Member Info for Qd22

Thanks for the news on solar, Gotrader. 2 years ago they claimed - talking of their own product I believe - "Solar panels are largely made from silicon, which is inherently inefficient in converting sunlight into electricity, typically achieving efficiencies of only 15-20%. In contrast, compound semiconductors are significantly more efficient, and today deliver efficiencies of over 44%. Furthermore, there is a technology roadmap to increase this efficiency to over 50%." Due to it's expense the main target market seemed to be space, where the light is very intense and due to the cost of getting stuff up there the cost of the cells themselves are hardly an issue.

But recently it seemed to have dropped off the map.

Now this. Insolight "has patented [an] optical system [that] concentrates light onto an array of tiny space-grade multi-junction photovoltaic cells. The panel’s protective glass embeds a grid of lenses which concentrate light by several hundred times. Under this optical layer, direct sunlight is focused on an array of high-performance space-grade solar cells." And IQE is part of it.

https://renewablesnow.com/news/solar-panels-of-swiss-insolight-achieve-efficiency-of-29-644004/

https://renewablesnow.com/news/swiss-solar-start-up-announces-364-panel-efficiency-539314/ - from 2 years ago, I think.

It looks like they are using very specialised lenses to focus light on very small bits of very high efficiency PV cells, probably produced by IQE. The differences in efficiency quoted between the present panel, 29% [ie over 10% more than normal panels], and the original 2 years ago, 36.4%, may be because an over-engineered lab prototype may be too expensive to mass produce (otherwise the discrepancies are worrying - but EU funding is some reassurance of integrity: somebody had to justify spending that money), so they've gone for a simpler but less efficient model.

Finally, "Over the last two years, our team has brought the product from a lab prototype to a full-size solar panel, connected to the grid and monitored 24/7. Our system has been extensively tested and we are now preparing an industrialization strategy for large-scale production", says Mathieu Ackermann, CTO of Insolight.

As per Gotrader they have "been awarded €10.6 million in funding by the European Union. This grant will aid in establishing a pilot assembly line"

Lots of people are working in this area, but this is now going into trial production, and has EU support behind it, both money and '16-member consortium of research organizations and leading industry partners'. That sounds like ongoing development resources.

It's a gigantic market....... Could save the world....... Jam tomorrow [week!]...... :)))

PS I wish I wasn't in this share, cos I would just love to be able to buy in at this level. Wow! :)

I am struck by the fact that in spite of all the worldwide negative factors they do lay out they expect basically a 45/55% H1/H2 revenue split. That's a hefty rise: 22%?? [If my maths is rubbish, please correct me!] And we are over a third of the way through H2, so they must have some good indications by now. Given their forced drop in expectations a little while back I don't think they would want to repeat the exercise.

Also I like this: "IQE supplies the whole market and is agnostic to the winners and losers at chip and OEM level." Think about it: that's a pretty useful statement.

As always well over 90% of the trades are automated, unlike many other shares. Does this mean the IQE SP is nearly completely governed at present by automatic computerised trading not on the basis of the news at all but simply on technical indicators, ie trends? Sounds like nothing more than vicious circles to me. I don't know more than Investopedia tells me, so if anyone does please enlighten me.

Considering what is supposed to be happening it's all gone very quiet! I wonder what the timescale is.

Thanks for really useful info and discussion. Will watch and wait....

Yes, glad I followed you in here, Rivaldo: these look great. And it's a play on gold, which could be a good move now. Tempted to top up.

PS I can't help thinking it's also a great advert, especially for business in the US, but also elsewhere. To be supplying both the US DoD and USAF must put them straight on the shortlist of anyone looking to purchase in this space. It's a certificate of competence.

NB RNS 18th April where a similar 'bpa' was awarded by the US Department of Defence. I was expecting that the DoD would cover the individual forces, it appears that it does not, but this reinforces that SIM is getting it's feet well under the table as a supplier with the US military: and there may be room for further bpa's with both the navy and army. With 2 of the 4 so far it's looking very good.

The Hong Kong troubles are complicating things, and may do so further. The mainland students are and will always remain completely loyal to China, and the Chinese view of the world. Employers and users of Hwawei tech should be aware of that.

Thanks Gotrader, for clarifying that - and patiently too!

Agreed. Seems TOO CHEAP BY FAR. Why on earth would they want this?

Might someone else come in??

"SimiGon, Ltd. (LSE: SIM), a global leader in modelling, simulation and training solutions, is pleased to announce that it was awarded a further strategic contract with the United States Air Force ("USAF") to provide Virtual Reality (VR) systems for Columbus Air Force Base (the "Contract").

This Contract further strengthens SimiGon's position in providing Virtual and Mixed Reality technologies for training.

Awarded as part of a USAF-wide, rapid innovation effort, the Contract clearly demonstrates to the market that SimiGon is a reliable integrator and supplier of VR and MR systems for its clients."

So the recent BPA may be working. Hope so as I went in head over heels on that basis. Market cap and cash may be almost on a par now. High potential business in for free, but so far a loss making business. So more contracts will be very good news.

Qualifies for 2 screens on Stockopedia, interestingly while one is in Bargain - expected - there is also one in Quality: R&D breakthrough.

"Patience, my boy, patience..."

PS. The scary bit is that "rapid innovation effort". Why would that be happening in the US DoD?? The premise of the BPA seems to me to be that speed is more important than value for them at the moment - not that SIM is not value for money, but that they don't want departments taking time on long term hunts for the ultimate bargain but getting on with it. In summary, what are they gearing up for?

Agree that the figures won't look up till H2 results, though the September update will give us a much more positive slant on top of the H1 figures. But the H2 figures could be really great, and I don't want to be out of the share in the run up from now till then. Investors Chronicle are always down on IQE, but they never give good reasons, and their record has been so bad on other shares I have looked at/bought that now if I am considering buying I heave a sigh of relief if I see they are sellers. Really. And for me this RNS really has important content: contracts are contracts. As for capacity, I went round the plant on AGM day, and at the moment there is room for 100 machines, of which 10 are in place and 4 in production. So even if the current machines were at maximum output, which I think is unlikely, they could bring another 6 online very soon. They will know now what the demands of the next few months will be. Roll on when all 6 really are needed! Still absolutely a strong buy.

Anything less would be gutting, this is a really promising business. The contracts and openings - and awards - just keep on coming. The possibilities are widening (into hospitals, for example). I don't really see why they are even considering (ie wanting to?) selling: the combination of being cheap a nd people wanting to buy seems to me a reason to hold, not sell. The enquirers just want a bargain. Doesn't add up. The new chair, Bill Russell, is based is the US. I don't mean to slang him but I wonder what real connection he has with the business. Maybe if his connection is pretty small, and ACSO is small fry compared to what he is used to, does he just see the opportunity for a quick buck for all involved? I can also see why some of his mates in US tech might be very interested in this and be pushing for the opportunity. I just hope there have been several enquirers, and not just 2. It's really a good company. Don't lets sell it off cheap.

...totalling £60. :)

Agree re the goose posts. If you back it, say so and say why. If not, say so too, and say why. Always astonishes me how when a share's done well people appear saying how it will double and treble - or more - from there, but never justify it. Likewise at the other end. Not being an accountant it's one of the things I look for in a top, or bottom: psychology has its role to play, especially at the extremes. But I really read carefully those who put out the facts, and the reasons for the stances they are taking. Thanks to all who do!

I would like to invest here. But they sell to a certain large country, which is using camera tech not only to imprison +/- 1,000,000 people in camps in its far west, but also to monitor the rest, even for facial expression indicating contentedness or otherwise and thus threat level. No.

"APAC revenues grew by 45%, represented by growth of 35% in Australia, 267% in ***** where the Group’s software was selected for ********* Airport, to manage a network of 9,100 cameras, and 26% in South East Asia."

Last year got an update and results till June at end of July. It's a lovely dividend, but it will be nice to get some news.

I am not a member and can access it. Useful read, thanks for posting it.