Boston-Power Selects Chroma ATE Inc. for Battery Formation

Chroma ATE®, a world leading provider of Complete Automated Test, Manufacturing and MES Solutions, today announced Boston-Power, a rapidly growing provider of next-generation lithium-ion batteries, has selected Chroma ATE’s 17000 series systems for use during the formation of Boston-Power’s award-winning battery cells. Chroma ATE’s renowned reputation in high volume power electronics testing represents a compelling solution to Boston-Power as the company further scales its mass production capabilities.

Chroma ATE’s 17000 Series Formation Systems feature a safe manufacturing environment with precision, energy efficient / energy recycling instrumentation which supports Boston-Power’s strong commitment to an environmentally friendly manufacturing process.

Chroma ATE’s 17000 Formation Station was designed for the greenest operations as it has two key attributes (patent pending) which allow for savings of up to 40% on the operational electric bill. The first feature is an intelligent battery voltage tracking circuit which significantly increases the efficiency of the linear charging circuit minimizing waste typically discarded as heat.

The second feature recycles the cell discharge energy back to the system’s DC bus where the energy is effectively used to run the station and charge adjacent cells. Reducing electricity demand means an instant ROI as the facilities power distribution and cooling infrastructure is diminished.

“Boston-Power has established a global reputation for complementing game-changing innovation with best-in-class, Six Sigma-caliber manufacturing – paired with a commitment to environmental sustainability,” said Declan Shalvey, COO of Boston-Power. “Chroma ATE’s 17000 series systems’ fits perfectly into that mission and we’re pleased to be including the system in our manufacturing operations.”

With high labor costs (based on a global economy), manufacturing in the USA is not competitive without automation. “Repeatable quality in high volume environment is one of the greatest challenges for these high tech manufacturers” stated John R. Tessitore, Chroma ATE’s USA Director of Business Development, “the 17000 was designed to be robotically loaded / unloaded in a batch process. This feature along with complete, redundant safety checks eliminates operator error and systematic failures.” For lower volumes or in regions of lower labor costs, batch processing and safety checks optimize the manual loading / unloading process.

For a complete formation solution, Chroma ATE also offers incoming visual inspection; complete automated handling (to/from aging through formation, test and grading), AC / DC Resistance – Open Circuit Voltage Testers and Automated Grading; all managed by a comprehensive Manufacturing Execution System."

Boston-Power, Inc. is an award-winning provider of next-generation lithium-ion battery technology. Designed to fuel a wide range of applications, its flagship offering, Sonata®, serves as the foundation for a new era of longer lasting, faster charging, safer and environmentally sustainable notebook computer batteries. The company’s Swing™ product delivers unmatched capabilities for Plug-In Hybrid and Battery Electric Vehicles (PHEV/BEV), and utility energy storage applications.

Founded in 2005 and with more than 120 patents filed, Boston-Power is led by Founder and CEO Dr. Christina Lampe-Önnerud, an internationally recognized innovator, entrepreneur and technology advisor with regard to portable power, energy storage and climate change. To date, the company has raised $191 million in venture funding and has earned accolades for its executive leadership and technology from organizations that include The Wall Street Journal, the World Economic Forum, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA), Time Magazine, Veckans Affärer, the Guardian UK/CleanTech Group, DEMO, AlwaysOn and Frost & Sullivan. Boston-Power is headquartered in Westborough, Massachusetts, and has Six Sigma-level mass manufacturing operations in Asia.

Founded in 1984, Chroma is a respected world leading manufacturer of complete Electronic Test and Measurement Solutions for commercial, automotive, military and government industries. Utilizing in-house Automated Handling and Manufacturing Execution System (MES) expertise, Chroma specializes in integrated and fully automated turn-key electronic test and manufacturing solutions for green technologies including LED, solar cell / module and Electric Vehicle (EV) as well as battery formation, test & grading production solutions. In the USA Chroma is headquartered in Irvine CA, with worldwide engineering service offices in the United States, Taiwan (corporate headquarters), Europe, China, and Japan.

www.boston-power.com

www.chromaus.com