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Who are these interlopers, HC?
Thomas & Betts Begins Volume Production of Lithium-Polymer Battery Packs; T&B Battery Technology to be Used in Mobile Phones, Notebook Computers
MEMPHIS, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 17, 1998---Thomas & Betts Corporation (NYSE:TNB) has begun volume production of lithium-polymer battery packs, introducing advanced technology to the battery market for mobile phones. Battery industry experts believe the lithium-polymer battery, which offers advantages in size, weight and shape, represents the next frontier in technology, but until now the battery cells have been produced only on a limited scale.
Thomas & Betts currently is producing tens of thousands of lithium-polymer batteries per month, making it the first company to achieve cell production at volume levels. Thomas & Betts expects to increase its battery sales by approximately $20 million in 1999 with the addition of lithium-polymer technology.
"This achievement paves the way for lithium-polymer technology to impact significantly the way mobile phones are designed and manufactured worldwide," said Roy Burton, President of Thomas & Betts' Electronics/OEM Group. "Within the next six months, lithium-polymer will become a preferred source of power for manufacturers because of its light weight and flexibility."
Lithium-polymer is a flexible solid technology that allows batteries to be produced in a variety of shapes and sizes, including cells as thin as just a few millimeters. Despite their small size and weight, the batteries offer at least the same level of performance as other chemistries such as liquid lithium-ion or nickel-metal hydride.
Thomas & Betts' first major customer for lithium-polymer battery packs is LG Information & Communications (LGIC), one of South Korea's leading manufacturers of mobile phones, which in November introduced two new mobile phones with the packs. The agreement established Thomas
& Betts as the first manufacturer to meet demand for a commercial application of lithium-polymer battery packs. Other agreements with mobile phone manufacturers are expected to follow.
While manufacturers of cellular phones are the first to adopt this technology, other applications are in development. Thomas & Betts has produced samples of a new lithium-polymer battery pack for notebook computers and expects to begin volume production for this application in 1999, Burton noted.
"These battery packs strengthen Thomas & Betts' product lines in advanced technology and complement our existing electronics offerings," Burton added. "Our objective is to create a complete range of products for OEMs in the telecommunications and data processing markets, offering integrated design solutions across the platform." Thomas & Betts' battery business includes Telecommunications Devices Inc. (TDI), a manufacturer of battery packs for cellular telephones, laptop computers and other mobile electronics devices; and High Energy Technologies Inc. (HET), an affiliate of TDI. Thomas & Betts completed its acquisition of TDI in July 1998. The implementation of lithium-polymer battery technology will establish Thomas & Betts and HET as a leading battery cell manufacturer, in a market currently dominated by Asian producers.
Forward-looking statements in this news release are subject to many uncertainties in the company's operations and business environment. Such uncertainties, which are discussed further in the company's quarterly filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, may cause the actual results of the company to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
Headquartered in Memphis, TN, Thomas & Betts Corporation is a leading producer of connectors and components for worldwide electrical and electronics markets, with 70 manufacturing and distribution facilities, including 16 located outside the United States. The company is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:TNB).
For more information about Thomas & Betts products, call 1-800-888-0211 or your local Thomas & Betts distributor; or contact: Thomas & Betts Corporation, 8155 T&B Boulevard, Memphis, TN, 38125 or via the Web at www.tnb.com
CONTACT:
Thomas & Betts Corp., Memphis
Renee Johansen (financial), 901/252-5962
or
Renee C. Dodea (media), 901/252-5000, Ext. 3504
or
BtB Marketing
Kyle Marshall, 919/872-8172
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