Fuji to market SmartLight units in Japan

Haifa, Israel-based SmartLight announced this month that Fuji Medical Systems will be the exclusive distributor for the company's digital film viewer systems, computer-controlled light boxes that adjust for glare and ambient light when film is mounted for viewing. The deal represents a major victory for SmartLight, giving the company access to Fuji's strong distribution channels in the lucrative Japanese market.

SmartLight began shipping the systems in February 1997, and has placed more than 200 systems throughout the world. The SmartLight line comprises the SL2000, which has two 14x17-inch viewing fields, the SL4000, with four fields, and the SL8000 and 8000DLX, which use motorized film-transport technology (SCAN 1/21/98).

Price for the viewers ranges from $25,000 to $85,000, substantially more than conventional light boxes, but the company argues that the systems pay for themselves by eliminating the need for two x-ray study retakes per day (SCAN 5/14/97).