Jan 11 2009
NexTech Materials, Ltd. recently appointed Haiku Tech of The Netherlands as an authorized reseller for Europe and India. Haiku Tech will distribute NexTech products sold under the branded name Fuel Cell Materials. Additionally, Haiku Tech will offer the full complement of services provided by the newly formed commercial services division of NexTech. This distribution agreement leverages the strengths of both organizations and will allow customers to have access to customized materials provided by NexTech integrated for use with volume production equipment provided from Haiku Tech.
William Dawson, CEO of NexTech, complimented Haiku Tech and touted the partnership by saying “Haiku Tech is widely known as the premier reseller of equipment for tape casting of ceramics. We are very pleased that we will combine efforts for the solid oxide fuel cell market. This perfectly supports our (NexTech’s) advanced material solutions.”
The collaboration will primarily focus on solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC), a robust technology that efficiently converts a wide range of fuels to electricity. SOFCs are differentiated from other fuel cells in two key ways. First, by operating at high temperature they can accept fuels ranging from natural gas to diesel; low temperature fuel cells require pure hydrogen, which is a challenge to produce and store. Second, SOFC’s use of low cost ceramic membranes, opposed to membranes containing precious metals, improves the prospects for a cost competitive alternative to traditional sources of electricity.
NexTech has been active in fuel cells since the late 1990s and has a wealth of institutional knowledge in formulation and application of materials for cathodes, anodes and interconnects. Haiku Tech complements NexTech’s research and development capabilities with advanced knowledge in the field of ceramics manufacturing equipment. Together the two companies offer clients the ability to rapidly develop and commercialize their products.