XNRGI Inc fka NPWZ

[ShortonCash]

Neah seems to have Formira links...

The player are worldwide players..the buzz suite seems to be a worldwide product not a much need in US

BASF to work with Tekion Inc.

BASF and Mantra were working together now it .

Adding further benefit to the partnership opportunity, is Kemira’s ability to handle worldwide sales and marketing of formic acid, alleviating any pressure on ME to independently develop a distribution chain.
Kemira is a global EUR two billion green chemicals company that is focused on serving customers in water-intensive industries. It is the second largest manufacturer of formic acid worldwide

http://mantraenergy.com/kemira-oyj-of-finland-becomes-mantras-development-partner-for-its-ccrcarbon-capture-recycling-technology-3/

(News-Gazette, The (Champaign-Urbana, IL) (KRT) Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) Mar. 15--CHAMPAIGN -- BASF, the world's largest producer of formic acid, has agreed to help Tekion Inc. develop the acid as fuel for Tekion's fuel cell technology.


Under an agreement announced this week, BASF and Tekion would jointly develop and test a tailor-made formic acid formulation for Tekion's Formira Power Pack.

The power pack could be put inside or attached to mobile electronic devices, such as industrial handheld computers, satellite communication devices and notebook PCs. It would allow those devices to operate without being connected to the electric grid.

The power pack is a tiny fuel cell/battery hybrid, with the fuel cell recharging the battery. To refuel the power pack, a user swaps in a cartridge containing formic acid, a substance that occurs naturally in ants.

On Tuesday, Tekion President and Chief Executive Officer Neil Huff said Tekion plans to bring the product to market as soon as late 2007.

"There are two product launches we're looking at right now," he said.

One involves a fuel cell/battery hybrid that will be integrated into a portable electronics device made and sold by another company, he said.

"We're in the middle of product development now, field-testing it at the end of the year, and in late 2007 or early 2008, we'll have the commercial launch," he said.

The other product, tentatively called "the Ant Pack," would be "a stand-alone fuel cell device with either a cartridge or reservoir ... to charge different types of devices," Huff said.

Tekion is developing that product on its own, but talking with a couple original-equipment manufacturers as potential partners. Field trials are scheduled for 2007, with commercialization expected late that year, he said.

Tekion is based in Burnaby, British Columbia, but has operations in the EnterpriseWorks building in the University of Illinois Research Park in Champaign. Huff said the company has 12 employees in Champaign and about 60 in Burnaby.

The fuel cell is based on technology developed at the UI, and Tekion has an exclusive license for it.

Huff said he figures it will be a year or so before the company begins low-volume production.

"Probably by mid-year, we'll identify where we want to place it," he said.

In a news release, Huff said Tekion is "extremely excited" to work with BASF.

"Their knowledge of formic acid and applicable chemical expertise will assist us tremendously in the commercialization of our Formira Power Pack," he said.

A BASF executive also lauded the collaboration.

"We are fascinated by Tekion's innovative energy solution and will gladly support the development," said Mark Volmer, head of the acids regional business unit in BASF's Intermediates Division.

Formic acid is nonflammable. BASF makes the acid from carbon monoxide and methanol, which are synthesized to form methyl formate. In the second step, methyl formate is split up by means of water into methanol and formic acid.

BASF produces the acid at facilities in Ludwigshafen, Germany and Nanjing, China.

Aside from being used in Tekion's fuel cell, the acid has several other uses:

--Keeping certain feeds free of salmonella.

--Removing paints and rust from metallic surfaces.

--Disinfecting kegs, casks and barrels in breweries and wineries,.

--Acting as a dirt remover and disinfectant in cleaning applications.

Huff said Tekion buys commercial-grade formic acid and has developed its own process to purify it. But he's hoping BASF can improve the substance by lowering its freezing point and developing other properties that result in better performance.

Huff said Tekion continues to work closely with the UI on projects, including one to help miniaturize Tekion's components so the company can put fuel cells in mobile phones.

He said Tekion is approaching the time when it will "graduate" from EnterpriseWorks, a facility designed for start-up companies.