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Combined sales of Outback eDrive and Satloc GPSteer surpass 2,000 units
CALGARY, Dec. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - (TSX:CSY) - Hemisphere GPS, a
designer and manufacturer of GPS products used in more than 50 countries,
today announced that it has reached a sales milestone by selling more than
2,000 of its Outback(TM) eDrive and Satloc GPSteer automated steering systems
for tractors and other self-propelled agricultural equipment.
Hemisphere introduced its two auto-steering products in North America in
early 2004, and introduced them in South America, Europe and Australia during
2005.
"The market response to Outback eDrive and to GPSteer is overwhelmingly
positive wherever we go," said Rick Heiniger, President of Hemisphere GPS, a
wholly owned subsidiary of CSI Wireless Inc. of Calgary. "Farmers quickly
recognize the enormous advantages of our low-cost, easy-to-operate
auto-steering technology."
Outback eDrive and GPSteer integrate with GPS guidance systems to
automatically steer agricultural vehicles along consistently straight or
curved rows. Operators touch the steering wheel only when turning at the end
of a row. They engage Outback eDrive or GPSteer when starting a row. It
automatically disengages when they begin turning at the end of the row.
Hemispheres auto-steering technology enhances driver accuracy and
improves field productivity by reducing costly overlaps and skipped areas
between rows. It eases driver fatigue and enables vehicles to operate at night
or in other low-visibility environments, which means increased flexibility and
productivity. eDrive and GPSteer can be quickly installed on many types of new
and used tractors and other self-propelled equipment.
Outback eDrive is part of Hemispheres popular Outback product line,
while GPSteer is available to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) under
Hemispheres Satloc brand.
The Outback product line is built around the Outback S and Outback S2 GPS
guidance systems. The new Outback S2 features Hemispheres exclusive
Crescent(R) GPS technology that offers significantly improved accuracy and
other performance factors, including faster start-up and signal acquisition
times, improved update rates, and lower power consumption.
The Outback S2s enhanced performance also enhances the performance of
Outback eDrive - making eDrive even more cost-effective and pushing demand for
the product even higher.
"Reaching the 2,000-sales mark is the first of what we anticipate will be
many milestones for eDrive and GPSteer - especially now that they can be used
with our new high-performance Crescent receiver technology," Mr. Heiniger
said. "The market potential for these auto-steering products is very
exciting."
Hemisphere offers a wide variety of model-specific eDrive installation
kits that enable buyers to install the auto-steering system on different
tractors, self-propelled sprayers and combines. The kits enable installation
of the new 2006 version of eDrive on 344 different models of tractors,
sprayers and combines, with more models being added regularly.
The latest additions for tractors are John Deere 2WD/MFWD models 4040,
4050, 4055, 4240, 4250, 4255, 7200, 7210, 7400, 7410, and 7510, and Case
Steiger Quadtrac 4WD models 9370Q and 9380Q. The latest additions for
self-propelled sprayers are Ag-Chem RoGator models 854 (prior to 1997), 874,
1074, and 1274, Wilmar Ranger models 7200 and 7400, and Wilmar Eagle models
8100 and 8400. The latest additions for combines are New Holland models TR86,
TR87, TR88, TR89, TR96, TR97, TR98, and TR99, And CLAAS Lexion models 460,
465, 470, 475, 470R, 475R, 480, 485, 480R, and 485R.
About Hemisphere GPS
Hemisphere GPS is the worlds largest after-market supplier of GPS
products for use in Agricultural Guidance, and a global player in other
rapidly growing GPS-aided sectors including Marine Guidance and GIS & Mapping.
Owned by CSI Wireless Inc., Hemispheres major house brands are Outback,
Satloc, CSI and now Crescent. Hemisphere is a leader in the design and
development of GPS and differential GPS technology.
About CSI Wireless
CSI Wireless designs and manufactures innovative, cost-effective,
wireless and GPS products for mobile and fixed applications in the
agriculture, marine, automotive and other industries. CSI is a leader in
several high-growth markets including Precision Guidance in Agriculture,
Telematics and Desktop Cellular Telephones. The Company, through its Wireless
and its Hemisphere GPS divisions, owns numerous patents and other intellectual
property. It has licensed its cellular technology to GPS, cellular handset,
and chipset manufacturers. CSIs common shares trade on The Toronto Stock
Exchange under the trading symbol "CSY", with approximately 46 million
outstanding. The companys head offices are in Calgary, Alberta, and it has
major product development, sales and marketing facilities in Californias
Silicon Valley, Arizona and Kansas. For more information about CSI, go to
http://www.csi-wireless.com.
The above disclosure contains certain forward-looking statements that
involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. These
forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties,
certain of which are beyond CSI Wireless control, including: the impact of
general economic conditions, industry conditions, increased competition, the
lack of availability of qualified personnel or management, fluctuations in
foreign exchange or interest rates, stock market volatility and market
valuations of companies with respect to the announced transactions and the
final valuations thereof, and obtaining required approvals of regulatory
authorities. CSI Wireless actual results, performance or achievement could
differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by these forward-looking
statements and, accordingly, no assurances can be given that any of the events
anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if
any of them do so, what benefits, including the amount of proceeds, CSI
Wireless will derive therefrom.
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