First Commercial Order
MicroFuze International plc
20 April 2006
20 APRIL 2006
Doug Parrish, CEO, MicroFuze International plc 020-7016-5100
Tim Wall, Finance Director, MicroFuze International plc 020-7016-5100
Henry Gewanter, PR, Positive Profile 020-7489-2028
FIRST COMMERCIAL ORDER FOR
MICROFUZE INTERNATIONAL PLC (MFZ)
MicroFuze International plc has won its first commercial order following its AIM
flotation in February 2006. Diffusion Technologies, Inc. of Saraland, Alabama is
to use MicroFuze's US subsidiary, Tesla USA Inc., to chrome diffuse 80,000 studs
for use in the pulp and paper industry. The studs are welded into the black
liquor cooling panels to reduce corrosion and erosion in heat exchange boilers.
Diffusion Technologies is an industry leader in the maintenance of black liquor
boilers for energy extraction and a tier one supplier to the pulp and paper
industry. Diffusion Technologies is already testing Tesla's microwave treated
products and finds significant advantages in using microwave treated products
over conventional diffusion. The microwave diffusion of chrome for studs takes
place within a few hours, replacing conventional processes that take several
days, and make products that are more consistent in quality and superior in
welding characteristics.
Tesla will process the order through its existing microwave installation in
Chattanooga, Tennessee starting immediately.
MicroFuze is confident that this order will be followed by several more,
increasing in size as the new, larger and more efficient commercial production
microwaves are commissioned.
Doug Parrish, Chief Executive Officer of MicroFuze, added: 'I'm delighted to
sign our first contract so soon after our recent flotation. This exciting new
technology has already attracted the attention of some of the world's leading
multinational companies in key industries including automotive, chemical,
defence, health, power generation, textiles and aviation and I'm looking forward
to announcing more contracts and the commission of new microwaves soon.'
Fred Pace, Vice President of Diffusion Technologies, said, 'We've already tested
Tesla's early prototype studs and know that these products are easier to weld.
Micrographic analysis confirms less porosity and decarburisation, which gives us
confidence that diffused studs from a microwave will exhibit superior wear
characteristics. I am looking forward to increasing my order with Tesla once
they bring on larger commercial microwaves.'
END.
Notes to Editors:
MicroFuze International
MicroFuze is a metals technology company which owns, through its 85% owned
subsidiary Tesla USA, Inc. (TUI), the sole licence to commercialise the US
Department of Energy's patented process for Microwave Diffusion Treatment
('MDT') discovered by their Oak Ridge, Tennessee Nuclear Research Facility. The
US Department of Energy retains a 10% interest in TUI and Harley Grant, the Oak
Ridge inventor of the process, holds the remaining 5% of TUI shares.
Because MDT is quicker, cheaper and cleaner than all known existing surface
treatments of metals, it provides significant physical, economic and
environmental advantages. MDT can make cheap steel nearly impenetrable and has
endless potential uses for parts, components and accessories which require
hardening, lubricity, wear resistance and corrosion protection. Industries that
will benefit from MDT include power generation, automotive, aeronautical and
general manufacturing in a global market worth US$6 billion annually.
Diffusion Technologies
Diffusion Technologies, Inc is an industry leader in the maintenance of black
liquor boilers for energy extraction and a tier one supplier to the pulp and
paper industry. Diffusion is a specialist in installation and repair of studs in
black liquor boilers and supplies multi-national corporations in southern USA.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange