Matsushita Battery Co. Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan) has developed a rechargeable coin-shaped lithium-ion battery for high-current discharge. The company plans to begin volume production of the new battery, the CGL3032, in October 2001, planning 500,000 units monthly. It will be used a power source for wrist-worn GPS, compact portable terminals and card-type information tools. The external […]
Exide Technologies (Reading, PA) announced plans to invest $8.4 million in updating their Malpica, Spain, manufacturing facility. The company wants to convert it from an exclusive producer of after-market transportation batteries to one which manufactures both industrial and transportation batteries. Exide plans to produce TEBUS Front-Access, sealed-technology industrial batteries and AGM sealed-technology industrial blocs in […]
IdaTech Corp. (Bend, OR) announced an agreement with Atwood Mobile Products Inc. (Elkhart, IN) to develop a portable fuel cell system for the recreational vehicle (RV) industry. According to Alan Guggenheim, president of IdaTech, "Atwood understands RVs, and we understand fuel cell systems, which provide compact, quiet and environmentally friendly sources of power well-suited to […]
Bolder Technologies Corp. (Golden, CO) reports that it is considering strategic alternatives, including the possible sale of the company. Bolder states that these alternatives include, in addition to the sale of the company, an alliance with a significant partner that would provide financing to the company. The company also said that it has retained E&Y […]
H Power Corp. (Clifton, NJ) announced that it has signed letters of intent with Air Products and Chemicals Inc. (Allentown, PA) to jointly investigate forming a business alliance to serve the emerging market for small portable and mobile hydrogen-based fuel cells. The letters also provide that the two companies will jointly conduct an analysis and […]
Ultralife Batteries Inc. (Newark, NY) announced that it has received its first major OEM order for its polymer rechargeable cells in a new portable wireless communications application. The initial order is valued at over $800,000, and shipments are expected to begin in February 2001 with scheduled deliveries through the end of the year. Follow-on orders […]
Acumentrics Corp. (Westwood, MA) announced the addition of Thomas W. Philbin, Ph.D., as a senior vice president. Philbin holds a Ph.D. and an MS in environmental health sciences and an MPH in radiological health from the University of Michigan. He also holds a BS in physics from Manhattan College, and was certified as a Health […]
International Fuel Cells (IFC, South Windsor, CT) announced the appointment of Jim Bolch as vice president, PEM manufacturing and supplier development. Bolch will report to IFC President William Miller and will be responsible for identifying high-volume manufacturing processes needed to move from demonstrating the technical feasibility of IFC's proton exchange membrane (PEM) technology to mass […]
Exide Corp. has completed its acquisition of GNB Technologies, the global battery business of Pacific Dunlop Limited, for $368 million. Exide will now conduct business under the name Exide Technologies and will seek shareholder approval at its 2001 annual meeting for the name change. The acquisition is designed to allow Exide to reenter the North […]
Two group companies of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan) announced plans to boost their capital spending on electronic components in a bid to lift the firm's global market share. Wholly-owned subsidiary Matsushita Electronic Components Co. Ltd. said it plans to spend 215.0 billion yen (US$1.85 billion) in the three years to the 2003-2004 […]
SatCon Technology Corp. (Cambridge, MA) announced financial results for its fiscal 2001 first quarter ended December 31, 2000. Revenue for the first quarter rose 108 percent to $9.5 million, compared with $4.6 million in the same period last year. Net loss for the quarter ended December 31, 2000, excluding an unrealized loss on $2.9 million […]
Exide Technologies (Reading, PA) has become the exclusive battery supplier for Australia's largest mass-merchant retailer, Kmart. Exide-brand batteries will be in all of Kmart's 330 retail outlets in Australia, including some 180 Kmart Tire and Auto centers, effective March 1, 2001. "This is a positive development for Kmart customers and for Exide Technologies," said Tom […]
American Power Conversion (APC, West Kingston, RI) has announced an expansion to its dc power systems offering with a 12Vdc battery backup unit for fiber to the home, wireless local loop and voice-over-digital subscriber line telephony equipment. APC's PowerShield offers a local powering solution to the integrated access device units for residential and small business […]
Dynetek Industries (Calgary, Alberta) announced that it supplies Nissan (Japan) with its advanced lightweight fuel storage system for the Nissan Xterra fuel cell vehicle. Nissan recently unveiled the Xterra FCV, equipped with Dynetek's compressed hydrogen fuel storage system, at both the 17th Electric Vehicle International Conference in Quebec and at the Grand Opening of the […]
Minuteman (Carrollton, TX) has introduced its Enterprise Series line of UPSs, designed to offer flexible power protection for a variety of applications, including workstations, network bridges, hubs, routers, telephone systems and large servers. Each model offers full protection from ac power sags, surges, spikes and blackouts. All models feature line-interactive voltage regulation, extended back-up time […]