Newly public LV company gains attention at CES

Monday, Jan. 8, 2001 | 11:28 a.m.

A high-tech company that went public last week and markets proximity alarm systems is one of five Las Vegas companies exhibiting at the 2001 International Consumer Electronics Show.

American IR Technologies, which debuted on the Nasdaq stock exchange last week, is showing Safety Beam -- a transmitter and receiver that establishes a perimeter and detects whenever something crosses it.

The device, which will retail for about $30 when it arrives in stores later this year, is called "an invisible electronic fence" by its developers, who envision it will be used by pet owners, parents of toddlers as a high-tech play pen or as an alarm system for boats, motor homes and trailers.

The Safety Beam, which uses infrared technology, is powered by AA batteries or with an AC adapter.

Steven Wheeler, vice president of business development for American IR Technologies, 3110 S. Valley View Blvd. Suite 201, said the company has two other products in development.

One is the Kitchen Watch, a motion detector that works in reverse of most motion-detection devices. Instead of sounding an alarm when motion is detected, it begins a series of alarms with gradually increasing volume when motion isn't detected. Wheeler explained that the point is that when a pot on a stove goes unwatched for a predetermined period of time, the Kitchen Watch will sound a gradually more urgent alarm to get someone back to the kitchen.

Another device in development is the STM Alarm, short for "Stop The Music."

The device attaches to portable radio and music players worn by joggers. The alarm completes a circuit for the music player's headphones -- the headphones are plugged into the alarm, which is plugged into the music unit.

If the circuit is broken, either by the user or by an attacking mugger, a shrill alarm is activated.

The company's devices are manufactured in Zenzhen, China, and imported to corporate headquarters in Las Vegas, where the company has seven employees.

American IR expanded last summer when it acquired LHI Inc., Jackson Hole, Wyo., which manufactures the Dashlite, a portable flashlight that recharges by plugging into a car cigarette lighter.

The flashlight's inventor, LHI Chief Executive Officer Martin Lee, hooked up with American IR in Chicago after a chance meeting. Lee and one of American IR's executives shared a taxi on a trip to the airport and the meeting led to negotiations that ended up with LHI being acquired and Lee going back to inventing.

Two other Las Vegas companies showing products at this year's CES also are first-time exhibitors while the other two have been to the show before.

The owner of Timely Gifts, a watch and clock retailer with outlets at the Sahara, Luxor, Circus Circus and Excalibur hotel-casinos, decided to give CES a try for the first time.

"We've never tried it before," said John Barnes, manager of the local operation. "We figured the only way to know if it's something that would generate extra business is to try it."

Art Herman, the owner of the company that has Gold Castle Jewelers and Jewels of the Nile retail stores, offers a variety of Citizen, Seiko, Pulsar and Bulova watches. Barnes said one of the company's most popular offerings is a watch that has a piece of art on the clock face -- a photo or a corporate logo.

Barnes said he hopes the exposure at CES will result in some long-term contracts.

Another company looking to the long term is Adult Entertainment News, which is exhibiting for the first time -- and has no product yet.

Publisher Vicki Jones said she intends to develop an Internet publication dedicated to various aspects of adult entertainment.

Jones said she has no publishing experience, has hired no writers or editors and doesn't know exactly what types of articles she plans to use -- but she made contact with people at her booth to drum up support.

A Las Vegas company that has exhibited at CES before made a comeback this year after being away from the show for seven years.

Advanced Energy Tech, 4720 W. University Ave., manufactures and distributes cellular telephone battery packs from a 20-employee office.

Charlie Wang, president of AET, said his company produces batteries for every type of cellular telephone on the market and the company is certified by ISO 9002, a manufacturing association.

Wang said the company distributes in North America and produces about 40,000 batteries a month at its Las Vegas facility.

The company's ultrathin Star Tac battery, which retails for about $100, has a lifespan of 400 charge cycles. The battery is capable of sustaining a charge for a minimum of four days.

AET operated in the early 1990s as Megapower Battery, but changed when it was discovered that an Asian company had the same name.

Wang said he relocated his business from New York to Nevada, basing in Reno before moving to Las Vegas several years ago.

Another company making a repeat visit to CES is Action Orthotics, 3675 S. Rainbow Blvd.

The company manufactures and distributes limb braces that maximize comfort for people on their feet.