ACX and Worth Inc. Introduce World's First Electric Baseball Bat: The "Copperhead ACX".CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 19, 1998--Active Control eXperts Inc., (ACX ACX Available Chemicals Exchange ACX Advanced Combat Experimental ACX Asynchronous Cross Connect ) announces the application of its revolutionary piezoelectric The property of certain crystals that causes them to produce voltage when a mechanical pressure is applied to them such as sound vibrations. This technique is used to build crystal microphones, phonograph cartridges and strain gauges, all of which turn mechanical movement into voltage. vibration control technology to baseball, with the introduction of the world's first electronic baseball bat. By reducing vibration, the piezo "Piezo", derived from the Greek piezein, which means to squeeze or press, is a prefix used in:
n. 1. One that deadens, restrains, or depresses: Rain put a damper on our picnic plans. 2. An adjustable plate, as in the flue of a furnace or stove, for controlling the draft. enlarges the sweet spot and reduces unwanted "sting." Developed in conjunction with Worth Inc., ACX's Piezo Control(TM) technology will be available July 1st on the "Copperhead copperhead, poisonous snake, Ancistrodon contortrix, of the E United States. Like its close relative, the water moccasin, the copperhead is a member of the pit viper family and detects its warm-blooded prey by means of a heat-sensitive organ behind the nostril. ACX" bat, which is expected to retail for $279-299. Baseball bats are prone to vibration, especially during off-center hits. Maximum hit-ball speed and minimum vibration occur at the bat's sweet spot (roughly six inches from the hitting end). As the point of ball contact moves away from the sweet spot, hit-ball speed rapidly decreases while vibrations increase. With an electronically-enlarged sweet spot, the Copperhead ACX is an incredibly forgiving bat, allowing the hitter to make the most of every swing, even off-center hits where an "ordinary" bat would respond with a painful sting. Based on detailed laboratory and field testing, ACX focused vibration reduction efforts on the first and second vibration "modes." The results? The piezo damper reduces the vibration amplitude of the first mode by roughly 50 percent and the second mode by roughly 70 percent. Using college and high school players in subsequent "double blind" testing of the Copperhead ACX bat against other high-end bats, hitters overwhelmingly preferred the ACX bat for producing "less sting" and having a "larger sweet spot." "We hope our technology will have the same impact on bats as it has for skis," said Adam Bogue, ACX's Vice President of Marketing. "The beauty of the technology is that even an average player can hit the sweet spot every time." Jess Heald n. 1. A heddle. , Worth's Chairman and Senior VP Sales & Marketing, added, "We're confident that this product will revolutionize rev·o·lu·tion·ize tr.v. rev·o·lu·tion·ized, rev·o·lu·tion·iz·ing, rev·o·lu·tion·iz·es 1. To bring about a radical change in: Television has revolutionized news coverage. 2. baseball, much as Worth's introduction of the first aluminum baseball bat did in 1974." Active Control eXperts Inc. is a leading supplier of smart material and active control components and systems, including piezoelectric actuators, sensors, vibration suppression and motion control systems. For additional information, contact Adam Bogue, Vice President of Marketing, at 617-577-0700. http://www.acx.com. Worth Inc., America's baseball/softball company, is the world's largest manufacturer of balls and bats. It is based in Tullahoma, Tennessee Tullahoma is a city in Coffee County and Franklin County, Tennessee, in the south-central part of the state. The population was 17,994 at the 2000 census. The 2005 census estimate is 18,909. . For additional information, contact Jess Heald, Senior VP Sales & Marketing, at 931-455-0691. http://www.worthinc.com. CONTACT: Active Control eXperts Inc. Adam Bogue, 617-577-0700 http://www.acx.com or Worth Inc. Jess Heald, 931-455-0691 http://www.worthinc.com |
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