Solicore Announces Partnership With Asia Industry Development Company To Distribute Thin Batteries In Japan
Solicore announced a partnership with Tokyo-based Asia Industry Development Co., Ltd. (AID) for the distribution of its paper-thin Flexion® battery to select accounts within Japan.
As a multi-segmented international import/export company, AID currently provides batteries and battery chargers to a number of electronics manufacturers including Canon, Casio, Sharp and Seiko-Epson, as well as companies developing powered card and RFID applications for both the consumer and the industrial markets. This agreement is said to strengthen Solicore’s position as an embedded power solution provider for various applications in the Japanese market.
Solicore claims that, as the use of prepaid credit card and RFID enabled transit cards have gained popularity, demand for greater functionality and increased security has driven a need for a thin, lightweight embedded power source. The alliance with AID allows Solicore to increase the visibility of its unique flagship product, the Flexion batteries, in Japan’s marketplace by leveraging AID’s nearly 40 years of experience and established relationships.
"Our clients are always striving to enhance miniaturization and looking for ways to make their products smaller and more convenient; however, they have been confined due to the limitations in the available power solutions. We receive numerous requests for thin film batteries for use in powered card applications, but we didn’t have a supplier that made one," stated AID President Tomo Wakabayashi. "Solicore’s ultra-thin, flexible Flexion batteries met the needs of our clients and provided the perfect complement to our existing battery portfolio."
Japan’s rapidly developing smart card market, particularly in the areas of prepaid credit cards and RFID enabled transit cards, make it an important arena in which Solicore looks to establish a strong presence. Solicore thinks that AID’s extensive knowledge of the market and existing network of connections will enable them to determine how and where to introduce Flexion batteries for new applications.
"The Japanese market is expanding so rapidly that it is difficult for international companies to know where opportunities are arising or how to most effectively capitalize on those opportunities," stated Solicore CEO David Corey. "AID’s local knowledge base will direct us down avenues to find the best possible fit for out Flexion batteries. They are also able to introduce us to a number of key Japanese companies, lending their well-established credibility to our Flexion batteries."
