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Rockwell Automation Announces the First Platinum System Integrator Partner, SAGE Automation, to its PartnerNetwork(TM)

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Top-level Rockwell Automation Platinum Partnership helps industry address current issues and prevents future ones

MELBOURNE, Australia, May 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Rockwell Automation, the world’s largest company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation, announced SAGE Automation as the first organisation globally to be designated as a Platinum System Integrator Partner as part of the PartnerNetwork Program. Based in Australia and India, SAGE Automation is an independent industrial automation and control systems integrator, delivering industrial automation design, delivery, and support globally. 

Rockwell Automation Announces the First Platinum System Integrator Partner, SAGE Automation, to its PartnerNetwork(TM)
Rockwell Automation Announces the First Platinum System Integrator Partner, SAGE Automation, to its PartnerNetwork(TM)

The program brings robust commercial and technical enablement to maximise system integrators’ skills, recognise and reward performances, and provide the ability to find the right system integrator for a project to meet our customers’ needs and achieve mutual success. As a Platinum System Integrator Partner, SAGE Automation will receive benefits including gaining enhanced recognition with customers and in the industry, as well as receiving incentives and product and technical support.

“The partnership between Rockwell Automation and SAGE Automation aims to deliver the full benefits of world-class automation to Australia, helping local industries obtain the widest possible breadth of expertise to make the most productive automation choices and avoid the high costs of uninformed decisions,” said Anthony Wong, managing director, South Pacific, Rockwell Automation.

“Automation is no longer an option for many companies who wish to remain competitive – it is an imperative – and Rockwell Automation’s collaboration with SAGE will simplify programming and lifecycle management, accelerating time to value for our customers,” he added.

Machine builders, system integrators, and others will gain development and deployment efficiencies through the use of digital engineering tools. The combined Rockwell and SAGE Automation solutions will also offer benefits beyond enhanced integration. For example, end users can use analytics and digital twin tools to gain deeper insights into machine performance and potential production optimisation. They can also use safety and security solutions to reduce business risks.

“SAGE Automation is proud to be the first recognised Platinum Partner globally in Rockwell’s System Integrator Partner Program. SAGE’s industrial digitalisation services – through a data-driven approach combined with automation, scalable support and enabling internal capability – have accelerated thousands of client journeys around the world,” said Adrian Fahey, group managing director, SAGE Group of companies. “Our partnership with Rockwell brings the technical experience and best thinking to these critical industries and projects, from supporting Australia’s most iconic manufacturers, to the energy systems that power our homes, the safety solutions that protect workers in high-risk environments, and the systems that provide Australians with clean drinking water.”

Rockwell Automation Australia’s key focus industries in Australia and New Zealand include manufacturing, particularly food and beverage, resources, including mining, oil and gas, energy, transport, including automotive and metal working, water and smart wastewater and sustainability solutions.

“Achieving this level of partnership with Rockwell cements our position as a world leader, supporting our clients through times of change, and always delivering the certainty they rely on,” concluded Fahey.

For more information on Rockwell Automation’s System Integrator Program, or to request more information from your local sales office, please click here.

About SAGE Automation

Part of the SAGE Group of Companies, SAGE Automation is a leading Australian system integration organisation, helping users optimise performance with quality implementation and related services. SAGE delivers agile, scalable and secure solutions that not only address current problems, but also pre-empts and deters future ones. SAGE provides training and certification opportunities for system integrator partners and encourages customers to require that their preferred partners gain the highest levels of expertise and certification, thus achieving optimum recognition for their system quality in local and global markets.

About the Rockwell Automation PartnerNetwork

Rockwell Automation believes we’re better together—and we do our part by delivering an expansive, global partner ecosystem of market-leading technology, superior support and services, and an integrated and streamlined approach to business. Succeed on an international scale by utilising our network’s breadth of innovative technologies and services that no single vendor can provide alone. To learn more about how the PartnerNetwork is helping to deliver the value of The Connected Enterprise, visit PartnerNetwork Program | Rockwell Automation United States.

About Rockwell Automation

Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), is a global leader in industrial automation and digital transformation. We connect the imaginations of people with the potential of technology to expand what is humanly possible, making the world more productive and more sustainable. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Rockwell Automation employs approximately 25,000 problem solvers dedicated to our customers in more than 100 countries. To learn more about how we are bringing The Connected Enterprise to life across industrial enterprises, visit www.rockwellautomation.com.

PR Newswire

TUV Rheinland Presents Record Earnings for Its 150th Anniversary

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150 years of TUV Rheinland: founded October 31, 1872, for the safety of people, technology and the environment

COLOGNE, Germany, May 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — In the year of its 150th anniversary, TUV Rheinland is presenting a record-breaking balance sheet. The international testing service provider generated revenues of EUR 2.091 billion in 2021 (2020: EUR 1.952 billion). This corresponds to a year-on-year increase of 7% and is a new high. In the 2021 fiscal year, TUV Rheinland posted the highest EBIT in its 150-year history of EUR 157.8 million. The EBIT for 2021 was therefore much higher than in the previous year. In 2020 – due to non-recurring effects – TUV Rheinland posted EBIT of EUR -23.6 million. The company’s EBIT for 2021 was also a considerable EUR 22.2 million higher than in 2019 (EUR 135.6 million). The EBIT margin reached 7.5% after -1.2% in 2020 and 6.5% in 2019, the last pre-pandemic year.

“Our employees around the world were fully committed to our customers in 2021 – despite the continuing challenges of the coronavirus pandemic. Thanks to these efforts and successful measures to increase efficiency, we can be very happy with our performance in our anniversary year. The positive result gives us additional leeway to invest in our future and further growth,” says Dr. Michael Fubi, CEO of TUV Rheinland AG.

The number of employees at the international testing company decreased slightly last year, reaching an average of 20,241 full-time equivalents over the course of 2021. This is 416 employees or 2% fewer than in the previous year. Capital expenditure was around EUR 57.7 million in 2021.

150 years of TUV Rheinland

With regard to the company’s anniversary and TUV Rheinland’s role in overcoming the imminent, global challenges, Dr. Fubi continues: “We are looking ahead. For 150 years, we have seen ourselves as a partner for new technologies – yesterday it was steam boilers, today it is renewable energy, tomorrow it will be artificial intelligence. We use safety to make such innovations a success, in line with our aim of making the future a little safer. We are paying particular attention to services for a more sustainable economy. We thus intend to continue growing profitably.”

TUV Rheinland is celebrating its 150th birthday in 2022. The company was founded on October 31, 1872, as the “Verein zur Uberwachung der Dampfkessel in den Kreisen Elberfeld und Barmen” (Association for the Inspection of Steam Boilers in the Districts of Elberfeld and Barmen). As the decades progressed, this first steam boiler inspection association in one of Germany’s industrial centers evolved into the global testing company TUV Rheinland. “The company’s mission is timeless: building trust by providing safety and quality in the interaction between people, technology, and the environment. This idea will continue to hold in the coming decades, because safety is a basic human need as well as a requirement for quality of life and sustainable solutions of the future,” says Michael Fubi. “Thanks to the dedication and extensive expertise of our employees, we not only have a long history to look back on but will also closely follow future technological developments.”

Focus on sustainability

In the future, TUV Rheinland will amplify its contribution to sustainable development as defined by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and to the fight against the climate crisis. For the testing company, this entails both improving customers’ sustainability with its own services and how it performs its own services. “It is absolutely clear that TUV Rheinland’s development hinges on the environment and society in which we operate. This means we have an ecological and social responsibility that we live up to – in the past, in the present, and in the future,” says Michael Fubi. 

In 2006, TUV Rheinland was the first testing company in the world to sign up to the United Nations Global Compact to promote responsible business and sustainability. Since October 2021, EcoVadis, the world’s leading provider of sustainability rankings, has given TUV Rheinland Gold status, putting it among the best 5% of the companies rated. The EcoVadis rating looks at 21 criteria relating for example to the environment, work practices and human rights, fair business practices and sustainable procurement. “We set clear sustainability targets for our own activities. For example, we are reducing our greenhouse gas emissions in line with the 1.5 degree target agreed by most nations at the 2015 Climate Change Conference in Paris,” says Michael Fubi.

The journey to a more sustainable future also provides TUV Rheinland with good economic prospects. The testing company has recently bundled its wide range of sustainability services in almost all service areas worldwide. At the same time, the experts are working to implement new, innovative testing services for future areas such as carbon-neutral business, energy generation without fossil fuels, and social standards in global supply and value chains. A wealth of information and services for more sustainability are now available from TUV Rheinland at www.tuv.com/sustainability.

TUV Rheinland as partner for new technologies

TUV Rheinland has seen itself as a partner for new technologies since it was founded 150 years ago. A current example is the rapidly growing electromobility segment. Since last year, TUV Rheinland has been building a large testing laboratory for drive batteries in Aachen, which will open in June 2022. Most recently, TUV Rheinland and its partner TWAICE founded Battery Quick Check GmbH in March 2022. The new company aims to launch a service to evaluate drive batteries of used electric vehicles on the market from fall 2022. In addition, the company’s experts provide support for the type approval of newly developed vehicles, particularly with regard to increasingly automated driving. For example, TUV Rheinland assisted the homologation of the world’s first driver assist system for highly automated driving (SAE Level 3) for use on the road, namely Drive Pilot in the S-Class and EQS from Mercedes-Benz.

Another example is hydrogen, which can provide a solution to the problem of storing renewable energy and offers an opportunity to combine previously separate areas such as electricity, heating and mobility. In 2021, TUV Rheinland established a global hydrogen competence center, in which it bundles its many services for the safe production, storage, transport and use of hydrogen as an energy carrier worldwide. A hydrogen testing laboratory recently opened in Cologne underscores TUV Rheinland’s aim to help shape the transition to renewable energy.

Financial position and capital expenditure

TUV Rheinland’s equity increased by EUR 151.2 million from EUR 285 million to EUR 436.2 million in 2021. Net cash from operating activities totaled EUR 205.9 million in the 2021 fiscal year (2020: EUR 223.2 million).

Capital expenditure amounted to EUR 57.7 million in 2021 and was thus somewhat lower than in the previous year. These investments focused on various software and digitization projects as well as on the expansion of testing capacity and the creation, expansion and modernization of testing laboratories. TUV Rheinland invested a total of EUR 5 million in a new testing laboratory in Budapest. In addition, EUR 13.8 million was spent on testing equipment and facilities for the Products business stream. Investment continued in one of Europe’s largest and most state-of-the-art test centers for drive batteries, which TÜV Rheinland is currently building in Aachen, with EUR 1.2 million spent in 2021. The Mobility business stream also invested EUR 1.4 million in vehicle inspection centers in Chile.

Development of employee numbers

TUV Rheinland’s internationality is reflected by its employees: in 2021, 58.1% of the 20,241 employees were based outside of Germany. In Germany, TUV Rheinland employed an annual average of 8,486 full-time equivalents in 2021, 259 fewer than the previous year. This was due in particular to a streamlining of central administrative functions, which was completed in 2021. Internationally, the number of employees fell by 1.3%. The implementation of the planned restructuring programs of the last few years is well advanced. In the medium and long term, TUV Rheinland plans to create new jobs again as it has continuously done over the past few decades. For comparison, in the year of its 140th anniversary TUV Rheinland employed 17,200 people around the world. The targeted growth will be achieved largely organically, thus resulting in the creation of new jobs.

Performance in Germany and internationally

The German market accounted for 52.3% of TUV Rheinland’s total revenues in 2021, with the international regions accordingly contributing 47.7%. Revenues in Germany grew by EUR 56.7 million, totaling EUR 1.093 billion in 2021. Outside of Germany, revenues amounted to EUR 997.5 compared with EUR 916.8 million in 2020. As in the past, the Greater China region accounted for the largest share of international business, contributing 19.5% of the Group’s total revenues. Revenues grew in most regions in 2021, with sometimes significant growth rates of up to 25%. There were only slight declines in revenues in the North America and Asia-Pacific regions. 

Performance of the business streams

TUV Rheinland has divided its global testing and certificate business into five business streams. Industrial testing, product testing, and mobility services together constitute more than 75% of the entire business of TUV Rheinland.

In 2021, the Product Testing business stream made the biggest contribution to TUV Rheinland’s total revenues. Revenues in this area totaled EUR 604.1 million, corresponding to a significant increase of 8.5% or around EUR 47 million year-on-year. This positive development is attributable to factors including excellent revenue performance in the testing of toys, cosmetics and textiles as well as machinery, components and solar modules.

The revenue performance in the Mobility business stream was again impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Nevertheless, the business stream palpably improved its revenues by 7.5% to EUR 595.4 million (2020: EUR 554 million). Volumes at vehicle inspection centers in Germany and Latvia returned to normal levels, while significant growth was seen in Chile. In Spain and France, the vehicle inspection business fell somewhat short of expectations as a result of the pandemic.

The business with vehicle appraisals and vehicle type approval services was noticeably affected by factors such as global supply problems and the associated production bottlenecks for automobile manufacturers, because these reduced the number of new registrations. In contrast, the very international business with inspection services for rail transport grew significantly.

The Industrial Services & Cybersecurity business stream generated revenues of EUR 560.7 million in 2021, up 4.2% on the previous year (EUR 538.1 million). Significant growth was seen in many countries of Western Europe, which were still heavily affected by the pandemic in 2020. Testing and certification services for the energy and environment sectors were in particularly high demand there. The regions Greater China, Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), India, Middle East, Africa (IMEA) and South America also made significant contributions to the revenue growth.

The Academy & Life Care business stream was still heavily impacted by measures in connection with the coronavirus pandemic, especially in the business with training and further education. Nevertheless, the business stream considerably improved its revenues by 6.9% to EUR 244.7 million (2020: EUR 228.8 million), chiefly due to investments in digitalized learning opportunities. Business relating to occupational health management again saw increased demand. Here, TUV Rheinland employees were also involved in the implementation of the national coronavirus vaccination strategy in Germany.

The Systems business stream grew considerably with the certification of management systems. Revenues increased by 11.9% to EUR 239.9 million (2020: EUR 214.3 million). Catch-up effects after a pandemic-driven decline in the previous year were one reason for the significant increase. Furthermore, there was growing customer demand for audits in the supply chain, especially in the Greater China and Asia-Pacific regions. Pre-shipment inspection business for Indonesia and inspections for the Iraqi, Moroccan, and Saudi Arabian markets also developed positively.

150 years of safety: Since 1872, TUV Rheinland’s mission has been to make technology safe for people and the environment. From the steam engine to digitalization, the erstwhile “Verein zur Überwachung der Dampfkessel in den Kreisen Elberfeld und Barmen” (Association for the Inspection of Steam Boilers in the Districts of Elberfeld and Barmen) has evolved into a global testing service provider ensuring safety and quality in virtually all areas of business and life. This responsibility is now shared by more than 20,000 employees, who generate annual revenues of around EUR 2.1 billion. Around the globe, experts from TUV Rheinland test technical systems and products, support innovations in technology and industry, train personnel in a wide range of professions, and certify management systems according to international standards. With safety and sustainability, TUV Rheinland is also shaping the future. Since 2006, TUV Rheinland has therefore been a member of the United Nations Global Compact to promote sustainability and combat corruption. Website: www.tuv.com

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ACE Green Recycling to build North America’s largest green battery recycling park in Texas

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Proprietary emissions-free battery recycling technology to be deployed to recycle both lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries  

BELLEVUE, Wash., May 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Recycling technology company, ACE Green Recycling (ACE) is announcing its plans to build and operate North America’s largest emissions-free and sustainable battery recycling park in Texas, USA. The 400,000 square foot facility will be able to recycle both lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries when fully operational. These batteries are key elements in the automotive, power storage, telecommunications industry and portable devices like mobile phones and laptops. 

The facility is expected to start its phase 1 of operations in the third quarter of 2023, starting with the recycling of lead-acid batteries using ACE’s proprietary emission-free battery recycling technology and followed with a lithium-ion battery recycling facility in proximity. When operating at full capacity, ACE expects the facility to process and recycle up to 100,000 metric ton of used lead-acid batteries and 20,000 metric ton of used lithium-ion batteries annually by 2025.

Traditionally, battery recycling is via the smelting process which involves operating at extremely high temperatures – often more than 1,000 °C – with the burning of expensive and polluting fossil fuels, producing significant greenhouse gases (GHG), and exposing workers to hazardous working conditions. Compared to smelting, ACE’s proprietary technologies for both lead-acid and lithium-ion battery recycling are fully electrified with zero carbon emissions and provide higher battery material yields while providing a safer workplace environment. ACE is also exploring opportunities for operating most of its key plant activities with solar energy to reduce the facility’s Scope 2 emissions.

ACE has identified Texas to locate its flagship battery recycling facility in the United States. With a growing population and easy access to an abundance of spent batteries from automobiles and other industrial sources, Texas is an obvious choice for ACE’s new plant. 

Due to the lack of sufficient recycling capacity, the US is currently exporting a large volume of its scrap batteries to Mexico and Asia while importing battery materials back to make new batteries leading to a major value loss. By establishing a large operation in Texas, ACE intends to reduce America’s dependence on imports of battery materials and batteries from foreign suppliers that are often subject to adverse global supply chain issues. 

“Texas sits at the heart of the world’s global energy revolution with key access to an abundant pool of top engineering and technical talent. ACE’s new facility aims to be part of that revolution and build a greener, more sustainable future for America,” said Nishchay Chadha, ACE’s Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer.

ACE’s Texas lead-acid recycling facility will be scaled up in phases. When fully operational, it is projected to recycle more than 5 million lead-acid batteries, prevent more than 50,000 metric ton of GHG emissions, reduce landfill dumping of more than 10 million pounds of hazardous solid waste, and recycle more than 15 million pounds of plastics annually. The facility will also generate up to 100 direct and indirect well-paying American jobs for the local economy. ACE will be announcing more details about its lithium-ion battery recycling operations in upcoming months.

The green technology solutions start-up will utilize its own funds and collaborate with several strategic and financial investors to set up the envisioned Texas battery recycling park. “We are excited to establish our first North American facility in the state of Texas that will not only generate significant local economic activity but also contribute to a greener environmental footprint,” said Dr Vipin Tyagi, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of ACE. “By contributing to America’s battery recycling capabilities, we also aim to strengthen the country’s energy independence and build a more resilient future for the nation.”

ACE has already deployed its technology on a commercial scale and most recently announced a deal with Pondy Oxides & Chemicals Ltd (BSE: 532626), a leading recycler in India, and is set to announce new facilities in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East by early 2023.

About ACE Green Recycling Inc

ACE Green Recycling is an American green recycling technology company with global operations across Southeast Asia and India. The company has started commercializing its proprietary recycling process for used lead-acid batteries that releases no greenhouse gas emissions and is currently scaling up its zero-emission technology to recycle lithium-ion batteries. ACE is also simultaneously working on clean technology solutions for other metallic waste streams. The team behind ACE has decades of recycling, technology and scrap supply chain experience, making them poised to become a leader in global recycling.

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ikram@superminted.com
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ACE Green Recycling
communications@ace-green.com

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ReneSola Power Appoints Ramnath Iyer as a Director

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STAMFORD, Conn., April 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — ReneSola Ltd (“ReneSola Power” or the “Company”) (www.renesolapower.com) (NYSE: SOL), a leading fully integrated solar project developer, today announced that Ke Chen has stepped down as a Director of the Company and that it has appointed Ramnath Iyer, Head of ESG Asia of Invartis Consulting, to its Board of Directors effective April 20, 2022. Ke Chen will remain serving in the capacity of Chief Financial Officer. 

Mr. Iyer brings extensive capital markets experience from his prior roles as portfolio manager to multiple international asset management firms, and strategist role at investment banks. In addition, Mr. Iyer brings significant knowledge and expertise on sustainability, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) from his current role as the Head of ESG Asia at Invartis Consulting where he helps institutional investors and buyside funds integrate ESG and sustainability practices into their investing processes. 

“We are pleased to welcome Ramnath as our fellow director”, Said Himanshu Shah. “His extensive experience in ESG complements our Board’s efforts to strengthen our sustainability practices around environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and corporate governance. We look forward to his many contributions.”

About ReneSola Power

ReneSola Power (NYSE: SOL) is a leading global solar project developer and operator. The Company focuses on solar power project development, construction management and project financing services. With local professional teams in more than 10 countries around the world, the business is spread across number of regions where the solar power project markets are growing rapidly and can sustain that growth due to improved clarity around government policies. The Company’s strategy is to pursue high-margin project development opportunities in these profitable and growing markets; specifically, in the U.S. and Europe, where the Company has a market-leading position in several geographies, including Poland, Hungary, Minnesota and New York. For more information, please visit www.renesolapower.com.

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Source: ReneSola Ltd.

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Japan’s first laser nuclear fusion company, EX-Fusion raises 130 million JPY in pre-seed round, paving way for the development of critical components needed for commercialization of nuclear fusion

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Funds will be used to develop technologies that enable continuous injection of target material and auto tracking and alignment of the laser systems to build a commercial fusion reactor

OSAKA, Japan, April 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — EX-Fusion Inc., the first startup in Japan aimed at commercializing laser based fusion energy, announced on March 31, 2022 that it has closed a pre-seed round funding of 130 million Japanese yen. The pre-seed round was led by ANRI, a Tokyo based venture capital firm, along with Osaka University Venture Capital (OUVC) and was the first company funded within ANRI’s latest ESG specific fund.

EX-Fusion Team Photo, from left to right: Kenjiro Takahashi, Takayoshi Norimatsu, Kazuki Matsuo, Yoshitaka Mori, Koichi Masuda
EX-Fusion Team Photo, from left to right: Kenjiro Takahashi, Takayoshi Norimatsu, Kazuki Matsuo, Yoshitaka Mori, Koichi Masuda

The funding enables EX-Fusion to accelerate the development of the continuous target supply system (CTSS) and the laser target tracking system (LTTS), both fundamental systems for the commercialization of laser powered nuclear fusion reactors. By combining the two systems, EX-Fusion aims to demonstrate the feasibility of high frequency repetition laser plasma experiments using high power pulse lasers and to demonstrate the ability to continuously generate neutrons in sequential laser fusion reactions.

EX-Fusion was co-founded between Kazuki Matsuo, postdoctoral research fellow at University of California San Diego, Shinsuke Fujioka, professor at the Institute of Laser Engineering at Osaka University, and Yoshitaka Mori, associate professor at the Graduate School for the Creation of New Photonics Industries.

“We believe that nuclear fusion is the solution for meeting our global energy needs and helping the world reach carbon neutrality by 2050,” said Matsuo. “And by focusing our research and development around the fundamental technology related to commercial operation of laser-based nuclear fusion, we can achieve safe and affordable clean energy faster. This initial funding will kick start our efforts to build the two systems, continuous target supply system and laser target tracking system, which will prove that continuous target injection as well as laser targeting can be achieved at or above 10Hz.”

Masahiro Sameshima, Partner at ANRI, said,

“I have been encouraging researchers to establish their own ventures with the hope of creating a nuclear fusion venture that could become a new power source in Japan. I am thrilled to be supporting the launch of EX-Fusion from the beginning. Investment in fusion ventures is accelerating around the world toward the realization of fusion technology, and Japan is lagging far behind in terms of the amount of funds raised. However, we are not pessimistic about this, and are determined to help refine EX-Fusion’s original technology and prove that we can compete on the world stage. Furthermore, we hope to apply this laser technology to various fields such as processing of metal materials and semiconductor manufacturing.”

Yousuke Hirai, Investment Principle at OUVC, said,

“I am very excited to be investing into the EX-Fusion team whose goal is to provide the ultimate clean energy in the form of commercial nuclear fusion power. While we realize that laser based nuclear fusion is one of many forms of nuclear fusion, there have been rapid advancements in the field of laser fusion recently and thus is considered one of the most commercially viable methods amongst various nuclear fusion methods. By taking the learnings from the research conducted at Osaka University over the past 50 years, EX-Fusion will lead the advancement of laser nuclear fusion and pave the path to commercialization of the technology.”

EX-Fusion is collaborating with the Institute of Laser Engineering (ILE) at Osaka University, the Graduate School for the Creation of New Photonics Industries (GPI) as well as multiple private sector corporations in its development of these technologies. The joint development project with ILE involves the development of the CTSS, which will allow for material targets to be placed inside the fusion reaction chamber continuously, consistently and congruently against the high powered pulse laser system. The collaboration with GPI will be focused on developing the LTTS, which will allow for real-time alignment of multiple lasers such that it can direct the energy at maximum efficiency towards the reactor target.

About EX-Fusion

EX-Fusion is a Japan-based private company aiming to develop the first commercial laser based nuclear fusion reactor for power generation.

Laser fusion is a method of obtaining energy by using a high power laser to compress a mixture of deuterium and tritium to high density and heat it to high temperature, causing a nuclear fusion reaction. Research is being conducted mainly in the US, Japan, France, the UK, China, and Russia.

In the U.S., in August 2021, an experiment at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory achieved a fusion output of 1.35 megajoules, which is more than 70% of the laser input energy. This demonstrated that it is possible to ignite and burn fusion fuel using a laser method.

On the other hand, in order to realize a commercial reactor, it is necessary to (i) improve the efficiency of fusion reaction generation, i.e., to achieve a fusion power that exceeds the laser input energy, and (ii) to generate a steady-state fusion reaction with a repetition rate of about 10 Hz and to recover the fusion energy and convert it into consumable energy forms such as electricity and hydrogen. In Japan, for (i) improving the efficiency of fusion reaction generation, we are focusing on the fast ignition method, in which high-density fusion fuel is externally heated by a laser, which is expected to increase the efficiency, and experiments are being conducted using the GEKKO XII and LFEX lasers at the Institute of Laser Engineering (ILE), Osaka University. The founder, Kazuki Matsuo is one of the lead researchers on fast ignition and is the world record holder for fast ignition type of reaction [1]. The recent results have been referred to in the summary of the world fusion research published by the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Energy (ARPA-E) in the United States [2]. Furthermore, as for (ii) fusion generation by high frequency repetition lasers, our executive officer Mori, as a core member of the Graduate School for the Creation of New Photonics Industries (GPI), has been conducting joint research with Toyota Motor Corporation and other partner institutions using high power lasers developed by Hamamatsu Photonics [3].

Our company was established to consolidate the knowledge of laser fusion that has been cultivated in Japan and to realize a commercial laser fusion reactor. Currently, we are transferring the 10Hz continuous target feeding system [4] owned by the Graduate School for the Creation of New Photonics Industries to our company. With this technology as our core technology, we will start our research and development with the support of our partner institutions.

[1] K. Matsuo et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 124, 35001 (2020).

[2] Samuel E. Wurzel, Scott C. Hsu arXiv:2105.10954v4 (2022)

[3] Y. Mori et al., J. Plasma Fusion Res. vol. 97, 352-364 (2021) (written in Japanese). 

[4] Y. Mori et al., “Ten-Hz beads pellet injection and laser engagement” Nucl. Fusion. NF-104796.R1 (2021)

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SuperBase Pro Power Station Wins iF Design Award

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PALO ALTO, Calif., April 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Zendure’s SuperBase Pro has raised nearly $2M USD in crowdfunding and recently received several other distinctions.

SuperBase Pro, Zendure’s flagship power station, has received the illustrious iF Design Award in outdoor products from iF Design in Germany. The globally recognized awards celebrate products that excel in design, and the winners are selected by jurors from around the world.
SuperBase Pro, Zendure’s flagship power station, has received the illustrious iF Design Award in outdoor products from iF Design in Germany. The globally recognized awards celebrate products that excel in design, and the winners are selected by jurors from around the world.

SuperBase Pro, Zendure’s flagship power station, has received the illustrious iF Design Award  in outdoor products from iF Design in Germany. The globally recognized awards celebrate products that excel in design, and the winners are selected by jurors from around the world.

Zendure’s power station is called “the world’s fastest recharging IoT portable power station”, capable of an 80% recharge in just one hour. It sports 14 output ports (12 in the EU version) and has built-in wheels and an extending handle for easy portability. It can provide 2,000W of pure sine wave AC power, with a surge capability of 4,000W for high inductive loads like refrigerators, compressors and air conditioners.

Internal IoT hardware gives SuperBase Pro several features that other power stations on the market do not have. Through Zendure’s companion app, users can monitor and control various aspects of the power station, see its location through GPS, and even track carbon offset and green energy usage.

The power station launched on Indiegogo last year and on Makuake in Japan earlier this year, raising nearly $2 million USD from backers all around the world. It has been popular among campers, outdoor enthusiasts and van-lifers, and is also quickly becoming a staple in emergency preparedness kits. Unlike a traditional gas-powered generator, SuperBase Pro is safe to use indoors and does not require fuel to operate.

Zendure’s power station is solar friendly, so even if a disaster weakens crucial infrastructure, users can collect solar energy and power their essential devices. Photovoltaic arrays of up to 1,800W are supported by SuperBase Pro.

SuperBase Pro 2000 can be ordered from Zendure.com, with delivery to the US projected for the end of May.

Zendure is a portable power company with a focus on sustainable energy located in Silicon Valley in the United States and the Guangdong – Hong Kong – Macao Greater Bay Area in China. Since its establishment, Zendure has continuously launched innovative products, made rapid breakthroughs in the core technologies of energy storage and power supplies, and continues to bring pleasant surprises to the user experience. The company recently received a multi-million dollar series-A round of funding through a joint investment from Shanghai GP Capital and YOTRIO group.

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Gridtential Signs Development Agreement with Camel Energy and a Top-Three U.S. Automaker, Marking Entry into Automotive Battery Market

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SANTA CLARA, Calif., April 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Gridtential Energy, the inventor of Silicon Joule® bipole battery technology, today announced a product development agreement with Camel Energy, the largest car battery manufacturer in Asia, and a top-three U.S. automaker that is supplied by Camel. The agreement is targeted to culminate in the delivery of start/stop batteries for internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. The same technology architecture can be used for low-voltage batteries in electric vehicles and extended to support the 48V batteries most often used in mild-hybrid vehicles.

The partnership positions Gridtential to capitalize on fast-growing demand in the automotive industry for a better alternative to the standard 12V car battery.

Camel has been approached by several large automotive companies to deliver Silicon Joule bipole advanced batteries for their vehicles. By replacing traditional lead plates with specially-formulated silicon hybrid bipoles, silicon hybrid batteries increase standard power density by three-fold, reduce weight by 30% or more, and have improved charge acceptance (at least a 3x increase in dynamic charge acceptance). Silicon hybrid batteries also can operate at higher temperatures and tolerate vibration better than traditional lead-based batteries — key metrics for the automotive industry.

Camel’s silicon hybrid batteries will have at least twice the lifespan of a traditional 12V lead battery, making them an attractive option for automotive manufacturers. 

Under the agreement, Gridtential and Camel engineering teams will work closely to optimize the thin-plate cell design and manufacturing of advanced bipole batteries. They will also verify metrics of cycle life, energy density, battery efficiency and charge acceptance.

Zubo Zhang, President of Camel Energy, Inc (CEI) said: “Along with our customers, we have been following the promise and advancements in bipole technology for many years. Gridtential’s technology readily scales, allowing us to offer a suite of bipole batteries for the transportation and other markets where Camel is dominant. This all works well with Camel’s interest to expand our localization in North America with major automotive customers.”

“It is great to share a vision of vehicle electrification with major automakers. Our silicon hybrid technology is poised to play a vital role in that future,” said Gridtential CEO John Barton. “There’s a growing recognition in the marketplace that innovative design and optimization of conventional active materials offers a safer alternative to lithium-ion with comparable performance and lower cost. We look forward to partnering with Camel and its automotive customers to hone the design, performance and manufacturing of these batteries as they build market share with industry redefining products.”

One of the key components that will improve the performance and efficiency of Camel batteries is the Silicon Joule PowerPlate™, which sits between thin battery cells and will be coated with Camel’s active material. Combined with a lightweight bipole design and a 99% recyclability rate for the lead inside, Camel’s batteries with Silicon Joule technology will be a much more sustainable and readily available alternative to lithium-ion batteries.

Silicon Joule is a revolutionary battery technology that substitutes treated silicon wafers, like those found in solar panels, for conventional lead grids to create an advanced AGM lead battery. It delivers increased power density and a deeper depth of discharge at a 75 percent lower levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) than conventional lead batteries.

Gridtential has development agreements with 15 battery makers. To inquire about the Silicon Joule Evaluation Program, contact Gridtential here.

About Gridtential
Gridtential is the creator of Silicon Joule®, breakthrough silicon hybrid technology that provides a lower-cost, safer, greener alternative to lithium-ion. Inspired by solar technology, Silicon Joule dramatically improves cycle life, power delivery, and discharge rate while reducing weight by 30%, delivering superior performance for deep-cycle and power applications including personal electric vehicles, renewable energy storage systems and hybrid automotive.

Gridtential Energy provides Silicon Joule reference batteries, development kits, bipole materials and non-exclusive licenses, enabling manufacturing partners to easily adapt their factories to provide high-performing, higher voltage 24V, 36V & 48V batteries to their customers for the hybrid-automotive, Low-Speed EV (LSEV), energy storage system (ESS) & telecom backup markets, all without gigascale capital investments.

Silicon Joule is in use today by 15 battery partners and several OEMs. Based in Santa Clara, Calif., Gridtential’s investors include The Roda Group and 1955 Capital.

About Camel
Founded in 1980, Camel Group Co. is the largest car battery manufacturer in Asia and specializes in the R&D, production and sales of lead-acid batteries. It also works with producers of EV lithium-ion batteries and used battery recyclers.

Its products cover automotive starter, start-stop, lithium-ion and traction batteries. Camel batteries are widely used in cars, trucks, agricultural vehicles, golf carts, electric vehicles and other applications. Camel is innovating new energy solutions for the vehicles of the future and is committed to green energy manufacturing, recycling and enabling a low-carbon life for mankind.

Media Contact
Josh Green
Firebrand Communications
gridtential@firebrand.marketing
415 848 9175

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Source: Gridtential Energy, Inc.

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Zendure’s Power Station Wins 2022 Red Dot Design Award

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SuperBase Pro 2000 scooped up the prestigious award after raising nearly $2M USD in crowdfunding.

PALO ALTO, Calif., March 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Zendure, a Bay Area green tech company specializing in mobile power, has received a prestigious Red Dot Award for their new power station, SuperBase Pro 2000. The annual contest is conducted by Red Dot GmbH & Co. KG. Awards are given out each year in several categories, including product design, brands and communication design, and design concept. Zendure’s power station won the award in the product design category.

Zendure, a Bay Area green tech company specializing in mobile power, has received a prestigious Red Dot Award for their new power station, SuperBase Pro 2000.
Zendure, a Bay Area green tech company specializing in mobile power, has received a prestigious Red Dot Award for their new power station, SuperBase Pro 2000.

SuperBase Pro is touted as “the world’s fastest recharging IoT portable power station”. It has enough ports to power 14 devices at once, and It can be charged to 80% in just one hour. A full charge takes just two hours. The power station has wheels and an extending handle for easy portability, and has built-in IoT hardware lending SuperBase Pro a number of features that are not seen in similar products on the market. An intelligent companion app allows users to monitor and control their power station remotely, schedule recharging for off-peak hours, and even track their green energy usage and carbon offset.

The power station launched on Indiegogo last year and raised over $1.4 million USD. Last month, a crowdfunding campaign on Japan’s Makuake raised over $400,000 USD. SuperBase Pro also received a Good Design Award in Japan earlier this month. Backers have flocked to social media to share their unboxing experience and to express their enthusiasm for the product.

SuperBase Pro 2000 can be ordered from Zendure.com, with delivery to the US projected for the end of May.

Zendure is a portable power company with a focus on sustainable energy located in Silicon Valley in the United States and the Guangdong – Hong Kong – Macao Greater Bay Area in China. Since its establishment, Zendure has continuously launched innovative products, made rapid breakthroughs in the core technologies of energy storage and power supplies, and continues to bring pleasant surprises to the user experience. The company recently received a multi-million dollar series-A round of funding from a joint investment from Shanghai GP Capital and YOTRIO group.

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ECA Group and iXblue enter exclusive negotiations period to create new European high-tech champion.

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SAINT-GERMAIN-EN-LAYE, France and TOULON, France, March 15, 2022 — ECA Group and iXblue have entered an exclusive negotiations period to bring the two French companies together. Carried out by Group Gorgé, this operation will lead to the rise of a European high-tech industrial champion in the fields of maritime, inertial navigation, space and photonics.

iXblue DriX Uncrewed Surface Vehicle
iXblue DriX Uncrewed Surface Vehicle

Long-standing partners, ECA Group and iXblue benefit from strong technological and commercial synergies. Bringing those two companies together will create a world-class player in the civil and defense sectors. With a unique offer ranging from components to complex systems, the group will provide high performance solutions for critical missions in harsh environments.

"Our two companies share the same culture of innovation, agility and entrepreneurship that are at the heart of each of our DNAs and for which we are both recognized and valued," explains Fabien Napolitano, President & CEO of iXblue. "The new synergies created will not only ensure we keep this DNA but will also strengthen our capacity for innovation by leveraging our complementary expertise. This will allow us to continue to push the technological frontiers and support our customers in their most demanding challenges."

"The joining of our two companies, which will employ over 1,500 people, offers great growth opportunities," rejoices Dominique Giannoni, CEO of ECA Group. "Once combined, our various technological expertise will greatly help strengthen our leadership positions in our markets, while our complementary geographical footprint will enable us to better serve our customers by being closer to them."

About ECA Group

ECA Group is a subsidiary of Groupe Gorgé since 1992, owned at 100%. The company is one of the world leaders in the field of autonomous robotics and integrated systems, particularly in the naval sector. The company provides its customers with the most efficient and technologically advanced solutions in the field of naval, land and air drones. ECA Group also offers innovative technological solutions for the Aeronautics and Space sectors.

About iXblue

iXblue is a global high-tech company recognized worldwide for delivering advanced navigation, photonics and maritime autonomy solutions. From components to systems and comprehensive solutions, iXblue critical technologies are at work in both the civil and defense markets. They meet customers demanding requirements for successful missions in the most challenging environments, from the deep sea to outer space.

iXblue
Marion Seyve
Global Marketing & Communication Manager
marion.seyve@ixblue.com  

ECA Group
Heli Reinikainen
Marketing Manager
reinikainen.h@ecagroup.com

ECA Group A18D Autonomous Underwater Vehicle
ECA Group A18D Autonomous Underwater Vehicle

 

 

 

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Zendure’s Power Station Earns ¥49M and a Good Design Award in Japan

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SuperBase Pro, touted as the world’s fastest-recharging power station and the only one with IoT, is currently being delivered to people in the US who backed their $1.4M USD campaign.

PALO ALTO, Calif., March 5, 2022 — Zendure’s SuperBase Pro power station has raised over 49 million yen ($423,000 USD) on Makuake, one of Japan’s most popular crowdfunding sites. This is in addition to the $1.4M USD that the power station had earned from an earlier Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign.

Zendure’s SuperBase Pro power station has raised over 49 million yen ($423,000 USD) on Makuake, one of Japan’s most popular crowdfunding sites. This is in addition to the $1.4M USD that the power station had earned from an earlier Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign.
Zendure’s SuperBase Pro power station has raised over 49 million yen ($423,000 USD) on Makuake, one of Japan’s most popular crowdfunding sites. This is in addition to the $1.4M USD that the power station had earned from an earlier Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign.

The money the company raised wasn’t the only victory SuperBase Pro enjoyed in Japan. The new power station also received a Good Design Award, after Zendure entered the product on the basis of its industrial design, unique features, and green energy focus.

Deliveries from the Indiegogo campaign are already underway in the US, and backers will start to receive their orders soon.

SuperBase Pro 2000 is the US-based company’s latest power station, which features IoT and GPS hardware, offline UPS functionality, and an intelligent companion app with remote control and green energy tracking features. The power station has built-in industrial grade wheels and an extending handle for maximum portability, and can deliver up to 4,000W of surge power. SuperBase Pro can be recharged to 80% in just one hour, and fully charged in two hours. The power station was demoed at CES 2022 in Las Vegas at Zendure’s camping-themed booth.

As part of the company’s Spring Sale, SuperBase Pro is currently available on Indiegogo InDemand with limited-time promotional pricing. The sale ends on March 10th, when the price will increase.

Hot on the heels of the SuperBase Pro campaign, Zendure also launched Passport III, a new travel adapter, on Kickstarter. Passport III has proven to be very popular, having surpassed its fundraising goal in the first minute of the campaign. The campaign has raised $350,000 USD so far from over 5,000 backers. There are two weeks left in the campaign.

In addition, Zendure has released teasers hinting at other products coming out this year, including another power station. Very little specific information has been released about the product.

"All I can say is, when it comes to the new power station, we’re being very quiet about it right now," said Zendure founder and CEO Bryan Liu.

Zendure is a portable power company with a focus on sustainable energy located in Silicon Valley in the United States and the Guangdong – Hong Kong – Macao Greater Bay Area in China. Since its establishment, Zendure has continuously launched innovative products, made rapid breakthroughs in the core technologies of energy storage and power supplies, and continues to bring pleasant surprises to the user experience. The company recently received a multi-million dollar series-A round of funding from a joint investment from Shanghai GP Capital and YOTRIO group.

Contacts:
Company name: Zendure
Media: Tom Haflinger 
pr@zendure.com
Phone: +1 800 219 0960