21 Apr 2008 07:00
Embargoed Release: 07:00hrs Monday 21st April 2008
Zenergy Power plc (`Zenergy' or the `Group') Zenergy's High Temperature Superconductor (`HTS') Induction Heater Wins Prestigious Hermes Award
Zenergy Power plc (AIM:ZEN.L), the specialist manufacturer and developer of commercial applications for high-temperature superconductor (`HTS') materials, is delighted to announce it is the proud recipient of the coveted Hermes Award. Regarded as one of the most prestigious annual technology prizes, the Hermes Award was presented to Zenergy at the opening of the 2008 Hannover Fair for its groundbreaking HTS induction heater; the first industrial application of its kind to employ superconductor technology to a widely used industrial process.
The Award was presented to Zenergy, in conjunction with its collaborative manufacturer Bƒ¼ltmann GmbH, at the opening ceremony of the Hannover Fair on 20th April 2008 in the presence of distinguished guests notably including the German Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel. The Hannover Fair was first established in 1947 and is the world's largest annual industrial technology exhibition, incorporating 10 flagship international tradeshows and over 6,400 exhibitors, which in turn attracts in excess of 240,000 visitors.
In addition to the honour of being only the fifth company to receive the Hermes Award, Zenergy is the beneficiary of what is acknowledged as the most generous international industrial prize of ¢â€š¬100,000. The Award is presented to the most exceptional new technical product that demonstrates substantial commercial benefit and has either undergone rigorous industrial trials or reached the industrial application stage.
The Group's HTS induction heater was chosen over a short-list of five finalists that were carefully selected from over 50 initial nominations from across a broad range of technologies. Zenergy joins an impressive list of previous winners including Bayer Technology Services, a division of Bayer AG, the multinational chemical and pharmaceutical company, and ifm Electronic GmbH, a global sensor company. The renowned judges presiding over the Award include Professor Wolfgang Wahlster, managing director of the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence and a member of the Nobel Prize Academy and Dr Wolf-Dieter Lukas, director general of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research.
The prestigious Award, which takes its name from Hermes, the Greek god of trade and commerce, was bestowed upon Zenergy for its cutting edge full scale HTS induction heater technology. Induction heaters are used by global producers and manufacturers in the metals industry to heat metal bulk that when softened can be manipulated and shaped for innumerable products in the automotive, aerospace and machine building industries. Traditional induction heaters use vast quantities of electricity, typically consuming between 1% and 5% of an industrial country's annual electricity requirements. Zenergy's high-performance induction heater employs proprietary and patented HTS materials and processes that not only permit the heater to enjoy superior product and manufacturing characteristics in comparison to conventional induction heaters, but also creates energy efficiency levels of over 90%, versus the energy efficiency levels of between 35% to 45% achieved by traditional heaters.
The Board believes Zenergy's achievement in winning the Hermes Award for its HTS induction heater serves as powerful recognition by its peers and industry leaders that it has pioneered the first industrial application to utilise superconductor technology to a common and widely used industrial process with the potential provision of significant energy savings. The Group has recently announced its second commercial order for its HTS induction heater for copper processing, just six months after the sale of the world's first HTS induction heater for aluminium processing. The induction heater market is currently estimated to be worth ¢â€š¬2 billion per annum.
As the winner of the Hermes Award, the HTS induction heater will be exhibited by the Group at the Hannover Fair in SuperConductingCity, part of the Research and Technology Show from 21 to 25 April 2008.
Dr. Jens Mƒ¼ller, Chief Executive, commented:
`To be pronounced the winner of the 2008 Hermes Award is testament to the technical and practical innovations that Zenergy is actively creating in the industrial applications arena as well as reinforcing our reputation as the forerunner of world-class HTS technology products. We greatly appreciate the recognition by our peers and prominent industry leaders and commentators that our HTS induction heater stands apart from conventional induction heaters as it delivers outstanding performance, amplifies productivity and, critically, it will double the energy efficiency levels of metals producers and manufacturers that face ever-increasing production and efficiency pressures throughout the globe.'
Dr. Annette Schavan, German Federal Minister for Education and Research, presenter of the Hermes Award commented:
`Zenergy's HTS induction heater is contributing towards the fight against climate change and helping to safeguard the environment. It clearly demonstrates that the classical engineering and electrotechnical industries are proving to be successful partners in our attempts at climate control.'
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About Zenergy Group plc
Zenergy Power plc is a global specialist manufacturer and developer of commercial applications for superconductive materials. Comprising three operating subsidiaries located in Germany, USA and Australia, the Group is developing a number of energy efficient applications to be adopted in renewable energy production, energy distribution and large scale, energy intensive industrial processes. Most notably, the Group was recently selected by E.ON AG to provide the HTS technology for the world's first superconductor hydroelectric power generator capable of delivering energy efficiency levels of greater than 98%. The ground breaking project is establishing the way in which the Group's products can substantially improve the economic return on the production of renewable energy and is partially funded by the European Union.
About Hannover Fair
Established sixty years ago, the Hannover Fair today ranks as the leading international showplace for industrial technologies materials and product ideas. The annual Hermes Award is one of the most lucrative and prestigious international technology prizes.
-Ends- www.zenergypower.com For Further Information:Dr. Jens Mƒ¼ller, CEO Zenergy Power plc + 49 22 26 90 60 200 Vikki Krause Hansard Group + 44 207 245 1100 Tom Hulme Landsbanki Securities + 44 207 426 9000 (UK) Limited
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