Zenergy Power plc, the specialist manufacturer and developer of commercial applications for high-temperature superconductive (’HTS’) materials, announced that it has commenced a major extension of its manufacturing facility based in Rheinbach, Germany. The extension will significantly improve the capacity of the facility enabling the company to accommodate the anticipated increased volume production of what it describes as its ground-breaking HTS induction heater over the coming years. The extension also assigns sufficient expansion capability for the manufacturing of HTS magnets for HTS Fault Current Limiters (’FCL’), as well as coils and 2G wires.
The 50% expansion of Zenergy’s manufacturing facility to 3,300m2 has been undertaken at this time to significantly increase its production capabilities in anticipation of increased commercial order flow following the recent successful commercial launch of its HTS induction heater; the first of the company’s energy efficient products based on its proprietary HTS technology.
Zenergy states that the potential market for induction heaters is estimated at €2 billion per annum and the company has already received two commercial orders for its HTS induction heater from two different global metals producers. The first of the machines was installed and became fully operational at the industrial manufacturing premises of the company’s first customer Weseralu GmbH, in Minden, Germany in July 2008. Consequently, Zenergy’s technology is now available for demonstration to potential customers and initial feedback indicates the HTS induction heater has generated great interest for new installations as well as a replacement for conventional units that are reaching the end of their life cycles.
In line with Zenergy’s efforts to be an environmentally responsible and energy efficient business, the manufacturing facility and its extension – due to be completed in March 2009 – are compliant with all EU energy efficiency standards for industrial plants. In addition, the power supplied to the facility is 100% renewably generated, thus CO2 free and certified by TUV Sud, under CMS Standard EE 01.
The facility, which is currently leased by Zenergy, is also subject to a call option permitting Zenergy the right to purchase on request. It is the intention of the company to secure the long-term ownership of the facilities at a time when their purchase represents the most appropriate use of the company’s cash resources.
