SAN JOSE, Calif. - LonMark International has announced the signing of an affiliation agreement with LonMark Japan, the first LonMark® organization formed in Asia. LonMark Japan and its 52 member companies will be actively promoting the benefits of LonMark open systems.

LonMark affiliates are independent, nonprofit associations representing the local interests of LonMark International and its members.

"We are very excited about the new direction of LonMark International and the formation of LonMark Japan," said Toshirou Tomita, chairman of LonMark Japan and a member of the LonMark International board of directors. "The LonMark Japan organization builds on a foundation we created several years ago to provide Japanese support for our members through a LonMark Task Group. As an official nonprofit organization we can expand the services provided to our Japanese members and create a much stronger impact in the market."

"I am very pleased to see the successful formation of LonMark Japan," said Barry Haaser, executive director of LonMark International. "The members of LonMark Japan are well organized and are actively promoting LonMark open systems in Japan. This new organization provides an important model for the new LonMark organizations forming in China, Korea, and elsewhere to support the needs of local companies and to expand the market for open systems."

For more information on LonMark Japan, visit www.lonmark-jp.com. For more information about LonMark International, visit www.lonmark.org.

Publication date: 05/16/2005