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Link and text to cited references as stated in the settlement agreement - 8k
***********************************************************
9.4. During the term of this Agreement, Scanbuy and NeoMedia subject to the exclusion of Section 4.1 above, shall not on their own or through another, challenge the validity or enforceability of any of the Licensed Patents of the other Party, or provide any assistance or guidance regarding the alleged non-infringement, invalidity, or unenforceability of any of the same to any third party who is challenging or may challenge the scope, validity or enforceability of the same in any proceeding, including in court, arbitration, or before a patent office, except as required by judicial process. In the event a Party is served with a subpoena relating to one or more of the Other Party’s Licensed Patents, the Party served with the subpoena will cooperate with the other Party in responding to the subpoena. Should Scanbuy violate the foregoing, as in the event that Scanbuy challenges the validity or enforceability of any of the NeoMedia Licensed Patents, NeoMedia shall have the option of any one of the following:
(a) terminating the license to Scanbuy; or
(b) continuing the license to Scanbuy, including but not limited to royalty payments thereunder, provided further that Scanbuy (i) pays all legal fees, costs and expenses of NeoMedia in defending the validity or enforceability of the NeoMedia Licensed Patents as such are invoiced or incurred and (ii) in the event that any claim is found invalid or unenforceable, paying NeoMedia a liquidated damage sum in the additional amount of the total royalties paid to date by Scanbuy as of the time of such finding; or
(c) increasing the royalty rate to three times the stated rate during the period of challenge, and Scanbuy pays all legal fees, costs and expenses of NeoMedia in defending the validity or unenforceability of the Licensed Patents as such as invoiced or incurred.
http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1022701/000114420409053757/v163276_ex10-1.htm
I might if the PPS takes off, otherwise just makin plans for Vegas like everyone else
Do not recall seeing this PR but the big brands are getting interested for sure.
Nestlé, Kraft, J&J, Wal-Mart, Metro and Carrefour lead GS1 MobileCom initiative
http://www.gs1.org/sites/default/files/docs/media_centre/gs1_pr_160909_mobilecom_steering_committee.pdf
http://www.gs1.org/docs/mobile/GS1_Mobile_Com_Barcodes_Position_Paper.pdf
Iain: Yes. See you in Paris!
http://www.gomonews.com/the-ceo-of-neomedia-on-mobile-barcodes-scale-and-latin-america/
GS1 MobileCom Physical Meeting
Date: 18 Nov 2009- 19 Nov 2009
Paris, France
Agenda
This meeting will feature presentations from Nokia, Carrefour, Deloitte, Mobile Marketing Association, Acision and others. The first day will include a study tour to view mobile applications
Imagine a world with...
Opportunities to enter the purchase cycle anytime, anywhere
Easy access to nutritional information, recipes, product instructions and more
New methods of customer behaviour analysis
Mobile coupons
A traceability tool for both large and small trading partners
... this is only possible if standards are defined
Standards ensure that information is accessible and readable by any phone and by any mobile network operator. The definition of common rules will facilitate the rapid adoption of the technology and increase speed to market of this innovation.
http://www.gs1.org/mobile/paris2009
http://www.gs1.org/docs/mobile/meetings/MobileCom_Agenda_Paris_Nov_09.pdf
End of an era - Here's to new beginnings. Thanks for the alert and thanks for your diligence Success!
Educational press coverage - Watch the video.
http://www.channel3000.com/technology/21364275/detail.html
I'm interested in opinions regarding how other barcode companies such as Scanbuy would fare in regards to interoperability. NEOM has a pending patent that addresses this issue and to my knowledge are the only ones claiming complete interoperability for any carrier any code etc. Does NEOM/NeuStar have a leg up on everyone here? Also since application for a patent has already been filed, does this stop anyone else from copying the method described in the patent pending without possible infringement claims by NEOM? TIA
http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=42592466
http://www.wipo.int/pctdb/en/wo.jsp?WO=2009114710&IA=US2009036984
When the big boys talk patent infringement they also talk big money with a B.
Nokia could seek up to $1 billion for iPhones: analystsOctober 23, 2009 2:24 PM ET
http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.aspx?feed=OBR&date=20091023&id=10584692
Might be just me, but I'm having a hard time feeling all warm and fuzzy about Scanbuy all of a sudden. I know personally that I've been divorced a coupla times, and yes we "settled" but you can rest assured we will never be in bed together. Might be better if I was the one getting the alimony though Anyway at least NEOM and Scanbuy are no longer at each others throat! GLTA
Combating Counterfeit Medicines: Siemens Starts Joint Pilot Medicines Coding Project with EFPIA in Sweden
Fri Oct 23, 2009 7:00am EDT
NORWALK, Conn., Oct. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- This incidence of counterfeit
prescription medicines in Europe's traditional supply chain is growing. This
is why EFPIA (European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and
Associations) has launched a pilot project that includes the testing of a
coding and identification solution in Sweden. Siemens IT Solutions and
Services is supplying the information and communications technology (ICT).
This solution enables counterfeit products to be reliably identified at all
times and monitors the progress of medicines throughout the complete supply
chain. The project is being carried out in partnership with the retail
pharmacy chain Apoteket AB and local wholesalers Tamro and KD.
Up to now, pharmacists were reliant on visual checks to make sure that
medicines were not counterfeit before dispensing to patients. But these days
will soon be over. In the EFPIA's new coding and identification solution,
pharmacists will check a unique identification code on each individual pack
before it is dispensed to the patient. This 2D data matrix barcode, with a
unique serial number, can be easily generated and printed on the packaging by
the manufacturer. Scanners are used to read the code and pass it to a
verification system that checks that the pack with that serial number has not
been dispensed before. If it is already marked in the database as dispensed,
the pharmacist is made aware of the possibility that the pack may be
counterfeit, and numbers are found when scanning the packs, an alert is
triggered. Pharmacy staff can then take the necessary precautions and
immediately trigger an investigation.
In the EFPIA pilot project, Siemens IT Solutions and Services is the general
contractor in cooperation with Hewlett Packard (HP) and SAP. The IT service
provider is responsible for the project management and integration of the
information interfaces between the pharmacies and the manufacturers. Siemens
IT Solutions and Services is also responsible for operating and maintaining
the IT infrastructure, including the technology and information systems, data
integration, system security and system development. SAP Belgium will be in
charge of the SAP® object event repository (SAP OER) and the implementation
services. Hewlett Packard (HP) will provide hosting services and SAP solutions
testing.
The aim is to introduce a standardized coding and identification solution for
the pharmaceutical sector in Europe that is compliant with existing
international and European standards. If this pilot project is successful,
EFPIA will present it to the EU authorities for replication in the other EU
countries and so create a uniform platform for key players in the European
pharmaceutical industry in the fight against counterfeit medicines.
EFPIA (European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations)
represents the pharmaceutical industry operating in Europe. Through its direct
membership of 31 national associations and 44 leading pharmaceutical
companies, EFPIA is the voice on the EU scene of 2,200 companies committed to
researching, developing and bringing to patients new medicines that will
improve health and the quality of life around the world. The pharmaceutical
industry accounts for no less than 19.2% of global business R&D expenditure.
It is the sector with the highest ratio of R&D investment to net sales
(16.1%). However, between 1990 and 2008, R&D investment in the United States
grew by 460% whilst in Europe it only increased by 250%, and there is rapid
growth in the research environment in emerging economies such as China and
India. Today around 635,000 people work in this sector and it is estimated
that three to four times more employment is generated indirectly both upstream
and downstream. A significant proportion of people employed are highly skilled
and 117,000 work in research and development. The European research-based
pharmaceutical industry generates a substantial trade surplus, which was
estimated at about 48 billion euros for 2008. It has contributed significantly
to reducing the European Union's trade deficit in high-tech products - today
almost a quarter of the EU's high-tech exports are pharmaceutical products.
Siemens IT Solutions and Services is an internationally leading provider of IT
solutions and services. It covers the entire IT service chain from a single
source, from consulting to system integration, right through to the management
of IT infrastructures. In addition, Siemens IT Solutions and Services extends
the range of offerings of the other Siemens Sectors to include IT solutions.
With its comprehensive know-how and industry-specific knowledge, Siemens IT
Solutions and Services provides measurable added value for its customers.
Siemens IT Solutions and Services employs more than 41,000 people and posts
annual sales of about 5.3 billion euros, of which over 70 percent are
generated outside of the Siemens Sectors. More information at
www.siemens.com/it-solutions.
SAP is the world's leading provider of business software, offering
applications and services that enable companies of all sizes and in more than
25 industries to become best-run businesses. With more than 89,000 customers
in over 120 countries, the company is listed on several exchanges, including
the Frankfurt stock exchange and NYSE, under the symbol "SAP." For more
information, visit www.sap.com.
http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS108941+23-Oct-2009+PRN20091023
Perhaps we can petition Ihub admin to increase the sticky note limit to ten or so instead of three . Things are starting to unfold rapidly. I have never felt better about our investment. GLTA
Very good article, thanks for posting koko/JP.
Nice presentation on the scope of mobile internet available here.
http://www.businessinsider.com/henry-blodget-mary-meekers-internet-presentation-from-web-20-2009-10#mobile-will-be-bigger-than-you-think-1
One feature RIM is highlighting with this new model is its new contact exchange system. This uses a 2D "barcode" to uniquely identify your Blackberry messaging account. Another user can then come along and, using their phone's camera, recognise the barcode and instantly link with your new contact. We reckon the iPhone's 'Bump' contact application is probably a better solution overall, but it's still a welcome addition.
http://www.trustedreviews.com/mobile-phones/news/2009/10/21/RIM-Launches-2nd-Generation-Blackberry-Bold/p1
I cant get it to deliver content from ez codes although it does read them. Also downloaded another app called edocrab (barcode spelled backward - new one?) which reads most codes but does not deliver content. Must be something with this new phone, never had this issue with the old one.
Scanlife error reads "the protocol specified is not supported by the handheld. Please try a different URL". Anyone have a suggestion? TIA
Neoreader not yet available for my new BB Tour so I downloaded scanlife too but can't get it to work. It scans and reads codes but says something about url error every time.
Momo coming in
http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=42731085&txt2find=neom
Edit - I may have read that wrong I think he just noticed the trade also, originally thought he was saying he bought them.
Wouldn't 10 million at a penny and a half be better
Gotta love it when a plan comes together!! Congrats to all the true longs, just getting started here!!
Nice job, thanks.
Image and deadlines - thanks for the updates marketguru and success.
Why would they need to meet face to face to tell each other to "go to hell" might as well just do that on the phone eh? That meeting has probably already occurred and I agree with Claw, you will see the result in a PR not on Pacer if a settlement has been reached.
Might have made a mistake today NP
Mobile Barcodes Explained - Aztecs in the Matrix
By Administrator on October 7, 2009 4:23 PM
The challenge now is to ensure that any brand advertiser can run the same ad campaign in Singapore, London and Seattle instead of having to produce and run different campaigns in each country and for every operator. The inability to do this has been another big inhibitor to mobile advertising. Mobile barcodes have the potential to overcome these issues and become the mainstream, global phenomenon that they could and should be. However to attain this goal, the various parties that make up the ecosystem and the various warring factions within the mobile barcode industry need to come together and work on common standards* that will be to everyone's advantage.
http://www.gokiosk.net/kiosk/2009/10/mobile-barcodes-explained---aztecs-in-the-matrix.html
Enter NEOMEDIA and "the" solution!
http://www.wipo.int/pctdb/en/wo.jsp?WO=2009114710&IA=US2009036984
Any barcode, any reader, any carrier, any language, anywhere, anytime, click click.
The patent does not have to be issued to be used in commerce by the applicant. IMO the OMI process is already in the works and will facilitate a settlement with Scanbuy.
The brands are going to insist on interoperability!!
Definition - Patent Pending?
Definition: "Patent Pending"" is a phrase that is sometimes seen on manufactured items. Patent pending means that someone has filed for a patent on an invention and is waiting to see if the patent is granted.
Manufacturers use patent pending as a warning that a patent may be issued that would cover the item and that copiers should be careful because they might infringe if the patent issues. Once the patent issues, the patent owner will stop using the phrase patent pending and start using a phrase such as "covered by U.S. Patent Number XXXXXXX."
Applying the patent pending phrase to an item when no patent application has been made can result in a fine. You can only use the term patent pending if you have applied for a patent (provisonal or non-provisional).You cannot use the term patent pending if it is not true.
http://inventors.about.com/od/definations/g/patent_pending.htm
Try this one, select "any field" in the keyword drop down and then type in neomedia or scanbuy in the applicant field and see what u get,
http://www.wipo.int/pctdb/en/
Not without my meds to keep me calm
I strongly recommend that everyone takes a little time to read this patent application. Originally filed in the US but not yet published here. We may be more at the center of the PWC universe than we could have imagined with just the 048 patent. Is this what is really going on with the Neustar initiative??
BACKGROUND ART
Various companies are in the process of developing and deploying systems designed to allow end users to perform operations via client devices (also called access points) such as mobile phones, triggered by reading machine-readable codes such as linear (ID) and two-dimensional (2D) barcodes. For the purposes of this specification, such systems are referred to generally as messaging systems (and in the case of barcode scanning as Optical Messaging Systems (OMS) ) . Some examples of the operations that might be triggered by a machine-readable code include, but are not limited to:
• Launching a web browser to a particular URL
• Dialing a telephone number • Sending an SMS
• Displaying a coupon
Certain classes of barcodes and their corresponding
operations can be properly performed by any access point that is capable of reading the particular barcode. An example of this might be a full URL that is encoded into a 2D barcode such as a DATAMATRIX code. Any access point that is capable of reading this barcode and extracting the URL would then be capable of launching a web browser to that address. For the purposes of this specification, we refer to these as direct or unmanaged codes.
Other classes of barcodes cannot be processed without the involvement of processes or services not resident on the access point. Where the internal encoding of the barcode data is proprietary, and/or where the data requires interaction with a server-based database in order to complete the operation, an interchange with the issuing OMS is required in order to properly complete the operation intended. For the purposes of this specification, we refer to these as indirect or managed codes.
As OMS systems become more ubiquitous and widely deployed, it is likely that situations will arise in which an access point developed by Company A will be employed by users to read Managed Codes issued by Company B. Because of the requirement for the involvement of Company B' s infrastructure, without some interface between this infrastructure and Company A' s access point (s), such codes will not be able to be processed.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a methodology and system for providing interoperability between and amongst various disparate messaging systems.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a message interchange system that provides a method via which individual messaging systems can collaborate and interoperate in order to allow each system to extend support to codes of the other systems.
Specifically, the system of the present invention is designed to allow a messaging system which receives a foreign code (i.e. not a code native to that OMS) to submit that code to the messaging interchange system for identification and correct routing information or to redirect the code to the correct messaging system (e.g.) resolution server. The messaging interchange system takes the responsibility for determining the correct owner of the code, providing routing information back to the home (originating) messaging system or routing the request to the destination messaging system (the owning messaging system) , and returning an indication of the function that is to be performed back to the home messaging system via a standardized protocol. The home messaging system can then translate this information into its own internal formats, and arrange for the intended operation to be performed for the user.
The net effect of this is that, assuming Company A and Company B support each other's barcode symbologies, codes produced by Company B' s messaging system can be transparently read and serviced by Company A' s access points (and vice versa) , thus extending the reach and interoperability of both companies, vastly improving the end user experience, thereby facilitating market adoption of messaging systems and services as a whole.
http://www.wipo.int/pctdb/en/fetch.jsp?SEARCH_IA=US2009036984&DBSELECT=PCT&ABIMAGE=17092009%2FUS2009036984_17092009_gz_en.x4&C=10&TOTAL=41&IDB=0&TYPE_FIELD=256&SERVER_TYPE=19-10&QUERY=%28IN%2FHunter+AND+IN%2FKevin%29+&START=1&ELEMENT_SET=B&SORT=41285012-KEY&RESULT=4&DISP=25&FORM=SEP-0%2FHITNUM%2CB-ENG%2CDP%2CMC%2CAN%2CPA%2CABSUM-ENG&IDOC=1890336&IA=US2009036984&LANG=ENG&DISPLAY=DESC
It wasn't that long ago that Iain told us that NEOM is a "start up" company he now says we are a "growing" business.
Iain: We just finished a patent review which took a long time. We have the potential now to move forward with our other patents. Some we will sell. Some we will use and some we will give away. But we are a growing business.
Why would anyone give a patent away?
I'm no techie either but I am speculating that NEOM "invented" barcode interoperability, filed a patent application, convinced Nuestar to conduct a pilot deploying the invention which has proven to work and they are now moving forward with global implementation. ALL IMO
Interesting, MESSAGING INTERCHANGE SYSTEM patent application published, just looking it over but it appears to speak to interoperability.
Abstract: Machine-readable codes are read, decoded and resolved by a messaging system in order to perform a desired function. If the code is not native to that (home) messaging system, then a resolution request is made to a central messaging interchange system to determine which other (destination) messaging system is native to and can resolve that code. The messaging interchange system then either returns the appropriate routing information back to the home messaging system (in which case the home messaging system sends the resolution request directly to the destination messaging system) or forwards the resolution request to the destination messaging system itself. The destination messaging system transmits a resolution response message to the home messaging system, either directly or via the messaging interchange system
http://www.wipo.int/pctdb/en/fetch.jsp?LANG=ENG&DBSELECT=PCT&SERVER_TYPE=19-10&SORT=41285012-KEY&TYPE_FIELD=256&IDB=0&IDOC=1890336&C=10&ELEMENT_SET=B&RESULT=4&TOTAL=41&START=1&DISP=25&FORM=SEP-0/HITNUM,B-ENG,DP,MC,AN,PA,ABSUM-ENG&SEARCH_IA=US2009036984&QUERY=%28IN%2fHunter+AND+IN%2fKevin%29+
Repost of the 2 extension request documents from Pacer: Ihub is doing something different with the image hosting service and the previous posts no longer display.
Current status of deadlines/hearings Markman not designated.
I would only be comfortable with holding what I can afford to lose (penny stock 101). Having said that, I am comfortable with what I have, but wish I had more!
Just to set the record straight, the last monthly financing occurred on August 14th (2 months ago) after 5 consecutive months of monthly financing. Have we finally seen an end to the drip financing and has NEOM weaned themselves from additional YA financing? A huge milestone if this is the case.
I also would note that all of the debentures now carry a maturity date of July 2010.
The table below summarizes the significant terms of each of the debentures:
April 6, 2009 550,000 7/29/2010 14 % $ 0.02 95 % 10 Days
May 1, 2009 550,000 7/29/2010 14 % $ 0.02 95 % 10 Days
June 5, 2009 715,000 7/29/2010 14 % $ 0.02 95 % 10 Days
Subsequent Events
Secured Convertible Debenture - On July 15, 2009 and August 14, 2009, we entered into additional Secured Convertible Debentures with YA Global for principal amounts of $535,000 and $475,000, respectively. The debentures accrue interest at 14% per annum and are payable on the maturity date (July 29, 2010) in cash, or provided that certain equity conditions are satisfied, in shares of common stock.
http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1022701/000114420409043809/v157990_10q.htm
News for 'MKTY' - (MTI Micro Makes a Significant Leap in Micro DMFC Technology Award-Winning Mobion Micro Fuel Cell Technology Improves Power Density by 30%)
ALBANY, N.Y., Oct 14, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- MTI MicroFuel Cells Inc. (MTI
Micro), developer of the Mobion(R) off-the-grid mobile power source and a
subsidiary of Mechanical Technology, Incorporated (MTI) (OTC: MKTY), announced a
significant power achievement for its Mobion(R) technology. The Mobion(R) fuel
cell engine has reached another milestone by demonstrating a power density of
84mW/cm(2) while maintaining its fuel efficiency of 1800Wh/kg or 1.4Wh/cc.
This achievement shows a 30% power density improvement over the initial
62mW/cm(2) announced last year. Placing Mobion in what is believed to be the
highest power density ranking within the micro fuel cell industry; this
improvement furthers MTI Micro's leadership position in the development of
direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) solutions for the portable electronic device
industry.
"Having a greater amount of energy in smaller amount of space is always a major
concern of customers with power-hungry devices," said Peng Lim, President and
CEO of MTI Micro. "This significant improvement addresses manufacturers' needs
for a compact, power-dense energy supply, while incorporating a simplified
design. The new design is engineered to greatly reduce assembly time and cost to
pave the way for high-volume manufacturing."
MTI Micro's Mobion micro fuel cell provides full power in any orientation, at
any humidity level and within the operational temperature range of consumer
electronic devices. This power density improvement marks another milestone in
MTI Micro's developments.
About Mechanical Technology
Mechanical Technology (OTC: MKTY) is primarily engaged in the development and
commercialization of Mobion(R) off-the-grid portable "green" power solutions,
through its subsidiary MTI MicroFuel Cells Inc. (MTI Micro). MTI Micro has
developed a flexible fuel cell architecture that is suited for various consumer,
industrial, and military applications and is protected by a significant
intellectual property portfolio related to micro fuel cell technology. MTI Micro
has received government funding and developed strategic partnerships to
facilitate efforts to achieve commercialization. MTI is also engaged in the
design, manufacture, and sale of high-performance test and measurement
instruments and systems through its subsidiary MTI Instruments, Inc. For more
information, please visit www.mechtech.com.
Statements in this press release which are not historical fact including
statements regarding management's intentions, hopes, beliefs, expectations,
representations, projections, plans or predictions of the future are
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, among others, future
prospects and applications for fuel cell systems; MTI Micro's future business
prospects, technology and performance; the market potential for and progress MTI
Micro is making in developing its Mobion(R) fuel cell systems and preparing for
manufacturing, and; the future prospects, markets, product launch, market
acceptance, and commercialization plans of MTI Micro products. All
forward-looking statements are made as of today, and MTI and MTI Micro disclaim
any duty to update such statements. It is important to note that MTI Micro's and
MTI's actual results could differ materially from those projected in
forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the anticipated results not
to occur include, among others, risks related to financing; uncertainties in
development, manufacturing and competition; and the risk factors listed from
time to time in MTI's SEC reports including but not limited to, the annual
report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.
SOURCE: Mechanical Technology
CONTACT:
For Mechanical Technology
Scott Estro, 415-233-6814
sestro@digcommunications.com
Copyright Business Wire 2009
-0-
KEYWORD: United States
North America
New York
INDUSTRY KEYWORD: Energy
Alternative Energy
Oil/Gas
Technology
Other Technology
Manufacturing
Engineering
Environment
SUBJECT CODE: Product/Service
Significant language: recurring revenues, interoperability, and IP warranties
4. Term.
The term of this Agreement shall be an initial four (4) years, with automatic extensions of one (1) year if BEMS is compliant and up to date with all provisions of the Agreement including Minimum Annual Payment, which are continuing, and any royalty payment, as determined by NeoMedia in its sole discretion.
7.4. The inter-operability of NeoMedia NeoReader with the mobile network operators existing in the market is an essential aspect of this Agreement. In this regard, the breach of this condition by NeoMedia shall entitle BEMS to terminate this Agreement.
8. Warranty of Proprietary Rights.
8.1. NeoMedia warrants and represents to BEMS that it is the lawful proprietor of all the intellectual and industrial property rights over the Licensed Platform and its components. In such respect, NeoMedia represents and warrants that to the best of its knowledge the Licensed Platform does not infringe any third-party right that could impede or restrict in any manner whatsoever its use by BEMS as stipulated herein.
http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1022701/000114420409052651/v162710_ex10-1.htm
NeoReader will be the preferred barcode reader for pre-installation
on handsets and all code transactions will be routed through the NeoMedia
infrastructure.
Sweet!!
Nice PR, thanks for posting.
Bottom of the page on the left.
http://www.partyzone.us/
Neoreader is the only reader listed.
http://2wayalert.com/qrizy/qrizy-main.html
3M AND PLUG POWER SIGN STRATEGIC SUPPLY AGREEMENT FOR GENSYS FUEL CELL UNITS BEING SOLD IN INDIA
3M to provide membrane electrode assemblies for product used by Tata
LATHAM, NY – October 8, 2009 – 3M (NYSE:3M)and Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ: PLUG), a leader in providing clean, reliable energy solutions, today announced that they have entered into an exclusive commercial supply agreement for 3M membrane electrode assemblies (MEA), to be used as a critical component in Plug Power’s GenSys proprietary proton exchange membrane (PEM) reformate stacks. The continuous run GenSys® prime power fuel cell systems are being deployed into rural India and will replace diesel generators at remote telecommunication sites.
The design of the reformate stack allows customers to realize the economic and environmental benefits of fuel cells, while avoiding the logistics involved in transporting pure hydrogen to their remote cell sites. GenSys reforms Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) into a hydrogen-rich reformate that is converted into electricity in the fuel cell stack. The GenSys reformer design is also proprietary to Plug Power. With minor adjustments, Plug Power’s system can process a variety of hydrocarbon based fuel stocks such as natural gas.
In May 2009, WTTIL, the cell tower arm of Tata Teleservices Limited, placed an order for 200 units to provide power at cell towers with no or extremely unreliable electric grid service. The initial 200 GenSys systems will be installed by the end of March, 2010 and the Company expects to install approximately 1,000 systems by the end of the same year. Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) will provide LPG fuel for the initial 200 installations. Plug Power and HPCL entered into a five-year fuel supply agreement in September of 2009.
Through several years of collaboration between 3M and Plug Power, and research and development support from the United States Department of Energy, Plug Power has successfully developed a robust stack designed to meet and exceed customer requirements. To date, Plug Power’s reformate stack designs have accumulated more than 200,000 in-application operating hours in hundreds of units at customer sites. As a result of this extensive in-application testing, the Company has extended the stack life by 70 percent.
Plug Power's reformate stack improves upon similar commercially available fuel cell stacks with a five percent increase in system efficiency. 3M and Plug Power will use the data and learning from field deployments to drive further improvements in MEA, fuel cell stack and system lifetime. In just five years, Plug Power has reduced the cost of its reformate fuel cell by approximately 70 percent, while increasing the power output by 20 percent. Plug Power has also streamlined its design and manufacturing processes, reducing assembly and test time by 60 percent.
Greater stack reliability results in minimized service costs and a faster customer payback. “Plug Power understands the importance of meeting our customers’ needs,” said Mark Sperry, General Manager of Plug Power’s Continuous Power Division. “And, the best way to do that is to provide them with the most reliable and lowest-cost alternative energy solution in the market. 3M is a key partner in achieving this goal, as we are able to leverage its industry leading membrane technology. Through this strong collaborative effort, Plug Power is able to continuously grow its business and increase fuel cell product placement into the market.”
An established industry leader in the manufacture of reformate fuel cell stacks, Plug Power has been designing PEM fuel cell stacks since 1997 and has implemented its technology into several of its previous product offerings.
“3M is delighted to be the MEA supplier for this exciting opportunity,” said Dr. Eric Funkenbusch, program director of 3M’s Fuel Cell Components Program. “Plug Power and 3M have collaborated closely for many years, and 3M has supplied MEAs for many of the Plug Power systems in field deployment.” He continued, “Given the interrelated nature of the MEA, fuel cell stack and system, close cooperation, openness, and trust are critical to success. We feel very fortunate to have this type of relationship with Plug Power.”
3M is a leading developer and manufacturer of membrane electrode assemblies for proton exchange membrane fuel cells. 3M MEAs are based on a number of core 3M technology platforms, including fluoropolymers, nanotechnology and precision processing. The company’s dedicated fuel cell team is focused on addressing MEA related barriers to wide spread fuel cell commercialization including cost, durability and consistency. The MEAs developed for the GenSys stack incorporate a number of significant improvements over the previous generation of 3M MEAs. The U.S. Department of Energy has strongly supported 3M in its development efforts through a number of cost sharing projects and by providing common direction and targets to fuel cell component and system developers.
About 3M
A recognized leader in research and development, 3M produces thousands of innovative products for dozens of diverse markets. 3M's core strength is applying its more than 40 distinct technology platforms - often in combination - to a wide array of customer needs. With $25 billion in sales, 3M employs 75,000 people worldwide and has operations in more than 60 countries.
About Plug Power Inc.
Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ: PLUG), an established leader in the development and deployment of clean, reliable energy solutions, integrates fuel cell technology into motive and continuous power products. The Company is actively engaged with private and public customers in targeted markets throughout the world. For more information about how to join Plug Power’s energy revolution as an investor, customer, supplier or strategic partner, please visit www.plugpower.com.
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