New Scale Licenses Alps to Make SQUIGGLE Motors in Japan
New Scale licenses its patented SQUIGGLE motor technology to major global manufacturer Alps Electric Company Ltd.
License agreement dramatically expands motor manufacturing capacity and ability to penetrate high-volume consumer and automotive electronics markets
July 31, 2008 - Victor, NY - New Scale Technologies, Inc. (www.newscaletech.com) today announced that it has licensed its patented SQUIGGLE motor technology to Tokyo-based Alps Electric Company, Ltd. (www.alps.com), a $6 billion global manufacturer of electromechanical components for mobile devices, consumer electronics and automotive systems.
This agreement dramatically expands New Scale's ability to penetrate new, high-volume markets for its innovative piezoelectric SQUIGGLE motor. It is New Scale's second major manufacturing license agreement for the motor, following its expanded agreement with Tamron Co. Ltd. earlier this year (see March 24, 2008 press release at www.newscaletech.com/press_releases/pr080324a.html).
"That global companies such as Alps and Tamron are eager to license our SQUIGGLE motor technology demonstrates the engineering community's excitement over our invention and validates the huge potential market for millions of tiny motors per month," said New Scale co-CEO and chief technology officer David Henderson. "The strength of our invention allows us to leverage the manufacturing, sales and business development engines of some of the world's leading electromechanical component suppliers."
The manufacturing license allows Alps to manufacture New Scale's 1.8 x
1.8 x 6 mm piezoelectric SQUIGGLE motor design. Alps will target high-volume applications such as lens control in Blu-ray Disc recorders and valve control in micro-cooling systems for consumer electronics devices such as laptop computers. Alps, which provides more than 40,000 different components to around 2,000 companies all over the world, has introduced the SQUIGGLE motors as its "ATSA Series miniature piezoelectric actuator" to its extensive base of customers and prospects.
"Alps has an extremely strong position as an electronics component supplier, with particular depth and breadth in consumer electronics and automotive systems," said Ted Franceschi, co-CEO and chief development officer at New Scale. "Alps sensors, switches, connectors and other components are found in a vast range of mobile devices, entertainment systems, computers, appliances and automotive systems we use every day.
We expect Alps to leverage their existing relationships to introduce SQUIGGLE motors to designers of these products, create high demand for SQUIGGLE motors, and fulfill that demand from manufacturing facilities close to their customers."
Alps will manufacture the SQUIGGLE motors in its facility in Kakuda City, Japan. New Scale will continue to design and manufacture SQUIGGLE motors at its Victor, NY headquarters and technology center for applications including research, robotics, micro-fluidic pumps, electronic locks and medical devices.
Alps Electric Co. Ltd. is traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
About New Scale Technologies
New Scale Technologies (www.newscaletech.com) creates disruptively small motion systems based on our patented piezoelectric SQUIGGLE motor, the world's smallest linear motor. This ultrasonic motor is smaller, more precise, less expensive, more robust and more power-efficient than other micro motors. We create complete motion systems integrating SQUIGGLE motor technology with supporting electronics (ASICs) developed in partnership with austriamicrosystems (www.austriamicrosystems.com).
New Scale's micro motors and micro-actuator modules enable design engineers to create smaller products including mobile phone cameras, electronic locks and intelligent fasteners, nano-scale fluid control including lab-on-a-chip systems, medical devices including miniature drug pumps and endoscopes, optics and imaging systems, automotive modules, lasers, aerospace and defense systems, cryogenic and MRI-compatible instruments, and consumer electronics including micro fuel cells.
