APPLIED FILMS CORP. Longmont, Colorado; Flat Panels, Junk Food Keep It On The Move.(THE NEW AMERICA)

Byline: KIRK SHINKLE

With Asian manufacturers finally ramping up production of flat-panel screens, Applied Films Corp. figures to be one of the beneficiaries.

The Longmont, Colo.-based company makes machines that apply thin films to the glass on flat-panel. It also has coating machines for car and building windows. And it runs a unit that coats consumer packaging for everything from potato chips to cigarettes.

But Applied's screen coating systems are stirring the most excitement among analysts.

"Flat-panel is where we're expecting specific strength, though it's really hard to time," said Matt Petkun of D.A. Davidson.

The systems sell for $4 million to $8 million each. Most recently, Applied received a letter of intent from a South Korean buyer -- reportedly Philips Electronic's LV's LG Group -- to supply two of it New Aristo 1800 systems used to produce color monitors.

Analysts say the deal will generate around $14 million in revenue. They expect the systems to ship sometime in the next six months.