As Seen In… Forbes, April 25, 2011

Just the Right Touch

Ocular Puts the Latest Technology at Manufacturers’ Fingertips

Everyone knows that touch panels are the latest must-have feature for all kinds of electronic devices. Consumers can’t wait to get their hands – and fingers – on them. This rapidly increasing demand for touch helps explain the success of Ocular, an industry leader in touch panels, displays and embedded technology.

Projected capacitive (PCAP) touch panels are only part of the story. Ocular has 25 years of experience delivering specific solutions tailored to the exact needs of its clients. Ocular’s innovative technologies enable equipment manufacturers to quickly bring leading-edge, touch-enabled display solutions to market. So whether it’s touch panels, traditional LCD displays or value-adding display enhancements, Ocular is a big part of some of the most advanced consumer products available today.

“The popularity of PCAP panels in user interface devices, such as cell phones and laptops, has introduced this technology to many industries such as medical, point of sale (POS), home appliances and consumer electronics,” says Phil Spivey, President and CEO. “We work closely with product designers and manufacturers across many industries, collaborating directly with product teams and engineers from small and medium-sized companies to large corporations.”

Customized Innovative Solutions

“The people we work with are looking for a specific solution,” adds Spivey. “We often do extensive customization tailored to their exact needs with products that are innovative from the ground up. Our headquarters and R&D facility are in Dallas, where we work with customers locally and throughout North America. We serve our global customer base with additional operations worldwide, including manufacturing and engineering in China.”

As one of the fastest growing companies in Dallas, Ocular grew just over 30 percent last year, despite the global economic environment. Constantly expanding product offerings and capabilities, Ocular creates innovative solutions that are making products more attractive in the market. “There’s always room for improvement and we’re always facing challenges,” says Spivey. “For instance, we developed touch interfaces for use on a boat. They had to withstand heat, cold, splashing water, relentless sun and constant vibration. It was a great application and we were able to make it work successfully through design development and the use of our rugged PCAP touch panel. After all that, making a touch panel for a phone seems almost easy.”

Partnering Up to Develop New Products

To promote the development of products in a number of industries, Ocular has formed strategic partnerships with companies such as DuPont, through its Display Enhancements group, and Atmel Corporation. Ocular is the market leader in providing specialized touch and display solutions for low- to medium- volume customers. Providing display enhancement services such as optical bonding, custom engineering and product consultation, Ocular’s value-add services offer a total solution to touch display subassemblies and stackups.

“We have an outstanding team of talented people who bring energy and creative solutions to our customers’ needs,” says Spivey. “We have many excellent opportunities to participate in leading-edge developments globally. We’re driving innovation through our research and development lab, and have created key research partnerships with universities locally and overseas. It’s a fast-paced, innovative environment, and it’s exciting to be a part of.”