Today Vice President Dick Cheney toured the production and laboratory facilities of NexTech Materials, Ltd and addressed the employees and guests.  During his visit Mr. Cheney discussed fuel cell technology and energy issues and congratulated Bill Dawson, President/CEO of NexTech, Scott Swartz, CTO and co-founder, and all the employees for creating “a model of entrepreneurship and growth for small businesses all over the country.”

Mr. Cheney addressed the importance of new technology, including fuel cells and nanotechnology, in helping to reduce our dependence on foreign energy sources and providing a cleaner future. “As you know well, here at NexTech, a healthy growing economy also depends on affordable, reliable supplies of energy.”  NexTech researches, develops and manufactures advanced ceramic materials and components for energy and defense applications.

Mr. Dawson welcomed the opportunity to discuss fuel cells, particularly solid oxide fuel cells. “I believe I was successful in conveying to the Vice President the importance of fuel cell technology to our country’s energy security.”

Fuel cells convert the energy in a fuel (hydrogen, natural gas, etc.) to electricity by electrochemical processes instead of combustion (burning) and mechanical motion (engine-generators).  The electrochemical processes are inherently more efficient than mechanical techniques and fuel cells can reach over 70% efficiency when operated as hybrids such as combined-heat-and-power (CHP) or fuel cell-microturbine devices (for enhanced efficiencies).  NexTech Materials has specific programs to develop materials and components for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs).  SOFCs operate at high temperatures and offer the advantage of being able to operate using natural gas, diesel fuel and other hydrocarbons in addition to pure hydrogen.  Thus they provide an important interim step as we move towards the hydrogen economy.  Solid oxide fuel cells can be used in a variety of applications, most importantly stationary distributed power and auxiliary power units for aerospace, truck and military applications.  They are key devices for expanding our personal freedoms by placing power where we need it, reducing our dependence on foreign fuel sources through increased efficiency, and enhancing the quality of life by decreasing the polluting emissions caused by combustion.

The Vice President discussed various White House policies and goals, including incentives that aide small business.  According to Matt Seabaugh, Fuel Cell Team Leader at NexTech “the changes to the tax code have been helpful to us and allowed us to expand and hire employees.”  NexTech Materials, Ltd. now employs 35 people, mostly scientists and engineers.

NexTech Materials, Ltd. is a leading developer and supplier of materials and components for the fuel cell industry and is dedicated to reducing the manufacturing and operating costs of fuel cells.  NexTech's customers are located in over 25 countries and include leading researchers, developers and manufacturers throughout the world.  NexTech Materials, Ltd. was founded as a privately held company in 1994 and has grown by 35% per year on average.  NexTech recently expanded its manufacturing and R&D facilities located in Lewis Center Ohio.  NexTech has over 20 ongoing R&D projects aimed at development of cutting edge materials and component manufacturing technologies.  For additional information about NexTech Materials, Ltd., please call (614) 842-6606 or visit our web site http://www.nextechmaterials.com.


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Contact:
Jon Foreman, Sales and Marketing Manager
NexTech Materials, Ltd.
404 Enterprise Drive
Lewis Center, OH 43035
(614) 842-6606, extension 110
e-mail: foreman@nextechmaterials.com