SFC and Sortimo: Collaboration in the development of a stand-alone, modular energy supply solution for special-purpose vehicles

  • SFC and Sortimo announce collaboration at the 63rd IAA for commercial vehicles in Hanover
  • Development of a stand-alone, modular, mobile energy supply for special-purpose vehicles
  • Plug & Play system solution based on Sortimo's established L-BOXX standard for special-purpose vehicles and commercially-successful SFC fuel cell technology

Brunnthal/Munich and Zusmarshausen, Germany, September 21, 2010 – SFC Energy AG, technology and market leader in mobile and off-grid energy solutions based on fuel cells, and Sortimo International GmbH, leading manufacturer of vehicle fittings and storage systems for special-purpose vehicles, will be announcing their collaboration on projects and technologies at the 63rd IAA for commercial vehicles in Hanover. Within the scope of this collaboration, both companies are developing a stand-alone, modular energy supply solution for special-purpose vehicles. This flexible, complete solution is also suitable for mobile use at the operation site and is aimed at authorities, trade, energy suppliers and service providers. The system solution is based on the L-BOXX by Sortimo and SFC fuel cell technology.

The L-BOXX is a mobile logistic box system, which can be loaded in the vehicle with small parts, tools and machines, and is already successfully established as a standard for commercial vehicles. The system also serves as a mobile service box on site, when working for the customer. Fuel cell systems by SFC are already successfully used as 'Auxiliary Power Units' (APUs) to provide an on-board power supply in numerous official and special-purpose vehicles. For mobile office technology, test-, service- and monitoring vehicles, they are used for off-grid energy supply, and provide a reliable supply of environmentally-friendly electricity for laptops, measuring and diagnostic devices, tools, dataloggers and sensors.

A flexible and modular self-contained energy system for special-purpose vehicles and mobile service use is produced using the integrated system solution of L-BOXX with SFC fuel cell technology. It builds on successfully-established concepts of the two companies and can be used as a standardised, flexible, modular system for a wide range of operations by all types of fleet operators. The modular energy supply system is based on a hybrid concept of fuel cell technology and lithium batteries and integrates different additional modules such as voltage transformers. The system modules are equipped with plug-in, compatible interfaces, providing connections to the vehicle and to each other. This allows users to configure their own electricity supply tailored to their own needs.

The development of the first prototypes is being supported by funding from the National Innovation Programme Hydrogen and Fuel Cell technology (NIP) of the federal government. The funds are mainly made available through the Federal Ministry for Transport, Building and Urban Development. NIP programme implementation is coordinated by NOW National Organisation Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology.

'We are really pleased about our collaboration with SFC, because fuel cell technology has proven itself many times over in the field of special and official vehicles. This makes SFC the perfect partner for us,' says Reinhold Braun, CEO of Sortimo International GmbH. 'We are convinced that the product that we are developing together will bring together essential advantages for companies and service providers, not least because today mobility and flexibility are central factors for success.'

'We are very pleased about this joint project with Sortimo and the opportunity to further develop the standard for the clean, on-board supply of special-purpose and official vehicles,' says Dr. Peter Podesser, CEO of SFC Energy AG. 'Together, in this modular, independent energy system, we will offer our customers a complete, flexible solution for a mobile, reliable, off-grid energy supply. With this concept, we are sure that we will follow the existing success in the field of off-grid on-board energy supplies based on fuel cells.'

Picture 1: Prototype of the modular energy supply solution based on fuel cells for special–purpose and official vehicles

SFC and Sortimo will be appearing jointly at the 63rd IAA for commercial vehicles from 23 to 30 September 2010 in Hanover, Hall 13, Stand C55.

More information at www.sfc.com, www.efoy.com and www.sortimo.de

About SFC Energy AG

SFC Energy AG (www.sfc.com) is market leader in fuel cell technologies for mobile and off-grid power applications serving the leisure, industrial and defense markets. As one of Germany’s technology pioneers, SFC has won numerous innovation awards. SFC has alliances with leading companies in a wide range of industries.Unlike most other fuel cell manufacturers, who are in the research and development phase or run subsidized demonstration projects, SFC has shipped about 19,000 fully commercial products to industrial and private end users for more than six years, and has created a convenient fuel cartridge supply infrastructure. SFC is DIN ISO 9001:2008 certified. SFC is based in Brunnthal, Germany, and has a sales and technical service office in the U.S. SFC Energy AG is listed in the Prime Standard on the German stock exchange (WKN 756857).

About Sortimo International GmbH

Sortimo is building dynamically on its history of success. This medium-sized company in Zusmarshausen has been very successful in developing, producing and selling customized vehicle-fitting solutions for 37 years. This owner-managed company has advanced from pioneer to market leader. With nine branches, twelve international subsidiaries and over 30 Sortimo centres, Sortimo is represented in the core markets of Europe, the USA and Asia, and is considered to be the market- and technology-leader. Its current product portfolio includes fitting solutions suitable for companies in commerce, trade and industry. In the European market, Sortimo offers a complete Sortimo Globelyst facility for every light commercial vehicle. In 2004, Sortimo launched a highly-flexible fitting system in the form of the Sortimo Globelyst, which not only brings order to transporters but also contributes to much greater efficiency in the working day and increases passive security. Today, its current vehicle fitting comprises more than 2000 individual parts. Whilst looking towards its global and international market, this market leader is continuing to invest in its Zusmarshausen production site with a new logistics centre. From here, innovative products go almost anywhere in the world. As the market leader, Sortimo's guiding theme is not only strength through innovation but also the highest quality standards. The realisation of Sortimo's motto 'others may be cheaper but no-one is better' can be seen in the outstanding quality of their products, which has also been proven numerous times by independent experts. In 1994, Sortimo was the first company in its industry to receive DIN EN ISO 9001 certification for its high quality. All of Sortimo's product lines carry the TÜV seal of tested quality. Sortimo is the global leader with regard to load securing, and tests its products regularly and very successfully for security. The results of these crash tests influence all Sortimo product lines.  From an ecological point of view, too, Sortimo is also geared towards active environmental protection. The whole production process, from development to production, meets globally-applicable environmental-protection guidelines and Sortimo products have an optimal ecological balance sheet. This is because 100% of Sortimo vehicle fittings consist of recyclable materials such as aluminium, steel and high-quality plastics.

SFC Press Contact:
Claudia von Junker und Bigato
Public Relations
SFC Energy AG
Eugen-Saenger-Ring 7
D-85649 Brunnthal
Tel. +49 89 673 592-377
Fax. +49 89 673 592-169
Email: claudia.junker@sfc.com

Sortimo Press Contact
Willi Dahm
Sortimo International GmbH
Dreilindenstraße 5
D- 86441 Zusmarshausen
Mobile: 0151-12007808
E-Mail: wdahm@sortimo.de
www.sortimo.de

SFC Investor Relations:
Barbara v. Frankenberg
Head of IR and PR
SFC Energy AG
Eugen-Saenger-Ring 7
D-85649 Brunnthal
Tel. +49 89 673 592-378
Fax. +49 89 673 592-169
Email: barbara.frankenberg@sfc.com