26 Oct 2009 07:00
Zenergy Power plc
('Zenergy' or the 'Group')
Induction Heater Order
Zenergy Power plc (AIM:ZEN.L), the superconductor energy technology company, is pleased to announce that it has, in conjunction with its industrial manufacturing and sales partner Bültmann GmbH, received a further order for a low-energy/high-productivity superconductor induction heater. Known as the Magnetic Billet Heater ('MBH'), the high performance machine has been purchased by a major industrial producer of metal goods for the volume intensive heating of copper alloy billets.
Accordingly, the Group is pleased to note that its superconductor MBH has now been considered commercially favourable by four separate industrial metals producers over both conventional induction heater technology and gas powered heater technology. Equally satisfying is that following the completion of this latest sale, two of the Group's units will have been purchased for heating copper billets and two will have been purchased for heating aluminium billets.
The MBH achieves its superior heating standards by employing Zenergy Power's proprietary superconductor technology which delivers considerable improvements in heating quality and consistency, output flexibility, just-in-time production capability and overall commercial competitiveness. Further to these improvements in heating performance, the superconductor components also result in very low energy requirements and greatly increased productivity levels - yielding significant cost savings and margin improvements. Operating data received from Zenergy Power's first customer, Weseralu GmbH, has already proven that using high-efficiency superconductor components reduces by half the amount of electricity typically consumed during the heating of metal billets, whilst at the same time increasing productivity levels by 25%.
Jens Mueller, CEO, commented:
'To secure this further order during these uncertain economic times is a fantastic endorsement of the economic benefits that our superconductor technology delivers to industry. We offer industrial customers a radical improvement to how they carry out their heating processes which consequently creates significant operational cost savings and the purchase of a fourth machine by another leading metals producer is evidence that the industry itself is acknowledging this.'
As with all of Zenergy Power's commercial applications, the Group is focussed on the development of the patented superconductor components that lie at the heart of the MBH which govern its overall heating performance and greatly reduced energy requirements.
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Further information
| Andrew Tan | Zenergy Power Plc | + 49 2226 9060 668 |
| David Bick | Square1 Consulting Ltd | + 44 207 929 5599 |
| Andrew Godber/Adam Pollock | Panmure Gordon & Co | + 44 207 459 3600 |
| Kam Bansil/Rory Scott | Mirabaud Securities Limited | + 44 207 866 0244 |
About Zenergy Power plc
Zenergy Power plc is a superconductor energy technology company, listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange and comprising three operating subsidiaries located in Germany, USA and Australia. By innovating superconductor based technology solutions, the Group provides patented clean energy devices that greatly improve the efficiency with which customers generate, distribute and use electrical energy.
To date, the incredibly energy efficient superconductive components at the heart of Zenergy's products have successfully delivered industrial customers significant reductions in energy consumption and provided utility companies with cutting-edge smart gird solutions. Looking to the near future, the Group is also developing a range of highly-energy efficient superconductor components for electricity generators capable of greatly reducing the cost of producing offshore wind power. All of which leads to the production of fewer carbon emissions in the world and a more sustainable economic growth path. In 2007 Zenergy achieved the world's first sale of an industrial scale commercial application incorporating superconductor technology and has subsequently developed products capable of addressing multi-billion dollar global markets.
About Magnetic Heating
Conventional induction heaters are used globally and ubiquitously by producers and manufacturers of metal goods for heating and softening large quantities of metal bulk prior to carrying out processes of manipulation and shaping. Currently, these processes require the consumption of vast amounts of electrical energy and studies have shown that between 1% and 5% of an industrialised country's annual electricity consumption can be directly attributed to this. It is in consideration of the associated costs and environmental impact of this excessive energy consumption that the Group's superconductor machine has been designed to operate with energy efficiency levels of over 85% as compared to conventional machines that operate with efficiency levels of between 35% and 45%. This effective halving of electricity requirement is of particular interest to customers, regulators and governments alike when considering the significant role that the Group's machine can play in reducing CO2 emissions in line with international targets.
About superconductivity
Superconductive materials are capable of conducting electricity without any resistance and were first discovered in 1911 in what was to prove to be one of the most significant scientific breakthroughs of the 20th century.
Superconductors enable:
(a) Induction Heaters to be twice as efficient for the metals industry
(b) Fault Current Limiters to protect power grids from blackouts (c) Direct-drive wind generators to be significantly reduced in size and weight allowing the operation of wind generators in excess of 8 MW(d) Existing hydro-power sites to increase energy efficiency and electrical power output.