The consolidation continues …

July 21, 2006 by Dave Haynes

Planar, which makes high-end displays, has acquired Clarity Visual Systems, which peddles high-end displays and digital signage software.

“Beaverton, Ore.-based Planar also aims to enter the high-end home theater market later this year with the introduction of a new large-screen display, the Xscreen.

The cash and stock deal to acquire Clarity is slated to close late this year or in early 2007, according to Planar. Plans call for Planar to leverage Clarity’s expertise in digital signage hardware and software systems to offer more vertically focused displays for medical, government, retail, industrial and consumer applications. Planar already offers display hardware and software for markets such as hospitals, shopping centers and banks.

Wilsonville, Ore.-based Clarity specializes in display solutions for transportation and traffic control, security and defense, energy, broadcast and telecommunications. Many of the solutions use multiple displays integrated into giant wall displays.”

Planar picks up a range of displays aimed at the digital signage market as well as the CoolSign software suite in the $46 million deal.

Expect to see more and more of this as the herd is thinned out and some of the bigger boys inside and on the edges of the industry choose dance partners or simply buy their way into the business.