Press release

Munich, April 12, 2005. Especially today it is a challenge to set up an efficient start-up company based on a vision only. US business magazine Red Herring conducted an in-depth analysis among European companies and admitted SFC Energy AG to its TOP-100 list.

Red Herring editors are convinced of the market potential of SFC Energy AG (SFC), a start-up company developing, manufacturing and marketing direct methanol fuel cell systems for mains-independent devices. The jury assessed 600 European and Israeli enterprises in total. Assessment criteria included each company’s business model, profitability, management as well as offered products and services. The worldwide leader in fuel cell technology SFC now is representing one of eight German companies on the Red Herring TOP-100 list.

SFC Produces Fuel Cells in Large Quantities

"Our list shows that despite obstacles posed by regulations, bureaucracy and tradition, innovation and entrepreneurship continues to thrive in Europe," says Red Herring editor-in-chief Joel Dreyfuss. Manfred Stefener, founder and executive member of the board at SFC Energy AG, agrees. "Of course, at the outset it is a challenge to found a company and to step into competition with the big players on the market. But the risk was worth to be taken: SFC now is the world-leader in the field of fuel cell technology“, Stefener states.

Recently, SFC celebrated its fifth company anniversary. Stefener started with only a handful of developers, today he is working with 50 employees. The first commercial product developed by SFC was not only new at SFC but a world-novelty: a cost-effective, miniaturized fuel cell. At present, the second generation of this business case sized fuel cell, the SFC A50, finds a ready market in the leisure and industry sector. The product received several international awards already.

"With the SFC A50 we succeeded in developing the first highperformance direct methanol fuel cell that is produced in high quantities,“ claims Stefener. "The next stage are even smaller fuel cells.“ A prototype designed as a mobile, external energy source for laptops already exists in the SFC research laboratories. So called “Power Boy” is only as big as a hand and double its length. Ultimately, SFC aims to directly integrate fuel cell systems into laptops, cameras and electric tools.