Carmanah Technologies’ best customer has come back for more.
The Victoria-based solar power and lighting company inked a $600,000 contract this week with the U.S. Department of Defence for airfield lighting. The order includes taxiway, runway, approach, apron-edge and obstruction lights that will be used at forward operating bases. The destinations were undisclosed, but the equipment is likely headed for Iraq and Afghanistan. Carmanah’s new runway lights feature specialized light-emitting-diode optics that can be toggled between visible and infrared for night-vision goggles as well as wireless controls that allow pilots to adjust the entire airfield’s lighting configuration.
The deal is a timely boost for Carmanah, which posted a $3-million loss last week for the second quarter and $3.5 million for the first six months of this year. CEO Art Aylesworth, who hired former Bell Canada executive Roland Sartorius as chief financial officer Aug. 13, cited the strong Canadian dollar and increasing production costs for the decline.
Carmanah shares were up two cents to $1.57 yesterday on the Toronto Stock Exchange.