|
 |
PRESS RELEASES
NOBUYUKI (NORM) DENDA, FORMER
INTEL K.K. CHAIRMAN, TO REPRESENT POLYFUEL IN JAPAN
Noted Technology Marketing Expert Sees PolyFuel’s
Performance-leading Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC) Membranes
as Critical for Japan OEM’s and Fuel Cell Manufacturers
MOUNTAIN VIEW,
California and TOKYO, Japan – May 21, 2004 – In response
to the high degree of demand among Japanese companies in its
breakthrough technology for small, lightweight, and low-cost
portable fuel cells, PolyFuel today announced that Nobuyuki
(Norm) Denda, former chairman of Intel K.K., and currently
president and CEO of Denda Associates K.K., will represent
PolyFuel in Japan.
“Limited battery run time is an ever-increasing problem for
portable electronic devices,” said Nobuyuki Denda, “and fuel
cells are the leading technology to solve this problem. PolyFuel
has a critical component for such fuel cells, and I am honored
to play a role in the introduction and use of this technology
in Japan by fuel cell manufacturers.”
PolyFuel is the world leader in membrane technology for portable
fuel cells, which are powered by methanol, a lightweight,
low cost, and readily available liquid fuel. The class of
fuel cell is known as the direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC).
The membrane, which allows methanol and water to combine to
generate electricity, is the underlying technology that makes
DMFCs possible. PolyFuel has made numerous breakthroughs in
material science, chemistry, and energy technologies that
have resulted in a DMFC membrane that uniquely enables OEMs
and fuel cell manufacturers to produce the smallest, lightest,
lowest cost, and longest lasting portable power supplies.
“Leading Japanese OEM’s have already announced their intention
to mass-produce fuel cells, including those targeted at ordinary
consumers,” added Denda. “To be successful at this, it is
important that such companies use the best possible technology,
including the PolyFuel membrane.” According to Allied Business
Intelligence, the marget for rechargable batteries used in
portable electronic devices is in the neighborhood of $5 billion
per year. Over the next 5 years the market for portable fuel
cells is porjected to grow to over 60 million units.
“A significant portion of the consumer electronics products
in the world come from Japan, and its neighbors Taiwan and
Korea,” said Jim Balcom, PolyFuel’s president and CEO, “and
fuel cell technology is critical to this entire region. With
Japan having a high profile in the design of the most leading-edge
consumer electronics products, we are pleased to be represented
in this critical market by an individual who has consistently
been associated in Japan with some of the most important technology
trends in the world.”
Nobuyuki Denda has been Denda Associates’ president and CEO
since July 2001. He was formerly chairman of Intel K.K., capping
an Intel career that began when he established its first Japan
sales force in 1971. Denda is a member of the International
Management Association.
About PolyFuel
PolyFuel is the world leader in portable fuel cell membrane
technology. With the increasing trend to mobility in electronics
and consumer devices, portable fuel cells offer the promise
of longer run times, lighter weight, and increased user convenience
over the best-available battery technology.
The heart of the portable fuel cell is its membrane, a sophisticated
material that allows water and methanol - the fuel of choice
for such applications - to combine to generate electricity.
The efficiency of a fuel cell, and thus its run time, is almost
entirely dependent upon the characteristics of this membrane.
As a result of over 140 combined years of fuel cell experience,
and fundamental patent applications covering 15 different
inventions, PolyFuel has developed direct methanol fuel cell
(DMFC) membrane technology that allows portable fuel cells
to be smaller, lighter, quieter, less expensive and more robust
than systems made with competing membrane materials.
PolyFuel was spun out of SRI International (formerly Stanford
Research Institute) in 1999, after 14 years of applied membrane
research. In addition to its portable fuel cell membrane technology,
the company has leading edge, hydrogen fuel cell membrane
technology, for automotive and other applications, as well
as world-class fuel cell systems technology. The company is
based in Mountain View, California, and is privately held.
Investors include Mayfield, Ventures West, CDP Capital - Private
Equity, Technology Partners, Intel Capital, Chrysalix Energy,
Conduit Ventures, KTB Ventures, Hotung Venture Partners, Yasuda
Enterprise Development, and BiNEXT, a part of the Daesung
Group.
PolyFuel Public Relations Contact:
Abigail Johnson/Paul Michelson
Roeder-Johnson Corporation
(650) 802-1850
http://email.roeder-johnson.com
|
