3 Nov 2008 09:02
Hightex Group plc ("Hightex")
Appointment of Head of International Sales for Solar Cooling Systems
3 November 2008
Hightex is delighted to announce that it has appointed Miles Schofield to the new position of Head of International Sales at SolarNext AG ("SolarNext"), its wholly owned subsidiary company.
SolarNext has developed an innovative solar cooling and heating system in kit form which can be retro-fitted to many kinds of structures, as well as installation in new buildings. Hightex has invested approximately €2 million in the design and development of this proprietary air-conditioning system, which is driven by solar thermal energy and controlled by an innovative controller which is the subject of international patent applications.
The R&D phase of the solar cooling product has been completed. In the half year ended 30 June 2008, demand for these systems led sales to reach approximately €350,000. So far, 23 systems have been installed in a number of countries. Customers include an office, a bank, an old peoples' home, a bakery, a winery, and residential buildings, among others.
Miles joins Hightex on 1 December 2008 from Sharp Electronics (U.K.) Ltd ("Sharp"), where he has been since 2001. He was most recently Solar Product Manager within Sharp's Solar Division with sole responsibility for the UK and Ireland. This appointment involved driving the photovoltaic division for Sharp across several channels from installers through distribution to energy creation. In addition he analysed and reported on the market, future tipping points and initiated new product development to suit. Before joining Sharp in 2001, Miles was Regional Sales Manager for a major international consumer electronics company.
Charles DesForges stated that "the Directors of Hightex are excited about the prospects for the solar cooling product, whose R&D phase has now been successfully completed. Response to market demand for a solar powered cooling and heating system can be seen as a first step towards the long-term replacement of electrical power as the preferred low carbon energy source to drive air-conditioning systems. Miles has exactly the relevant experience to drive forward sales of the Solar Cooling product."
Enquiries:
Charles DesForges, Chairman, Hightex Group plc +44 (0) 20 7603 1515
Jeff Keating, Teathers +44 (0) 20 7426 7716
Michael Parnes, Old Park Lane Capital plc +44 (0) 20 7493 8188
About Hightex
Hightex has a long history of building large span roofs and facades using architectural membranes, exemplified by the Berlin Stadium, Germany, used for the most recent FIFA World Cup Final in 2006. Hightex has been awarded two contracts in relation to the FIFA 2010 Football World Cup. Hightex is providing the membrane roof as part of the upgrading of the First National Bank (FNB) Stadium in Johannesburg, which will host finals of the FIFA 2010 Football World Cup as well as the façade for the Green Point 2010 Football World Cup Stadium in Cape Town.
In 2006 Hightex completed one of the largest membrane projects in the world, designing and constructing the energy-saving, sound-optimised, triple layer membrane roof for the Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand.