BTU International and Boston University Expand Relationship with Fuel-Cell Joint Development Program.NORTH BILLERICA, Mass. -- BTU Btu: see British thermal unit. International and Boston University Boston University, at Boston, Mass.; coeducational; founded 1839, chartered 1869, first baccalaureate granted 1871. It is composed of 16 schools and colleges. to work on improving manufacturing processes for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC SOFC Solid Oxide Fuel Cell ) BTU International, Inc. (Nasdaq NM: BTUI), a leading supplier of advanced thermal processing equipment for the electronics manufacturing This article presents a typical manufacturing process of an electronic assembly. Component manufacturing Components such as resistors, capacitors and integrated circuits are generally made by specialized contractors. and energy generation markets, today announced the signing of a license and joint development agreement with Boston University, focused on improving processes used to manufacture solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC). The technology is applicable to both high-temperature and intermediate-temperature material systems. The development program will be conducted in BU's Manufacturing Engineering Manufacturing engineering Engineering activities involved in the creation and operation of the technical and economic processes that convert raw materials, energy, and purchased items into components for sale to other manufacturers or into end products for Department by Professors, Uday Pal and Srikanth Gopalan. "The insight and knowledge regarding SOFC material systems to be contributed by BU is significant," said Paul J. van der Wansem, chairman and chief executive officer of BTU International. "Combining this with BTU's extensive experience in thermal processing applications will allow us to develop a unique and important body of knowledge that will be used for the cost-effective manufacturing of solid oxide fuel cells." "BTU and BU have had a productive relationship for several years," said Donald A. Seccombe, Jr., director of research of BTU International. "We are expecting that this joint development will allow us to address topics--such as one-step co-firing, lower sintering sintering, process of forming objects from a metal powder by heating the powder at a temperature below its melting point. In the production of small metal objects it is often not practical to cast them. temperatures and faster binder removal--that have an impact on planar SOFC manufacturing costs." "We chose to partner with BTU on this program because of their significant knowledge in thermal processing technology and integrated manufacturing systems," said Dr. Uday Pal, of BU. "BTU provides invaluable applications knowledge and real world experience which has been instrumental in the success of our program to date." About BTU International BTU International is a market-leading supplier of advanced thermal processing equipment to the electronics manufacturing and energy generation markets. BTU manufactures reflow (1) The process of heating and melting the solder that has been screen printed onto a printed circuit board in order to bond chips and other components to the board. Surface mount chips (SMT) use the reflow method. Contrast with wave soldering. See also reflowable text. furnaces for printed circuit board assembly as well as a wide range of equipment for the semiconductor packaging market, including state-of-the-art systems for wafer bumping and wafer-level packaging. BTU also provides thermal process solutions for the solar cell solar cell, semiconductor devised to convert light to electric current. It is a specially constructed diode, usually made of silicon crystal. When light strikes the exposed active surface, it knocks electrons loose from their sites in the crystal. , fuel cell and nuclear fuel industries. BTU, with headquarters in North Billerica, MA, operates worldwide with direct sales and service offices in the USA, Asia and Europe. Information about BTU International is available on BTU's website at www.btu.com. About Boston University Boston University, with an enrollment of more than 29,000 in its 17 schools and colleges, is the fourth-largest independent university in the United States. The Boston University College of Engineering The College of Engineering (ENG) offers undergraduate, Masters, and Doctorate degrees in four different departments:
An interdisciplinary field in which the principles, laws, and techniques of engineering, physics, chemistry, and other physical sciences are applied to facilitate progress in medicine, biology, and other life sciences. , Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Manufacturing. Ongoing research programs in clean energy include work in solid oxide fuel cells, novel approaches to hydrogen generation, hydrogen storage via chemical hydrides and programs that explore clean uses of coal. "Safe Harbor Safe Harbor 1. A legal provision to reduce or eliminate liability as long as good faith is demonstrated. 2. A form of shark repellent implemented by a target company acquiring a business that is so poorly regulated that the target itself is less attractive. " Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA) implemented several significant substantive changes affecting certain cases brought under the federal securities laws, including changes related to pleading, discovery, liability, class representation and awards fees and of 1995 This news release contains express or implied forward-looking statements regarding, among other things, (i) the company's expectation that this joint development program will improve the processes used to manufacture solid oxide fuel cells, and (ii) the company's expectation that it can reduce the costs of manufacturing solid oxide fuel cells. Such statements are neither promises nor guarantees but rather are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Such statements are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions established by the federal securities laws, and are based on the assumptions and expectations of the company's management at the time such statements are made. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ include the timely availability and acceptance of new products, general market conditions governing supply and demand, the impact of competitive products and pricing and other risks detailed in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K Form 10-K A report required by the SEC from exchange-listed companies that provides for annual disclosure of certain financial information. Form 10-K See 10-K. for the year ended December 31, 2004. Actual results may vary materially. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. All information set forth in this press release is as of November 16, 2005 and, unless otherwise required by law, the company disclaims any obligation to revise or update this information in order to reflect future events or developments. |
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