JDS Uniphase, Adept Tech Sign Development Pact

TORONTO, Oct. 25 -- JDS Uniphase Corp. has signed a development alliance with Adept Technology Inc. to automate manufacturing processes and said it would make a $25 million investment in the maker of industrial robots.

JDS said the alliance extends a two-year-old development and supply relationship with Adept and will give it the sole right to any fiber optic applications, new products and technologies created by the partnership.

Adept will have the right to sell products and technologies developed in the alliance that can be used in industries outside of fiber optics, while both companies are free to pursue development deals with other firms, according to JDS.