Cree XLamp(R) LEDs to Power SureFire(R) Flashlights


DURHAM, N.C., Jan. 4 -- Cree, Inc. (NASDAQ:CREE), a leader in LED solid-state lighting components, announced today that SureFire, LLC, a leading manufacturer of quality illumination tools, has chosen Cree's new XLamp 7090 XR-E Series LEDs to serve as the light source in three new SureFire flashlight models to be introduced in early 2007.

The new Cree XLamp 7090 XR-E Series LEDs produce typical luminous flux of 80 lumens at 350 mA, yielding an efficacy measure of 70 lumens per watt. They lead the industry in brightness and efficiency, which are critical features in battery-powered, portable lighting applications. XR-E Series LEDs also produce the high-quality, uniform white light valued by flashlight vendors.

"Cree's new XLamp LEDs measure 40-percent brighter and 50-percent more efficient than other LED solutions," said John Matthews, Ph.D., SureFire's founder and president. "They are easy to design into our new flashlight models and provide a pure, brilliant beam of light. Using this new LED from Cree, we are able to design LED flashlights with far longer battery life."

"SureFire's selection of the Cree XLamp 7090 LED for its new flashlights is a significant endorsement of this new class of power LED," notes Norbert Hiller, Cree general manager and vice president for XLamp power LEDs. "We are pleased to be working with one of the world's highest-profile flashlight makers to bring new levels of LED brightness and beam quality to SureFire's well-respected product lines."

To learn more about the Cree XLamp 7090 power LEDs, please call (919) 313-5300 or visit www.cree.com/xlamp.

For additional information about Surefire flashlights, please call 800-828-8809 or visit www.surefire.com.

About SureFire

SureFire is the leading designer and manufacturer of high-performance illumination tools for the tactical and consumer markets. Located in Southern California, SureFire reinvented the flashlight genre with their release of the first lithium-battery-powered, super-bright compact flashlight. Other SureFire innovations have included the first weapon-mounted laser sight and the first weapon-mounted tactical light systems.

SureFire combines advanced designs, high-quality materials, and cutting- edge light-source technology to deliver illumination tools designed and built to perform in extreme situations and environments. Utilizing proprietary technology and advanced engineering, the company produces compact, powerful flashlights that produce tightly focused, intense light beams.

Today, SureFire's product line includes dozens of illumination tools and high-end tactical products for military, law-enforcement, and consumer applications.

About Cree, Inc.

Cree is a market-leading innovator and manufacturer of semiconductors and devices that enhance the value of solid-state lighting, power and communications products by significantly increasing their energy performance and efficiency. Key to Cree's market advantage is its world-class materials expertise in silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) for chips and packaged devices that can handle more power in a smaller space while producing less heat than other available technologies, materials and products.

Cree drives its increased performance technology into multiple applications, including exciting alternatives in brighter and more-tunable light for general illumination, backlighting for more-vivid displays, optimized power management for high-current, switch-mode power supplies and variable-speed motors, and more-effective wireless infrastructure for data and voice communications. Cree customers range from innovative lighting-fixture makers to defense-related federal agencies.

Cree's product families include blue and green LED chips, lighting LEDs, LED backlighting solutions, power-switching devices and radio- frequency/wireless devices. For additional product specifications please refer to www.cree.com.

Cree and XLamp are registered trademarks of Cree, Inc.

CONTACT: Deb Lovig, Marketing Communications of Cree, Inc., +1-919-287-7505, or Deb_Lovig@cree.com

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