2nd Oct 2009 12:29
2 October 2009
CERAMIC FUEL CELLS OPENS HIGH VOLUME FUEL CELL MANUFACTURING PLANT
Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited (AIM / ASX: CFU) a leading developer of high efficiency and low emission power products for homes, today officially opened its high volume manufacturing plant, one of the first in the world for the volume production of solid oxide fuel cell stacks.
Ceramic Fuel Cells makes fuel cell 'modules' which appliance companies can integrate into different products for many large global markets. The first products to be powered by the Company's fuel cells will be compact generators for homes and other buildings that produce low emission power as well as heat for hot water or space heating. These products will meet the growing need for energy whilst also reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The manufacturing plant is located in an existing 4,200m2 building in the Industriepark Oberbruch, 40 minutes' drive from Dusseldorf in the North Rhine-Westphalia region of Germany.
The plant has a design capacity of 10,000 fuel cell stacks per year. Ceramic Fuel Cell's investment in the plant construction, including state of the art automated manufacturing equipment, will total 9.5 million Euros. All pieces of equipment have been commissioned on-site and are operational.
The plant was officially opened by Dr Jens Baganz, State Secretary for the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, before more than 100 invited guests, including Government representatives and key customers, suppliers, investors and media.
State Secretary Dr. Baganz welcomed the start of fuel cell production in Heinsberg: "Fuel cells with high efficiency are a key technology of the future with significant economic potential. In Oberbruch it is now possible that a future industry can be developed. Given the global challenges of climate change, there are very promising market opportunities for fuel cell technology."
Ceramic Fuel Cells Chairman Mr Jeff Harding said: "On behalf of the Board of Ceramic Fuel Cells, we are delighted to open our factory in Heinsberg, Germany. This is an important milestone for the Company because it allows us to move from making expensive 'hand built' products to making semi-automated manufactured products at commercially competitive costs, and reflects two years' work from our staff and key suppliers. We look forward to our Heinsberg plant making fuel cell stacks to go into our clean energy products for Europe, Australia and other global markets."
The Company has employed four full time staff to manage the construction phase of the plant. The Company expects to hire more local staff next year as production increases to meet orders.
Ceramic Fuel Cells is developing clean energy products with leading appliance partners and utility customers in Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Japan. The Company has also developed a modular power and heat generator called BlueGen which will be available to selected customers in Europe and Australia from early 2010.
To meet future growth the plant can be expanded to a capacity of up to 160,000 fuel cell stacks per year in the same building. The Company also holds an option over a nearby parcel of land for future 'greenfield' expansion.
ENDS
A Background Paper on the Manufacturing Plant is available at www.cfcl.com.au.
For further information please contact:
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Ceramic Fuel Cells |
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Andrew Neilson |
Tel: +61 419 950 771 |
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Email: [email protected] |
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Frau Ferreira |
Tel: +49 (0) 2452 153752 |
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Email: [email protected] |
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Nomura Code Securities |
Tel: +44 (0) 207 776 1200 |
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Juliet Thompson / Chris Golden |
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German Media enquiries Matthias Baumgarten, PR Partner |
Tel: +49 172 850 4975 |
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UK Media enquiries Sarah MacLeod, Hogarth Partnership |
Tel: +44 7747 602 739 |
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Australia Media enquiries Richard Allen, Oxygen Financial Public Relations |
Tel: +613 9915 6341 |
About Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited
Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited is a world leader in developing solid oxide fuel cell technology to provide highly efficient and low-emission electricity from widely available natural gas. The company is developing products that generate electricity and heat for homes and other buildings. Ceramic Fuel Cells is working with leading appliance partners and utility customers in Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Japan. With operations in Australia, the UK and Germany, Ceramic Fuel Cells is listed on the London Stock Exchange AIM market and the Australian Securities Exchange (code CFU).
www.cfcl.com.au
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