ALPHARETTA, Ga., June 5, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Exide Technologies (Nasdaq:XIDE) (www.exide.com), a global leader in stored electrical-energy solutions, introduces the Absolyte(r) GP, the Company's latest addition to its premier stand-by power product family of valve-regulated, network power batteries. Engineered, marketed and sold by Exide's GNB Industrial Power Business, the Absolyte(r) GP incorporates a technologically and environmentally-advanced design that delivers a 20 year design life with enhanced cycling performance -- a key attribute to support photovoltaic, wind turbine and other renewable energy initiatives.
The Absolyte(r) GP is designed to support a wide range of network power applications, including telecommunications, uninterruptible power supply, alternative energy, outside plant, railway and utility/switchgear. Manufactured in Ft. Smith, Arkansas, U.S.A., the Absolyte(r) GP will be a direct replacement for the Absolyte(r) IIP.
"For more than 25 years, the Exide Absolyte(r) product line, known for its robust design, low maintenance and high power density, has earned a reputation with our global customers for high performance in the most demanding of network power applications," said Mark Jesko, Director of Marketing for Exide Technologies Industrial Energy - Americas. "As a result, the Absolyte(r) product range enjoys one of the largest installed bases of industrial VRLA products in the industry, and we expect the advanced Absolyte(r) GP to expand that base by providing even better performance for our customers."
Lean and "Green" for Tomorrow's Applications
One critical objective of the R&D surrounding the Absolyte(r) GP was to create an industrial power product that supports environmental sustainability.
To address that objective, the Absolyte(r) GP is designed with a patented, proprietary alloy that reduces the content of heavy metal in the finished product, making it easier than ever for Exide's global customers to recycle spent batteries. In addition, the battery is manufactured with an increased ratio of recycled materials compared to previous generations. "Exide adheres to lean engineering principles that result in reduced waste in product design. With the Absolyte(r) GP, we turned our attention to refining the front end of product design -- not just on reducing the heavy metals, but also utilizing an increased quantity of recycled materials required in the final product," said David Wyrick, Senior Product Manager for Exide Technologies Industrial Energy - Americas.
The improved design of the Absolyte(r) GP offers a number of additional environmental benefits, including a 75 percent lower float current compared to previous generation products which will result in reduced energy consumption and reduced heat generation. This would be a significant benefit for large users, both telecom and data centers, who are looking to reduce energy costs required to maintain and cool battery rooms. In addition, the Absolyte(r) GP can provide more than 1,200 cycles at 80 percent depth of discharge, and significantly more cycles for more shallow discharges. These attributes make the Absolyte(r) GP exceptionally well suited to photovoltaic and other alternative energy applications that require routine cycling.
"The Exide Absolyte(r) GP valve-regulated battery truly represents an evolution in lead-acid storage technology, responding to the needs of our industrial energy customers who require increased reliability and superior performance, while at the same time meeting their goals for sustainability," said Mitch Bregman, President - Exide Technologies Industrial Energy - Americas. "Our Company's investment in developing a product with significant environmental attributes and enhanced cycle life underscores our commitment to continuous improvement and serving the needs of the network power marketplace."
(XIDE-C)
About Exide Technologies
Exide Technologies, with operations in more than 80 countries, is one of the world's largest producers and recyclers of lead-acid batteries. The Company's four global business groups -- Transportation Americas, Transportation Europe and Rest of World, Industrial Energy Americas and Industrial Energy Europe and Rest of World -- provide a comprehensive range of stored electrical energy products and services for industrial and transportation applications.
Transportation markets include original-equipment and aftermarket automotive, heavy-duty truck, agricultural and marine applications, and new technologies for hybrid vehicles and 42-volt automotive applications. Industrial markets include network power applications such as telecommunications systems, electric utilities, railroads, photovoltaic (solar-power related) and uninterruptible power supply (UPS), and motive-power applications including lift trucks, mining and other commercial vehicles.
Further information about Exide, including its financial results, is available at www.exide.com.
The Exide Technologies logo is available at http://www.primenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=5067
Forward-Looking Statements
Except for historical information, this press release may be deemed to contain "forward-looking" statements. The Company desires to avail itself of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act") and is including this cautionary statement for the express purpose of availing itself of the protection afforded by the Act. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement in this or any prior forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, (a) projections of revenues, cost of raw materials, income or loss, earnings or loss per share, capital expenditures, growth prospects, dividends, the effect of currency translations, capital structure and other financial items, (b) statements of plans and objectives of the Company or its management or Board of Directors, including the introduction of new products, or estimates or predictions of actions by customers, suppliers, competitors or regulating authorities, (c) statements of future economic performance and (d) statements of assumptions, such as the prevailing weather conditions in the Company's market areas, underlying other statements and statements about the Company or its business.
Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following general factors such as: (i) the Company's ability to implement and fund business strategies and restructuring plans, (ii) unseasonable weather (warm winters and cool summers) which adversely affects demand for automotive and some industrial batteries, (iii) the Company's substantial debt and debt service requirements which may restrict the Company's operational and financial flexibility, as well as imposing significant interest and financing costs, (iv) the fact that lead, a major constituent in most of the Company's products, experiences significant fluctuations in market price and is a hazardous material that may give rise to costly environmental and safety claims, (v) competitiveness of the battery markets in North America and Europe, (vi) the Company's exposure to fluctuations in interest rates on its variable debt, (vii) general economic conditions, (viii) the ability to acquire goods and services and/or fulfill labor needs at budgeted costs, (ix) the Company's reliance on a single supplier for its polyethylene battery separators, and (x) the Company's ability to successfully pass along increased material costs to its customers.
Therefore, the Company cautions each reader of this press release carefully to consider those factors set forth above and those factors described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year 2007 and its most recent interim report filed with the SEC because such factors have, in some instances, affected and in the future could affect, the ability of the Company to achieve its projected results and may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed herein.