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10 Dec 2009 08:50
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10 DecemberΒ 2009Β Β
Acta S.p.A.Β ("Acta" or the "Company")
Trade Show and Product Launch Update
Acta,Β the clean-tech catalysts and products company,Β isΒ delightedΒ to announceΒ the success of its programme of trade shows for the launch of the Acta Energy hydrogen generator and fuel cell product range.
As announced on 22ndΒ October, the company has attendedΒ a programme of four trade shows during November and early December to launch its innovative, low cost, hydrogen generator for recharging fuel cell products and applications. AΒ number of initial orders have been received during the trade show programme for theΒ hydrogen generator, as well as for the fuel cell products being promoted at the shows (power generators, nautical electric outboard motors,Β and electric bicycles, designed for easy plug-and-play recharging from the hydrogen generator). TheseΒ orders will be shipped during January 2010, in line with the Company's commercial growth strategyΒ and timingΒ as announced previously.
ParticularlyΒ encouragingΒ was the high level of commercial interest shown in the Company's products by original equipment manufacturers, distributors and agents coming from severalΒ productΒ sectors (camping, nautical, domestic appliances, e-cycles, e-scooters) andΒ application areas (hydrogen injection for clean-burning diesel, telecoms UPS, hybrid boat power systems, autonomous domestic power systems). Distribution requests and project partnership requests were also received fromΒ many countryΒ locations, including Germany, France, Italy,Β Benelux, Finland,Β Spain, Portugal, Greece, Turkey, Canada, the Middle East, Nigeria, Australia and New Zealand.
Strong demand was seen in the nautical sector, whereΒ the opportunity to develop a premium clean energy application was evident (renewable power generation from solar and wind, stored onboard as hydrogen, and used forΒ noiselessΒ night-time electrical power). Such an application appears to be well suited forΒ introduction withinΒ the yachtΒ market, where environmental and ecological considerations are often at a premium, and may thereafter be extended to clean power systems for remote (autonomous)Β buildingsΒ and zero-carbon homes.Β
The Company's products alsoΒ attracted considerable interest fromΒ public and trade visitors atΒ the BolognaΒ International Motor Show, whichΒ concluded on 8 DecemberΒ and was attended by more than 400,000 visitors. The Company's electric fuel cell bicycle and hydrogen generator were presented as first prize to the Finnish rally champion, Mikko Hirvonen, for his victory in the Bettega Memorial Rally competition which took place during the Motor Show, and were described by Mr Hirvonen at the prize presentation as "a wonderful gift".
The Company has now completed the four shows originally scheduled for the programme, and in addition isΒ nowΒ exhibiting at theΒ Paris International Boat Show (5Β December to 13Β December), following an invitation to co-exhibit at the show. ThisΒ invitation was extended to the Company at the Amsterdam METS show (nautical accessories)Β by one of France's leadingΒ distributors of marine accessories, as a result of theirΒ keen interestΒ in the commercial potential of theΒ Company's products within the yachting and boatingΒ markets.
PaoloΒ Bert, Chief Executive,Β Acta,Β said:
"Following the successΒ of the trade show programmeΒ andΒ theΒ positive commercial feedback that we have received,Β Acta willΒ nowΒ be entering the next phase of its commercial development plan. This will involve the negotiation of distribution partnerships with distributors and original equipment manufacturers, includingΒ agreementsΒ with those distributors which have beenΒ alreadyΒ identifiedΒ through the trade show programme and with which we are now in discussions. Initial product shipment will begin in January 2010, and the CompanyΒ will beΒ increasing its production facilities in tandem with commercial demand,Β over the first half of 2010, with a view to commencing supply in commercial volumes in the second half of 2010.
We are aware that the next stage of the Company's growth will be challenging,Β and while the shipment of initial orders will not have a significant impact on the company's financial performance in 2010,Β we are delighted with theΒ level of interest that our unique hydrogen generator has attracted, andΒ we expectΒ this to lead to theΒ signingΒ ofΒ distributor agreements during the first quarter of 2010. We will be managing our commercial development programme carefully and look forward to keeping our shareholders up to date on our progress."
-Β Ends -
For further information please contact:
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Acta S.p.A: |
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Paul Barritt, Chief Financial Officer |
Tel: +39 050 644281 |
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Charles Stanley SecuritiesΒ (Nominated Adviser): |
Tel: +44 (0) 20Β 7149 6000 |
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Russell CookΒ /Β Freddy CrossleyΒ |
Notes to Editors
About ActaΒ
Acta develops and manufacturesΒ clean technology products andΒ unique patented catalysts whichΒ have beenΒ launched to the renewable energy, automotive, battery and industrialΒ markets. Acta is also developing other commercial opportunities using its catalysts for industrial waste treatment.
Acta's catalysts and alkaline system know-how are at the heart of the Company's development of a new, high pressure water electrolyser technology which has demonstrated low cost, platinum free, high pressure hydrogen generation. Combined with a platinum free fuel cell, the system offers a solution to the problem ofΒ how to store surplus energy produced from large scale, intermittent renewable energy sources (eg wind farms). In addition, the low cost, small size and simplicity of the hydrogen generator makes it ideally suited as a recharger of commercial fuel cell applications (fuel cell bikes, electrical generators, UPS systems, etc).
Acta's catalystsΒ are also undergoing customer tests in applications such as ammonia treatment (removal of ammonia from an industrial waste stream), and zinc-air batteries (a high performance and environmentally friendly battery technology), as well as fuel cell and other applications.
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