane, WA (PRWEB) August 8, 2007 -- Blue Ray Technologies has completed its $12 million plant in downtown Spokane, WA, and produced the first run of true indie Blu-ray discs in the U.S. following an arrangement with GE Plastics. The advanced, eco-friendly plant may also be the first of its kind in the world.

"We are very proud that Blue Ray Technologies has produced the first American-made single layer Blu-ray disc with GE Plastic's products and technical support," said Charles Crew, president of GE Plastics.

Washington-based Blue Ray Technologies Inc. new environmentally sound plant to manufacture and distribute Blu-ray discs is now the first U.S.-owned-and-operated producer of Blu-ray discs. The plant will run nonstop and will eventually surpass 100,000 discs a day.

The development is significant because the major studios, led by Blu-ray creator Sony, control most of the world's production of Blue-ray discs -- mainly in Asian plants. Mini-majors, Indie studios, TV companies and record labels would have to stand in line and pay high costs to get Blu-ray product out for the rapidly-growing market.

The production facility is part of a recently unveiled co-venture by Blue Ray and award-winning producer John Daly's ("The Terminator," Platoon") own indie film production/distribution company Film and Music Entertainment Inc., of Los Angeles, to offer independent filmmakers and others a way to distribute their work on the new format.

"New technology will provide the next boom to film companies large and small as it did when VHS and later, DVDs came to market and created new revenue streams," said DVD pioneer and BRT chairman Erick Hansen. "Driven by the HD TV boom in U.S. households, a growing number of consumers will steadily replace their DVDs with high definition discs."

He noted that Nielsen says 70 percent of U.S. homes will have large screen HD TVs by 2010. "The DVD market is already flat and starting to slide," Hansen said. "Independents have to follow the majors in providing their content in next-gen formats. Plus, Blu-ray lets producers sell their content all over again."

Hansen is so sure of that future, he wants to be a major buyer of catalogs and new release rights in HD formats. "Blue Ray Technologies (www.blueraytechnologies.com) is here buying content for worldwide release to create a new and deeper penetration for the Blu-ray market."

Blu-ray (the generic name) has a rival format, HD-DVD, which BRT will buy as well. Though Hansen says, "The competition is over. Blu-ray won, with more than a million players in the U.S. market and growing."

Hansen has an edge over other would-be Hi-Def moguls as BRT has its own plant being finished out in Spokane, Washington. "We have our own building and we have the latest replication technology."

The plant is open to producers who would rather not sell HD rights, but want to have discs manufactured and release their own titles in Blu-ray. "Either way, the indies will benefit by being able to sell and promote their films just like Disney and Sony do at the end of their commercials when they say 'Now available on DVD and Blu-ray.'"

"The Spokane location will be our flagship -- the main plant," said Bobby McGee, executive vice president of worldwide sales for Blue Ray.