As part of its recently announced expansion, Oakridge Global Energy Solutions this morning said it plans to fully utilize the many patents developed and owned by the company in thin film solid state batteries, to be used for “game-changing” applications in electronics, robotics, industry, medical devices and the military.
In 2002, the company acquired Oak Ridge Micro-Energy Inc. to advance the development and commercialization of rechargeable thin film solid state lithium battery technology that was based upon the thin film solid state lithium ion technology developed by Dr. John B. Bates, Ph.D., while he was employed at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (“ORNL”) under license from ORNL.
“The timing is now right and the market is now ready for thin film solid state batteries,” OGES executive chairman and CEO Steve Barber stated in the news release. “These amazing next generation batteries last for years without the need for recharging while providing steady power to smart phones, computer tablets, smart watches, medical electronics, and even animatronics and flexible applications such as the incorporation of batteries into the fabrics of clothing and tires.”
Barber notes that while the broader market wasn’t ready for the technology when it was invented the mid-1990s, “now is the perfect time for Oakridge to commercialize our industry-changing technology.”
OGES expects to complete the last phase of pre-production prototyping in early 2016 and be ready for full commercial product and manufacturing in late 2016 to early 2017.
“This is yet another very exciting product line that nicely complements our existing products that we have already introduced, and will be a real game-changer for the global battery industry and truly represents the next generation of batteries,” says Barber. “With this new product initiative, in commercializing more great technology invented right here in the USA, we are continuing with our mission statement of on-shoring jobs and manufacturing back to the USA by providing the market with another Made In the USA product instead of having to rely on imported products.”
Barber also notes that the process for manufacturing thin film solid state batteries significantly differs from the current process of producing small format or large format lithium cells, and is more fitting to the manufacturing techniques used in the semiconductor industry. OGES will tap into the local workforce and acquire new equipment as necessary.
“We will utilize the considerable depth of skilled employees found in and around the Space Coast area to set this manufacturing operation up in a separate facility to accommodate the special processes required in the manufacture of these new game-changing batteries. We anticipate having that new facility location selected by the end of this year in the Space Coast area where we are currently located and will immediately begin sourcing equipment and hiring employees,” he says.
For more information visit www.oakg.net
