EaglePicher Selected to Supply Thermal Batteries to PATRIOT Missile Program
EaglePicher Technologies, LLC was selected to supply thermal batteries to the US Army Aviation and Missile Command’s Redstone Arsenal for its Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept of Target (PATRIOT) missile program.
The PATRIOT is the US Army's most advanced air defense system, capable of defeating both high performance aircraft and tactical ballistic missiles. EaglePicher has been a PATRIOT supplier for more than 20 years. This latest contract will support the Modular Midcourse Package, providing power for the electronics and guidance for the missile.
“EaglePicher is proud to be a part of this world-class missile program,” said Randy Moore, president of EaglePicher Technologies. “The PATRIOT is a critical tool to our men and women in the field, and this contract affirms EaglePicher’s position as a leading supplier of best-in-class, dependable batteries.”
Thermal batteries are used in missile systems and smart bombs due to the chemistry’s long, maintenance-free shelf life in a full range of temperatures, climates and dynamic environments. EaglePicher has qualified and manufactured more than 300 unique thermal battery designs to support a variety of markets including missiles, underwater, fuzes, aircraft and launchers.
EaglePicher will begin production of thermal batteries for the PATRIOT program in the first quarter of 2009 at the company’s Joplin, Mo., manufacturing facility.
Midtronics to Supply Essential Programming Tool for GM Hybrids
Midtronics has announced an agreement with General Motors, Inc. to supply a new essential tool for 2-Mode Hybrid vehicle programming support. The SPS Programming Support Tool EL-49642, based on the Midtronics PSC-550S power supply charger, is shipping as an essential tool to all General Motors dealers during the 4th quarter of 2008.
GM Service Operations determined that any fluctuation, spiking or loss of voltage will interrupt Service Programming System (SPS) programming events, resulting in controller lock up. Advanced technology vehicles such as the 2-mode Hybrid from GM, require a sequential SPS event where multiple modules are programmed in simultaneously.
The EL-49642 SPS Programming Support Tool provides precise voltage control and clean power, eliminating potential fluctuations and spiking, or a loss of voltage which could interrupt programming and cause a controller to lock up. The main function of this new tool is to act as a clean power supply during programming to avoid module failures. Even a fully charged vehicle battery can’t supply the necessary power for a successful SPS event and a reliable external power supply is required. GM has also stressed the importance of maintaining proper battery voltage during all SPS reprogramming events.
“Midtronics is very excited about our first Hybrid essential tool program in support of the GM 2-Mode Hybrid initiative,” said Mike Troy, vice president and general manager, Transportation Division. “The EL-49642 SPS Programming Support Tool continues our successful history with General Motors of supplying battery and electrical diagnostic and support equipment that started in 1998 with the launch of the Micro410 Digital Battery Analyzer,” Troy added.
EPA Honors Alcatel-Lucent for Its Work in Recycling Chemicals Used in Batteries Needed to Power Communications Systems
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized Alcatel-Lucent as one of its National Partnership for Environmental Priorities (NPEP) partners for its work in preventing harmful chemicals from entering the environment.
The EPA recognized the company for the success of battery recycling programs that were initiated three years ago and have resulted in the recycling of more than 2 million pounds of lead from lead acid batteries.
The batteries are part of the backup power systems for telecommunications networks and help ensure that in emergency situations, such as a hurricane or other natural disaster, communications networks continue to operate and can support, among other things, public service needs such as 911 services.
Alcatel-Lucent established its battery maintenance, installation and removal, transportation and recycling program across the US, to ensure that these batteries are properly managed and recycled. The goal was to prevent potentially harmful chemicals from lead-acid batteries from entering the nation's waste stream, and instead be available to be used again in new batteries.
"Corporate social responsibility is one of our core corporate values and taking steps to protect our environment is a critical component of that imperative," said Barry Dambach, Alcatel-Lucent director for Corporate Environment Health and Services. "For our battery recycling program we worked with our customers, major communications service providers throughout the country, to ensure that the lead they need to use is managed in a way that protects and preserves our environment. We are pleased at the recognition the EPA has given us for this program, but even more so at the fact that the program we put in place has proved to be an effective way to protect the environment through increased recycling."
Alcatel-Lucent participated in the EPA's NPEP program, which is designed to work with companies interested in taking significant steps in reducing or removing priority chemicals, such as lead and mercury. Alcatel-Lucent was one of 29 NPEP partners recognized. This year's award winners reported reductions of more than 9 million pounds of priority and other environmentally harmful chemicals, far exceeding the amount reported last year.
Lockheed Martin Signs Strategic Cooperation Agreement with Infinite Power Solutions
Lockheed Martin and Infinite Power Solutions (IPS) have signed a cooperative agreement to apply unique Micro Energy Cell products from IPS to systems and solutions that Lockheed Martin is developing for military and civil applications.
"We believe that this cooperation will result in a new class of networked, mobile electronic devices that can take advantage of energy harvesting to reduce the burden of battery weight and power management for our customers," said John Mengucci, president of Lockheed Martin IS&GS' Mission & Combat Support Solutions. "We are very excited about the opportunity to further develop this new technology to help solve one of the key challenges facing warfighters today."
"This working agreement provides a unique opportunity for Lockheed Martin to combine its integration expertise, domain knowledge and customer presence with IPS' innovative solid-state, rechargeable, thin-film micro-battery technology," said Raymond R. Johnson, president and CEO of Infinite Power Solutions, Inc.
C&D Technologies Partners with Firefly Energy as Manufacturer of Microcell Foam Batteries for Trucking and Related Deep-Discharge Application Markets
C&D Technologies, Inc. has signed a manufacturing contract with Firefly Energy, Inc., a battery technology company that has developed a portfolio of innovative lead-acid battery technologies. The contract calls for the establishment of a manufacturing partnership between the two companies to produce Firefly-designed battery products for the trucking and off highway equipment markets. Firefly's microcell technology provides the trucking industry and fleets with a highly effective fuel-saving alternative for powering their trucks' hotel loads and HVAC systems. Capable of almost double the run time and life of traditional lead-acid batteries, the technology enables significant economic payback as well as compliance with recent anti-idling legislation.
The first focus for this partnership will be for the Firefly "Oasis" battery. Firefly will provide microcell foam technology components, and C&D will manufacture the battery in their Milwaukee, Wis. facility.
Dr. Jeffery Graves, president and CEO of C&D Technologies said, "This partnership brings together innovative design and materials technologies with advanced manufacturing techniques to produce a customer solution that has outstanding performance and is environmentally friendly, as it reduces the emissions from engine idling or diesel auxiliary power units. C&D is committed to energy storage products, processes and enterprises that preserve our environment. We look forward to a long and fruitful partnership with Firefly Energy."
Firefly CEO Ed Williams called the new C&D relationship a "critical addition to our manufacturing and commercialization strategies which expands the availability of our award winning battery technology." |
