Key order for Autorotor

Key order for Autorotor Opcon Autorotor AB, a subsidiary of the Opcon Group listed in Stockholm, has received orders for serial production of air systems for fuel cell engines. The first buses driven by fuel cells will be delivered to customers in Europe in 2002 and 2003. The order is the result of ongoing development work with a leading developer of proton exchange membrane fuel cell engine. The air system is a key component of a fuel cell engine, and development work has produced a unique product. Opcon Autorotor AB delivered its first compressors and expanders, which supply air to fuel cell engines back in early 1990´s. The fuel cell industry has received a boost from the Bush administration's new energy programme in the US, which clearly favours fuel cell technology. The programme encourages the swift commercialisation of fuel cell products, including cars, buses and various systems for generating heat and electricity for public buildings and homes. The auto industry has been developing fuel cells for some time and the commercialisation phase is now starting. Fortune magazine has quoted Ford's chairman, William Clay Ford Jr., as saying that the fuel cell will bring to an end 100 years of domination by the internal combustion engine. "This shows that our business concept - delivering unique technical products that help to create a more environment-friendly society - is correct. We are now seeing international recognition from politicians and industrialist," says Sven G. Oskarsson, Opcon's CEO. "Serial production of fuel cell buses can be seen as part of the solution to the environmental problems of the world's largest cities," adds Oskarsson. The race is on to launch the world's first car driven by a fuel cell engine. "Opcon has an opinion about who will be first, but we are involved in all the key fuel cell projects in the world. So whoever is first, we'll be there too," says Roland Ärlebäck, President of Opcon Autorotor AB. "After ten years' hard work as a development company it is extremely gratifying to receive the first order for serial production," says Roland Ärlebäck. Opcon Autorotor AB plans to deliver a complete air supply system comprising high-speed motor, compressor, expander, heat exchanger and inverter. Together with Opcon's Laminova AB and two other Swedish companies, NFO Drives AB and AB Kompositprodukter, Opcon Autorotor has developed and produced what is now recognised as the market's most efficient air supply system. It will be launched to customers during 2002. The Opcon Group now aims to create a world-leading industrial operation in the fuel cell sector based on the platform that has built upon ten years of research and development together with auto manufacturers such as DaimlerChrysler, Ford, Renault-Nissan, General Motors and others. Investments have already been made in production to meet the volumes of a growing bus sector. Opcon Autorotor is also preparing for serial production on the car market. Glossary: High-speed motor: An electrical motor producing around 45000 rpm Compressor: Supplies the correct amount of air and pressure in the fuel cell system Expander: Recovers energy in the fuel cell system Inverter: Converts direct current into alternating current ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/02/14/20041001BIT20450/wkr0001.pdf