[By NBC-1TV H. J Yook]TEAC Corporation (TEAC) (TOKYO:6803), the leading manufacturer of technologically advanced aerospace products, announced today that TEAC is returning to the In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) business with the release of a new solid state video reproducer.

In 1996, TEAC’s first IFE products were developed with advanced TEAC airborne video technology designed specifically for the stringent qualification, performance, and reliability requirements for commercial airline operations.

TEAC quickly became the world leader in IFE audio and video products, and TEAC IFE products became the standard for airlines around the world.

In 2004, TEAC spun-off the airborne video IFE business as a separate company, TEAC Aerospace Technologies, which was then acquired four years later by Goodrich and then United Technologies.

However, TEAC continued to design and manufacture all Goodrich and United Technologies IFE products through all those years, and has continuously supplied IFE products to the market through TEAC Aerospace, Goodrich, and United Technologies under the TEAC brand name.

Now, in February 2014, United Technologies and TEAC have agreed for TEAC to return directly to the IFE market. As such, TEAC is returning to our legacy IFE business by releasing an all new solid state video reproducer, the TEAC VE-801SDi.

The VE-801SDi reproduces videos from an SD memory card directly, and requires no time for download. In addition, the VE-801SDi can replace conventional IFE reproducers with minimal engineering or aircraft impact. Because the VE-801SDi uses the same form factor as almost all current IFE tape video systems, it provides plug and play compatibility with many currently installed 8mm/Hi8 and VHS-based reproducers without aircraft modification

David Husted, Senior Vice President of TEAC America, Inc., said, “TEAC is proud to return to our long time successful IFE business, and is excited to announce our new advanced solid state video reproducer, the VE-801SDi. We believe the VE-801SDi provides an excellent solution for airline’s IFE upgrade and retrofit programs, and TEAC is excited that we will once again be working directly with the world’s airlines. ”