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As many of you have found out....
you cannot access www.dcherald.com to check out their article referenced here earlier today. I received this from a tech guy I am acquainted with:
"Their webserver is not accepting any incoming connections. Consequently, the host of dcherald.com - FULLnet, Inc - is down as well."
gktignol
sptnws, some folks are just
"gifted" that way. What else can you say?
gktignol
Passed along from a friend........
The local paper in Jasper, IN (The Herald - www.dcherald.com ) printed the following article in its 11/30/06 edition. It includes an interview with Tom Aisenbrey.
Jasper Rubber to make revolutionary product
Jasper --- Considering that the company involved was founded in 1949 to manufacture rubber plungers, a major business deal involving Jasper Rubber Products and a revolutionary new product is something of a bombshell.
"The execution of this manufacturing agreement places (Jasper Rubber) squarely in the middle of potentially one of the larges technological advancements ever to occur in the rubber and plastics industries ,” is how Doug Mathias, the company’s president and CEO, describes an agreement with Integral Technologies Inc.
Integral Technologies, of Bellingham, Wash., has selected Jasper Rubber as the official manufacturer of ElectriPlast, a plastic that conducts electricity.
ElectriPlast is the world’s first highly conductive plastic, according to its inventor and Integral Technologies chief technical officer Tom Aisenbrey.
Aisenbrey, 49, has been working the last nine years to perfect the plastic that conducts electricity as if it were metal. It does it in a unique way, using a proprietary recipe that can create a vast variety of highly conductive polymers.
The inventor spoke to The Herald from Jasper Rubber’s production floor today.
Almost anything made from metal today can now be molded from ElectriPlast. Integral Technologies and Jasper Rubber are now front and center in a growing, multibillion-dollar industry, Aisenbrey said. “The market for it is astronomical,” he added.
While other conductive plastics on the market are considered semi-conductors, Aisenbrey said household current can actually be run through ElectriPlast.
The big companies that approached Integral Technologies about producing ElectriPlast did not leave Aisenbrey with a safe feeling. The opposite is true with Jasper Rubber; he added, and that means from the top executives to the work force on the production floor.
Jasper Rubber initially approached Integral Technologies about simply using its product. As the two corporate entities talked, the Washington-based company asked the Jasper company to take ElectriPlast from the prototype to production stage.
“I haven’t felt like I’ve worked with a better group of guys in 25 years,” Aisenbrey said. “The atmosphere here is one of the best I’ve seen in any factory and I work in factories all over the world. These guys are just good, wholesome people here. It’s been a blessing to have Jasper come into my life.”
“We’re extremely happy to be selected to be the worldwide, exclusive manufacturer,” Mathias said.
After Jasper Rubber’s purchase of some new equipment, Aisenbrey said, “we’re making pellets like crazy every day now.”
With more than 800 employees, Jasper Rubber had already established itself as a leader in rubber and plastics development, according to Mathias. The company is still manufacturing molded, extruded, lathe-cut rubber and thermoplastic products for the major appliance, oil filter and automotive industries.
But now, in a departure from just making parts, Jasper Rubber has also been manufacturing the ElectriPlast pellets for parts makers around the globe since October. The process involves a lot of automation, Mathias said, but it will also mean “some additions to staff along the way.” He declined to discuss numbers.
Jasper Rubber also has a license agreement to manufacture some parts out of ElectriPlast.
There already are 111 ElectiPlast patents, with thousands of applications already identified. ElectriPlast, according to its makers, can be used in household appliances, in construction, in the automotive industry, in the medical device arena and in the defense industry.
On average, Aisenbrey said, ElectriPlast components weigh 40 percent less than aluminum counterparts. Using a jet airliner as an example, Aisenbrey said, the use of ElectriPlast for its wiring harness could strip out 3,000 pounds of weight. “That would hold true for vehicles, boats and anything else,” he said.
According to Mathias, bringing Jasper Rubber’s sales force into the equation will help identify new business opportunities for the ElectriPlast. Special training for the sales force began in October.
Dealing with patent-protected property give Jasper Rubber “an opportunity to have larger margins (and) not have to concede on terms to customers,” Mathias said.
Mr. Plum,
Hello! Welcome to our little thread. Since you are already familiar with those who post here, introductions are probably not necessary. I will add this, however: there are several here, much like yourself, who came with many of the same questions.
Probably the best I can do is offer links to several sources of information.
Have you called the company? Scott and Michael are both readily available to answer shareholders' questions. Have you been to the ElectriPlast blog? There's a wealth of information there (several of the articles on the blog were written by nysepick, who frequently posts here), as well as a question and answer thread where I believe you will find detailed answers to the questions you've asked. Links to all these resources are given in the 'info box' at the top of the page.
Where is the sp headed? I have no idea, and neither does anyone else since none are omniscient. I can only speculate where it is headed based on the 'roadmarkers' I see, several of which were outlined in my post to illcrx (plus many, many others). Your tolerance for risk has to be something you consider. Mine has allowed me to stay invested for quite some time. Others have used the strategy of taking some of their profits "off the table" from time-to-time. Still others wait for other indicators (such as yesterday's announcement) before taking the initial plunge to take a stake in Integral.
All the best to you, whatever you ultimately decide to do.
regards,
gktignol
illcrx,
Welcome! I'm glad you "came out of the shadows," so to speak and chose to post.
I've never been great with technicals, especially in the MicroCap world, but everything you've said rings true with me (except for the shares outstanding, which is slightly over 45 m. But, as you've pointed out, that is still EXTREMELY low).
Our CEO kicked off the year with a 'Letter to the Shareholders' and that has been followed by 2 license agreements, Mr. Smith's recommendation in March, the invitation to speak at the NPE in June, the CES award and now the naming of a manufacturing partner, all of which have made this a very exciting year to be a shareholder!
We hope to hear from you again soon!
regards,
gktignol
NYSE,
It's hard to look objectively at today's news and not be excited about it, or at the very least see the makings of something pretty substantial.
Here's some simple questions to consider: Why have a manufacturer if you have no need to produce anything? And what of those 100 companies who've signed NDA's? Would they have taken that initial step if they didn't see something of interest?
Did you notice something else about the release? It was practically a JARCO news release! It wasn't Integral saying all those things about themselves -- it was another entity! An entity, I might add, whose known us and had dealings with us for several months. An entity, I might add, who just signed on to be our WORLDWIDE partner.
Consider a couple of comments from Mr. Mathias: "We believe the potential of this large scale agreement combined with the future opportunities of ElectriPlastT materials will not only provide a new area of direction for Jasper, but will revolutionize the electrically conductive materials market."
Does he know what he is talking about? Is he in a position to know what he's talking about?
Moreover, he stated, "The execution of this manufacturing agreement places Jasper squarely in the middle of potentially, one of the largest technological advancements ever to occur in the rubber and plastics industries, and we are proud that Integral has selected us as their worldwide manufacturing partner."
Does it sound to you like he has extreme confidence in our IP? Does it? Do you suppose he's making statements like that by operating on "blind faith?"
This sounds like a big deal to me...a VERY big deal!
I believe this is truly a RED LETTER day for Integral Technologies! Circle this day on your calendar. Mark it down. Today was a pivotal day for this company.
regards,
gktignol
Hey! Nothing wrong with
dreaming a little bit!
While we're "dreaming," where do you think we'll end the day? We've already traded around 400k shares. I'm guessing about where we are right now (the upper $3.90 range).
Later,
gktignol
Deutsch,
Outstanding! Thanks for the post!
It appears that Jasper Rubber, with their previously signing a License Agreement and now signing on as their Worldwide Manufacturing Partner, must believe there is a product to market, eh?
This is truly a pivotal moment for Integral:
"This manufacturing agreement moves Integral's ElectriPlast(TM) from the prototype stage to production stage, as the Company will now be able to get the necessary material to well over 100 companies that are currently under NDA (non-disclosure agreements) with Integral."
This is great news for Shareholders, Integral and Jasper Rubber!
gktignol
A new ElectriPlast Blog piece
was just published http://electriplast.blogspot.com/
Rather than remove the links......
a greater service to the blog owner, iHub ITKG board members and shareholders in general might be to e-mail him privately letting him know of those things you think to be in error. That would provide him the opportunity to review your findings and make whatever changes, if any, need to be made. His e-mail address can be found on the blog.
Thanks,
gktignol
sptnws,
Completely understood. Just trying to keep the discussion on topic.
regards,
gktignol
plastipunk: No harm, no foul.
regards,
gktignol
Message From the Moderator:
Ladies and Gentlemen, it's quite obvious that each and every one of you are passionate about Integral Technologies (both pro and con). Bravo! Good for you! Having a little "fire in your belly" is a great thing and can lead to some outstanding dialogue when we stay on topic (Integral Technologies). Unfortunately that has not been the case with the past few posts.
Please leave your personal feelings about other posters, their motivations, judgment calls about their character, etc., etc. out of your conversations. There's a wealth of knowledge here that all can benefit from when focused in the right direction.
Looking forward to your continued contributions.
Sincerely,
gktignol
sptnws, don't you just love capitalism! (eom)
OT for plastipunk,
I saw that same show a few days ago. It was absolutely fascinating! I think I was most impressed by what money hasn't done to him. He leads a pretty simple life considering that he's the second wealthiest man in the United States (just behind Bill Gates).
Your last line pretty much sums it up: your money - your call on how to invest, or not invest it.
Thanks for weighing in. It was nice hearing from you.
gktignol
Moot point......
First off, the two things you referenced are mutually exclusive (the selling of shares by previous private investors and a future private placement) therefore making the point of your argument moot.
Secondly, are we seriously expected to believe the insinuation that all 11,000,000 shares were sold on the open market? Those who were playing the alarmist role at that time wanted us to believe that the share price was headed for an imminent collapse. The last time I checked that still had not happened, much to the chagrin of many, I'm sure.
Thirdly (and I'm sure you're aware of this, but I'll mention it anyway) in the closing sentence you've bolded, what PK is plainly saying is to think about all the reasons why they would want to raise capital (with hints given in parenthesis).
PK knew the risks of publishing his series of Questions and Answers -- primarly that his and the questioner's words would be perverted and twisted beyond reason -- but he chose to do so any way in hope that it would be beneficial to others who may have the same questions. Hardly a self-serving role he's playing by taking that action, that's for sure.
I hope this clarifies things somewhat.
gktignol
NYSE....
Similar sentiments have previously been expressed, with no takers.
Those who hold a "positive bias," as you put it, toward this company can survive witout the nattering nabobs of negativism, but they absolutely cannot survive without the aformentioned, or else they would do exactly as you've suggested. They haven't and they won't.
When truth and error meet, error has nothing of itself to lose in compromise or a distortion of the facts. But truth has nothing to gain in such an endeavor
regards,
GK
All:
As many of you are aware, PK has a great little blog that is strictly devoted to all things ElectriPlast. Our own NYSEPICK has contributed several relevant, very well-written articles.
The site itself generates several hundred hits per week. Along with the interest in the site comes a lot of questions -- questions about our future; questions about our past; questions about our IP; questions about our management team; etc., etc. If you can think of it, in all likelihood the question has been asked.
As a service to those interested, he has decided to post many of the exchanges (with permission from the questioners) for all to view.
Here's the link. It will also be listed in our header page.
Enjoy!
http://readers-qna.blogspot.com/
GK
sptnws,
You're right; it was little more than a veiled attempt at self-promotion. His posts (and my response to it) were removed.
Next subject, please.
Thanks,
GK
OT: From the Financial Times Weekend Edition
Arne Alsin: Short selling sells long-term investors short
By Arne Alsin
Published: November 17 2006 21:04 | Last updated: November 17 2006 21:04
Short selling is a losing proposition for long-term investors and a waste of capital. A basic test for any investment strategy is whether or not it can generate profit over the long-term. On the basis of this test, short selling fails miserably. Not a single short-only fund has generated a positive real return (net of inflation) over the long term.
Of course, poor performance does not stop the multitude of short-selling money management firms from playing on the fears of investors. Investors are told that they need to hedge their long exposure in stocks with short selling. They are told that bear markets are inevitable and that short selling is the best way to mitigate losses.
As I will explain later, there is a far better way to hedge your equity risk than short selling. Alternatives to short selling are not widely touted on Wall Street because they do not generate nearly as much profit as short selling.
The enormous fees paid to short sellers borders on the absurd. One well-known short selling hedge fund, with billions of dollars under management, has the gall to charge a 20 per cent incentive fee (in addition to other fees) on the inverse of the S&P 500 return. If the S&P gains 15 per cent, the inverse would be -15 per cent. If the manager’s return is -10 per cent, for example, he charges an incentive fee on the 5 per cent difference, despite the fact that he lost investor capital.
The best performing short-selling mutual fund is the Prudent Bear fund, managed by David Tice. It has averaged -2.02 per cent annually since its inception (December 28 1995) and -1.29 per cent annually over the past 10 years. A study by Yale’s Roger Ibbotson found that short-biased hedge funds averaged -2.3 per cent per year from 1995 to early 2004. Short-biased funds are not 100 per cent short and can hold long positions.
The reason why short selling is a losing proposition for investors is not because short-selling money managers are incompetent. Many short-selling managers, such as Tice, are highly skilled analysts. The reason they lose investors’ capital over the long term is owing to the insurmountable structural impediments in their path.
The most obvious impediment is the risk versus reward for each short position. As most investors know, shorts have limited potential reward (100 per cent less carrying costs) since a stock can only drop to zero. Losses, though, are unlimited, since a stock that is shorted can soar to any height.
Another impediment is the relentless upward bias of the market. Over the long term, the market grows in value by 7-8 per cent a year. The source of the added value is easy enough to identify. That is, in the aggregate, businesses are profitable. The combined companies in the Dow Jones Industrial Average have been unprofitable only once in the past 80 years. That was a small loss in the midst of the Great Depression in 1932.
The accumulation of profit results in value accumulation. Value accumulation is reflected in steadily higher stock prices over time. Short sellers, then, are faced with a daunting hurdle. They have to overcome an average 40-45 per cent value increase in equities (7-8 per cent compounded) every five years just to break even (before costs).
The long-only investor has one burden while the short seller has two. The long-only investor needs to get the value right (undervaluation). The short seller has to get both the value right (overvaluation) and the timing as well. While long-only investors can sit on their hands and wait for better prices, time causes unrelenting pressure on the short seller because of high carrying costs.
It should come as no surprise, then, that history’s great investors, such as Warren Buffett, have passed on the opportunity to short stocks. Buffett could identify the obvious overvaluation of technology stocks in the late 1990s, for example, but, because he could not predict timing, he passed on the opportunity to go short.
Sophisticated investors that understand value do not need short sellers. At no extra cost, exceptional long-only managers already hedge against valuation risk by buying stocks at a discount. In the midst of a bear market, this hedge is magnified because they are able to buy stocks even cheaper. While the benefit may not be evidently coincident with a bear market, it shows up later in the form of robust performance.
Cash is a vastly superior hedge to short selling. For no fee, investors can get a government-guaranteed return over and above inflation for their cash holdings. A portfolio that is, for example, 80 per cent long and 20 per cent invested in inflation-indexed Treasuries is vastly superior to one that is 80 per cent long and 20 per cent short. That is because an allocation to short selling is a certain loser over the long term and one to inflation-adjusted Treasuries is a certain winner.
Arne Alsin is a portfolio manager for Alsin Capital and for the Turnaround fund.
arne@alsincapital.com
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2006
OT for Obywan:
Please e-mail me or give me an address where you can be reached.
Thanks,
GK
Sorry for the mix-up, qlt!
Even thought it's a few weeks away we'll look forward to hearing what you have to say upon your return!
Again, my apologies!
gktignol
Obywan,
Please re-read my post and likewise consider some of the other options mentioned.
I have noted your request and will advise what, if any actions can / will be taken.
Please feel free to e-mail me at gktignol@bigstring.com if you have additional questions.
Thanks!
gktignol
Hoosier,
Just another example of a very helpful, informative post.
"the award-winning Innovations Honorees"
I believe that includes us!
Who here plans to attend? plf, did you say you were going?
Thanks!
gktignol
SPTNWS,
Thanks for the post and for understanding.
Open minded? I hope so; at least to a point. Where is that "point" crossed? Someone once said of another, "They're so open minded I think their brains fell out!" I don't know the author of that quote, but it has always stuck with me. It's a balancing act, that's for sure.
Thanks for your help in trying to keep us on track.
gktignol
Hoosier,
You said, in part, "Is somebody checking with those companies to see why they're making the fatal mistake of not having a booth at this year's show?"
That is indeed a relevant, albeit rhetorical question that had to be asked. Thanks for the post and for providing a (missing) crucial component of the equation.
regards,
gktignol
Hoosier,
I've recently given some thought to implementing what would be known as the "Post of the Week" link. Although I haven't thought it all the way thru, it would roughly work like this:
Once a week the moderators would take "nominations" from the community on a particular post from the previous week they deemed to be the most helpful in enlightening or otherwise informing the readers of some aspect of Integral Technnologies that may have gone unnoticed or otherwise under appreciated. Once selected, a link to that particular post would be placed in our "info box" (at the top of the page) as a handy reference for others who may come here seeking additional information. We would repeat the process each week. The previous week's winner's links would remain in the header page and would form a "rolling DD links" access point.
I said all of that to say this: If that were in place now I believe you would have several that qualify for such an honor. Good work!
Thanks for your positive contributions!
gktignol
Obywan,
Based on the responses I've seen over the past few weeks I'd guess 9 out of 10 people who post here probably agree with your request. As moderator of a public board, however, I cannot "ban" anyone from posting. Those who truly warrant such action usually end up "doing themselves in" by their own actions that flagrantly violate iHub's tou policy.
That's where you (and others) come in. If you see a post that you think violates iHub's TOU let me know --- I may not have seen it, or simply misread it and "missed" something. You may also contact iHub's Admin Dept directly by using the "contact us" button at the bottom of the page -- feel free to voice your displeasure there as well!
My role (in my view) is to remain as impartial as possible (not always an easy task!); encourage meaningful, helpful dialogue that will benefit all; monitor the board to make sure the TOU policy is being followed; delete those posts that fall outside the boundaries of what's acceptable; etc., etc.
Here's some things from the TOU policy that may help you. The first comment is only one of several bullet points found under the heading Using Information on iHub but the one that may be most helpful to you:
iHub has only moderated boards and it is largely a self-policing discussion site, which means that our site administrators will respond and react to e-mails received from members regarding violations of the Terms of Use. Upon receipt of such e-mails, the iHub Admin can and may take appropriate action (at their sole discretion), including, but not limited to the removal of post(s) and the suspension or termination of account(s). (emphasis mine - Moderator) Chances are - if you're honest, sincere, and civil with your posts - you will never have to worry about having a post removed
Member Conduct
Your conduct when using iHub should reflect an appropriate respect and consideration for the other members of the site.
iHub reserves the right to remove or restore posts at its discretion.
By posting information in or otherwise using any communications service, chat room, message board, newsgroup, other interactive service that may be available to you on or through this site, you agree that you will not upload, post, or otherwise distribute or facilitate distribution of any content -- including text, communications, software, images, sounds, data, or other information -- that:
1) is unlawful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory, libelous, deceptive, fraudulent, invasive of another's privacy, tortious, contains explicit or graphic descriptions or accounts of sexual acts or otherwise violates Investors Hub's rules or policies;
2) victimizes, harasses, degrades, or intimidates an individual or group of individuals on the basis of religion, gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, age, or disability;
3) infringes on any patent, trademark, trade secret, copyright, right of publicity, or other proprietary right of any party. If you believe your copyright or intellectual property rights have been infringed, please refer to our Copyright and Intellectual Property Agent for Notice page.
4) contains software viruses or any other computer code, files, or programs that are designed or intended to disrupt, damage, or limit the functioning of any software, hardware, or telecommunications equipment or to damage or obtain unauthorized access to any data or other information of any third party; or
5)impersonates any person or entity, including any employee or representative of Investors Hub.
6) constitutes unauthorized or unsolicited advertising, junk or bulk e-mail (also known as "spamming"), chain letters, any other form of unauthorized solicitation, or any form of lottery or gambling;
7) harvests or collects information about the users or members of this site or use such information for the purpose of transmitting or facilitating transmission of unsolicited bulk electronic e-mail or communications or any other purpose.
8) misuses the words "your" and "you're."
9) constitutes spam, which is defined as:
Posting about a stock(s) that is not relevant to the board you are posting to;
Continually posting the same or similar information;
Posting statements that do not add value to the discussion;
Posting excessively on one or more message board(s);
As well posting something that is completely off-topic to the current discussion.
For disputes regarding the rules or deletions, talk to Matt.
10) constitutes a personal attack, which is defined as:
Posting harassing or otherwise objectionable content on another poster;
Calling another poster names or being vulgar;
Not staying on topic with the current investment discussion, but instead focusing on an individual poster;
It appears that point number 9 of the above is where most of your concerns lie. Please let me know of a post of particular concern that falls within these confines and I'll take it from there.
Thanks,
gktignol
November 28, 2006 @ 2:03 pm
NY,
I agree with you for the most part, but some are just so blatant they deserve a rebuttal. Don't worry, I haven't the time or desire to enter into a protracted debate with anyone.
Regards,
GK
You (and he) are wrong........
"....an independent panel of judges evaluated more than 1,000 entries from over 160 companies."
I don't believe all 1000 entries, nor the 160 companies behind those entries received the "exposure" you're referring to, let alone winning the CES Innovations 2007 Design and Engineering Award in the Enabling Technologies product category.
You are wrong.......
Here's the truth about the MicroCap securities TS held as of 3 October. When his positions change he updates his disclosure.
http://www.changewave.com/microcap/disclosure.html
Thanks for the post, SPTNWS.....
A quick count showed there to be 40+ judges from every walk of life, with expertise in the areas of consulting, product / industrial design, consumer electronics, print media, research, engineering, and a self-described "citizen of the planet" thrown in for good measure.
My only question is this: "I wonder how much it cost them to "pay off" 40+ judges (who are leaders in their fields of endeavor) to get them to swing the votes their direction?" haha
gktignol
Here's a little different approach.....
.....to the news, with more of the focus on the CES itself.
http://webcast.broadcastnewsroom.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=79936
You do the leg work on this one:
Who sits on the "independent panel" of judges?
So much for second-guessing......
"The preeminent panel of judges evaluates products based on these weighted criteria: (1) The product's intended use/function and user value (2) Engineering qualities of the product, including technical specifications and materials used (3) Unique and novel features (4) Contributions to the quality of life (5) Aesthetic and design qualities (using visuals provided) (6) Impact on the manufacturer's business model."
And after all of that, they came to this conclusion:
"Not only was Integral's ElectriPlast™ selected as an Innovations 2007 honoree but the judges also awarded it one of the highest scores in the Enabling Technologies product category."
Collusion Theories....
"This year, an independent panel of judges evaluated more than 1,000 entries from over 160 companies."
So much for collusion, eh?
From the release....
"Engineers now have the moldable design flexibility to better utilize valuable and shrinking real estate within electronic devices, including thermal and acoustical management. ElectriPlast™ carries electrical currents as capably as silver, copper or even superconductors."
It carries currents as capably as copper and is 80% lighter. How many different directions do you want to go with that factoid alone?
gktignol
Hoosier06,
Thanks for posting!
Let's see......Integral and Intel won the "Best of Innovations 2007" award in the Enabling Technologies category. Not too shabby of company they're keeping, eh?
http://www.cesweb.org/attendees/awards/innovations/rd_2007honorees.asp?category=133