ETI Tech charging on new fuel cell
Friday, 13 October 2006 08:00
KUALA LUMPUR: Battery management systems designer and producer ETI Tech Corp Bhd aims to grow its presence locally with the introduction of a new fuel cell product.
The fuel cell delivers power in an environmental friendly and cost-efficient manner.
“We are looking to tap into the telecommunications sector with this product, and hope to market it to base stations nationwide,” executive director of subsidiary ETI Tech (M) Sdn Bhd Mansor Padzin said.
Mansor said this at an agreement signing with P21 GmbH, a Munich-based developer and manufacturer of efficient fuel cell-powered Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) systems.
Mansor Padzin exchanging documents with Dieter Braechtken
Present at the signing was Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission chairman Datuk Dr Halim Shafie.
Under the agreement, ETI Tech and P21 will collaborate in developing and marketing the UPS systems, which are said to have revolutionised applications of conventional high-powered backup systems.
Mansor said he expected this application to replace existing power backup systems, especially for base stations, leveraging on P21's technology and ETI Tech's forte in backup management.
ETI Tech managing director K.K. Lee said the local market for replacement fuel cells in base stations was worth between RM1.2bil and RM1.5bil.
There are 15,000 base stations in Malaysia, with 4,000 to 5,000 more expected in the next few years.
However, chairman Datuk Ch’ng Kong San said market forces would drive demand for the fuel cells, though the first product would be ready in six months.
P21 chief executive officer Dieter Braechtken said the company aimed to tap into the lucrative Asia-Pacific market for its fuel cells, as 40% of the world’s base stations were located in this region.
The agreement will also result in the setting up of a system integration facility in Malaysia to produce P21 products for the regional markets.
Lee said ETI Tech's 41,000-sq-ft Kulim plant had sufficient space to house such a facility.
- THE STAR, October 11 2006