| IdaTech
plc ('IdaTech' or the 'Company') (AIM IDA.L), a global leader in the development
and manufacturing of clean and reliable PEM fuel cell products for critical
backup power markets, today provides a pre-close update. The Company will
announce its preliminary results for the year ended 31 December 2007 on
19 March 2008.
Commercial Progress
IdaTech experienced a considerable
increase in demand during 2007 for its proprietary reformer-based systems,
with the mix of systems sold weighted towards the ElectraGen™ reformer-based
systems which consist of a fuel cell and integrated reformer. In total,
22 such systems (XTR and XTi systems) as well as 10 ElectraGenTM hydrogen-based
systems were sold and shipped in the year ended 31 December 2007.
This weighting highlights IdaTech's
reforming capability as a key competitive advantage and its ability to
break through the "hydrogen barrier" to fuel cell adoption in the telecommunications
industry.
Significantly, IdaTech has products
with ten major telecommunication groups, of which six are ranked in the
top ten telecommunications groups globally as measured by revenue. IdaTech
is certified as a vendor by five of these ten, having passed the critical
phase of test and evaluation. Additionally, IdaTech has progressed towards
field deployment of its systems as evidenced by the recent receipt for
delivery in early 2008 of an order for 10 ElectraGen™ reformer-based systems,
its largest order to date, from a large Latin American telecommunications
integrator.
IdaTech added seven new channel partners
in Central and South America, Europe and Asia, bringing the worldwide total
to 22 and laying the commercial foundation to support accelerated adoption
of IdaTech's products in regions IdaTech believes are key for fuel cell
systems in the telecommunications industry.
IdaTech is currently tendering for
a number of significant opportunities for field deployment of its systems.
As previously announced, IdaTech is currently awaiting final selection
by a major European telecommunications company.
In addition, the Company continues
to pursue the German funded fuel cell programme - the National Innovation
Programme. Shipments under this programme are expected to commence in 2008.
New Product Launches
In addition to the launch of the
ElectraGenTMXTi, a 5 kWe fully integrated fuel cell system, in September
2007, the Company launched the iGen™ fuel cell system for the industrial
market. This is a CE certified 250 watt integrated power generation solution
for charging batteries in industrial applications in December 2007. Operating
on a liquid fuel of methanol and water, the compact iGen™ system is designed
to work with battery packs and renewable energy systems such as solar and
wind power in challenging environments.
Potential applications for the industrial
iGen™ system include automated battery charging in signaling, sensing and
telemetry, security and telecommunications applications, including solar
and wind hybrid configurations.
Operational Progress
IdaTech's flexible, low cost volume
manufacturing facility in Tijuana, Mexico became fully operational, on
schedule and budget, in the second half of 2007 with a staged transfer
of production of systems from the main facility in Bend, USA.
By the end of the year, the Company
was successfully producing nearly all its ElectraGenTM systems in this
facility on schedule. During 2008, the reforming module and the production
of iGenTM will be transferred to Tijuana as planned. This manufacturing
strategy allows IdaTech to produce its products at a significantly lower
cost, is highly scalable and does not require large capital investment.
Technical Progress
During 2007, IdaTech demonstrated
its leadership in advanced fuel reforming, successfully delivering a dual-fuel
(diesel and military fuel) integrated system under a $3 million US Army
contract. The next phase, worth $2.6 million over two years, is currently
underway.
Under a separate contract, the Company
delivered a modified iGen™ portable power system, meeting or exceeding
its technical requirements and achieving an almost 48 per cent. size and
35 per cent. weight reduction compared with the standard Industrial iGen™.
Additionally, the Company worked
on its multiple private contracts for advanced development of its proprietary
metal membrane hydrogen purification technology, Hypurium™, for a range
of large scale industrial applications.
Outlook
IdaTech's commercial focus in 2008
is to build on the considerable success achieved during 2007 and to grow
the accounts established last year into initial field deployments, establish
new telecommunication customers and achieve approved vendor status with
new and existing telecommunications customers. IdaTech will also increase
its commercial efforts in relation to the iGen™ sub-1kWe product line.
The Company is also working to position itself to take advantage of regional
opportunities, such as the Federal Communications Commission ruling in
the USA, which requires wireless and landline operators to install emergency
backup power for the vast majority of their base stations commencing one
year after the ruling is approved.
The Company intends to continue advancing
IdaTech's technology in reforming and hydrogen purification through its
development programmes with government and private organisations and its
internal programmes.
Trading for 2007 was in line with
expectations and the Board is confident in achieving its objectives for
2008. As at 31 December 2007, the cash resources available to IdaTech were
ahead of expectations.
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