I was at the meeting but pressed for time to get back. Haven't had much time sense. Visited with a few guys, but only a quick hello to put a face to a few of the long time followers here. For those who were there, I was the big guy with a baseball cap. Lab tour was well worth the trip. For those trying to put doubt on whether this is a real company or an elaborate dog and pony show, your bluff has been called. Lightwave opened the doors and conducted at least four (maybe five) tours of 10 plus observers. This is not a chemical development company anymore. They can, and do, go from basic raw material and "brew the goo" all the way through to finished 3" (25 chip) or 6" (over 50 chip) wafers and physically cut them out of the disk ready to hand to the packager. The whole process including testing is now conducted in-house under one roof. Done, no argument.
Marcelli was our guide and visibly proud of what we were seeing. Although admittedly, the facility is not designed for massive production, it is quite capable of producing many many multiples of chips and can gear up. Let's visit that later. I have information on that. Maybe my next post, but I'll see how much time I have.
We first passed the engineers offices. My co-shareholder who flew us out to the meeting commented on only one office looked like any work was being done. That was answered soon afterward with the statement that the engineers spend little time behind a desk, they are always in the Labs and stations and engineering staff can easily double up in these rooms as staff grows (they are presently looking to add 3 more individuals) now with more to come.
The chemical lab was not crowded at all, appeared more could be added easily there. The clean room was very spacious with room for additional equipment and staff. The ISO100 (only 100 contaminate molecules per million) super clean room is a glass cube within the clean room, with special yellow tinted glass walls and exotic lighting for reasons above my pay grade. A couple other rooms for other processes including the gold spitter for the delicate tiny connections and then the very impressive testing table and monitors. The table is
vibration free floating on four air pillows. The Engineer had a 50 hooked up and processing 50 gig. The screen was lit and you could see the pattern previously shown on one of the slides I think, with the parallel lines connected by two x's (not Don and his twin) running smoothly in the pattern they were looking for. Pretty impressive room. Jim pointed out one piece of equipment the size of a kitchen microwave. That was the piece that performance tests up to 50gig. It's value alone is 1/2 million dollars. This piece is the fastest available, only goes to 50gig, nobody makes one faster. We are pushing the envelope everyone, I personally can't figure out how we start testing beyond 50 (the material they have we are told is nowhere near where they think they can go). All the engineers gave a brief talk on the surface of their individual expertise in the process. All being very care full not to say too much and would glance over to Marcelli for assurance they didn't say too much. All were obviously and understandably nervous and shy. These guys bury themselves in their work and are self motivators driven to make a difference in a lonely but self rewarding profession that challenge their rare and powerful intellect. I watched Marcelli closely as he watched the engineers making their verbal presentations rather than watch the engineers as they spoke. This may sound a little corny, but he had an ever so small smile on his face and his eyes literally shone with pride as he listens similar to a father watching his kindergartner perform in a Christmas Program. Say what you will about Jim, but the guy cares what he is doing and he knows Lightwave is getting close and will get there.
I got to meet Lebby and got a picture taken with him. Met The Admiral and obviously spent a lot of time with Marcelli and asked a ton of questions. Time well spent.
I have loosened my seat belt also but have absolutely no intention of getting out, will acquire more as limited funds allow, frustrated like all the long timers here, but we will have the last laugh, I am convinced.
No time to get into my calculations using what I learned by my groups questions and my calculator. Suffice it to say, even where they are at, with with two shifts, (Jim discussed that) meaningful volume can go out of this space, surprising as is seems, before expansion is required. There is a day care next door (common wall) and if we need it some day it is probably available. I will also comment on the deal they got for this facility. Jim earned his paycheck plus on this deal alone. Seriously.
I am heading off for a well deserved vacation in the Philippines tomorrow, may be able to comment on volume production and the Lab deal while laying over in L.A. After that it's beaches, boat drinks and pig on a spit over coconut shell coals sipping Rum with my brothers-in law. If you have never had Tanduay Rum try it if you can find it.
All the best,
Dusty
AI
