AMI manufactured 20 of its 250-watt PowerPod fuel cells for TARDEC; as per the contract specifications, 15 fuel cells were delivered to the client and five underwent extensive testing.

“AMI’s work with its military partners continues to push forward the boundaries of existing technology, including UGVs and unmanned aerial vehicles,” said Aaron Crumm, AMI president. “In testing and demonstrations in real field settings, AMI fuel cells achieved a 12-hour, 40-mile demonstration on the iRobot Packbot. Our fuel cell also powered a 24-hour persistent stare. In fact, our fuel cells have performed so well, we were rated four out of five stars in recent field tests by soldiers.”

AMI’s fuel cell systems will provide power to TARDEC’s QinetiQ Talon and the iRobot Packbot UGVs, enabling up to 10 hours of active mission use or up to 30 hours of persistent stare capabilities. Soldiers use UGVs for disarming improvised explosive devices, surveillance and other capabilities where a robot can be used to keep them out of harm’s way.

As part of AMI and TARDEC’s testing of the fuel cell systems, new endurance records for both the Talon and the iRobot Packbot UGV systems were achieved.

About Ultra Electronics, AMI
Based in Ann Arbor, Mich., Ultra Electronics Adaptive Materials, Inc. (AMI) is the first company to develop, demonstrate and deliver a portable, affordable, and fuel flexible solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system. The company offers 90 and 300-watt fuel cell systems that are powered by globally available and energy dense propane, butane and LPG. Adaptive Materials’ fuel cell system provides portable power to the United States Armed Forces as well as industries including leisure, remote monitoring, and medical devices. For more information, visit www.adaptivematerials.com.

About Ultra Electronics
Ultra Electronics is an internationally successful defense and aerospace company with a long, consistent track record of development and growth. Ultra businesses constantly innovate to create solutions to customer requirements that are different from and better than those of the Group’s competitors. The Group has over 100 distinct market or technology niches within its 24 businesses. The diversity of niches enables Ultra to contribute to a large number of defense, aerospace and civil platforms and programs and provides resilience to the Group’s financial performance.
Ultra has world-leading positions in many of its niches and, as an independent, non-threatening partner, is able to support all of the main prime contractors with specialist capabilities and solutions. As a result of such positioning, Ultra’s systems, equipment or services are often mission-critical to the successful operation of the platform to which they contribute. In turn, this mission-criticality secures Ultra’s positions for the long term, which underpin the superior financial performance of the Group.
Ultra offers support to its customers through the design, delivery and support phases of a program. Ultra businesses have a high degree of operational autonomy where the local management teams are empowered to devise and implement competitive strategies that reflect their expertise in their specific niches. The Group has a small head office and executive team that provide to the individual businesses the same agile, responsive support that they provide to customers as well as formulating Ultra’s overarching, corporate strategy.

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The publication evaluates companies on a variety of factors, including quality of management, financial soundness, quality of goods, and capacity to innovate.  Read more about the news on the Management Today website.

The first delivery by Ultra Electronics, AMI of five fuel cells to the U.S. Army was made this week.

“Ultra Electronics, AMI fuel cells are the ideal power source because they’re lightweight, portable, and reliable,” said Aaron Crumm, Ultra Electronics, AMI president.  “The Rapid Equipping Force contract is unique in that it quickly puts technology in the hands of soldiers.  Ultra Electronics, AMI has a long history of providing portable power to the military and it’s that track record that makes our technology attractive for immediate field use.”

Rapid Equipping Force selected Ultra Electronics, AMI, because its fuel cells solve a significant military challenge.  Providing reliable power for multi-day missions, the 300-watt fuel cell is ideal for applications requiring more power or longer durations than batteries can support.

Compared to a generator or the number of batteries that would be required for a multi-day mission, the fuel cell, weighing just 32 lbs., is lightweight and portable.

The Ultra Electronics, AMI fuel cells were tested for altitude, vibration, shock, cold, heat, rain, dust and drops.  They are proven to perform in temperatures ranging from -20° C to 50°C.

About Ultra Electronics, AMI
Based in Ann Arbor, Mich., Ultra Electronics Adaptive Materials, Inc. (AMI) is the first company to develop, demonstrate and deliver a portable, affordable, and fuel flexible solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system. The company offers 50 and 250-watt fuel cell systems that are powered by globally available and energy dense propane, butane and LPG. Adaptive Materials’ fuel cell system provides portable power to the United States Armed Forces as well as industries including leisure, remote monitoring, and medical devices. For more information, visit www.adaptivematerials.com.

About Ultra Electronics
Ultra Electronics is an internationally successful defense and aerospace company with a long, consistent track record of development and growth. Ultra businesses constantly innovate to create solutions to customer requirements that are different from and better than those of the Group’s competitors. The Group has over 100 distinct market or technology niches within its 24 businesses. The diversity of niches enables Ultra to contribute to a large number of defense, aerospace and civil platforms and programs and provides resilience to the Group’s financial performance.
Ultra has world-leading positions in many of its niches and, as an independent, non-threatening partner, is able to support all of the main prime contractors with specialist capabilities and solutions. As a result of such positioning, Ultra’s systems, equipment or services are often mission-critical to the successful operation of the platform to which they contribute. In turn, this mission-criticality secures Ultra’s positions for the long term, which underpin the superior financial performance of the Group.
Ultra offers support to its customers through the design, delivery and support phases of a program. Ultra businesses have a high degree of operational autonomy where the local management teams are empowered to devise and implement competitive strategies that reflect their expertise in their specific niches. The Group has a small head office and executive team that provide to the individual businesses the same agile, responsive support that they provide to customers as well as formulating Ultra’s overarching, corporate strategy.

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The Stalker XE system quadruples Stalker’s flight endurance to eight-plus hours without impacting the mobility or capabilities of the unmanned system.

The Stalker XE system is powered by Ultra Electronics’ industry-leading fuel cell.  The portable power unit integrates with the Stalker’s existing conventional lithium polymer battery to handle power peaks. The fuel cell was developed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).

More info is available through Lockheed Martin.

Several of the fuel cells in this delivery are ultimately headed to Afghanistan for use by soldiers in the field.

“AMI’s 300-watt fuel cells are ideal for providing direct power to communications and other devices,” said Aaron Crumm, president.  “The fuel cell provides unique advantages: It delivers reliable portable power for operations in the most remote austere environments and it’s fueled by propane, a fuel source that reduces the logistical challenge of supplying forward deployed units in the most disadvantaged locations.”

The 300-watt fuel cell is ideal for applications requiring more power or longer durations than batteries can support. Compared to a generator or the number of batteries that would be required for a multi-day mission, the fuel cell, weighing just 32 lbs., is lightweight and portable.

AMI tested the fuel cells in-house and proven the units to be durable and reliable.  The fuel cells were tested for altitude, vibration, shock, cold, heat, rain, dust and drops.  They are proven to perform in temperatures ranging from -20° C to 50°C.

About Ultra Electronics, AMI
Based in Ann Arbor, Mich., Ultra Electronics Adaptive Materials, Inc. (AMI) is the first company to develop, demonstrate and deliver a portable, affordable, and fuel flexible solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system. The company offers 50 and 250-watt fuel cell systems that are powered by globally available and energy dense propane, butane and LPG. Adaptive Materials’ fuel cell system provides portable power to the United States Armed Forces as well as industries including leisure, remote monitoring, and medical devices. For more information, visit www.adaptivematerials.com.

About Ultra Electronics
Ultra Electronics is an internationally successful defense and aerospace company with a long, consistent track record of development and growth. Ultra businesses constantly innovate to create solutions to customer requirements that are different from and better than those of the Group’s competitors. The Group has over 100 distinct market or technology niches within its 24 businesses. The diversity of niches enables Ultra to contribute to a large number of defense, aerospace and civil platforms and programs and provides resilience to the Group’s financial performance.
Ultra has world-leading positions in many of its niches and, as an independent, non-threatening partner, is able to support all of the main prime contractors with specialist capabilities and solutions. As a result of such positioning, Ultra’s systems, equipment or services are often mission-critical to the successful operation of the platform to which they contribute. In turn, this mission-criticality secures Ultra’s positions for the long term, which underpin the superior financial performance of the Group.
Ultra offers support to its customers through the design, delivery and support phases of a program. Ultra businesses have a high degree of operational autonomy where the local management teams are empowered to devise and implement competitive strategies that reflect their expertise in their specific niches. The Group has a small head office and executive team that provide to the individual businesses the same agile, responsive support that they provide to customers as well as formulating Ultra’s overarching, corporate strategy.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – MARCH 31, 2011 – ANN ARBOR, MICH. –

Ultra Electronics, Adaptive Materials (AMI) recently appointed Aaron Crumm to president.  Crumm, who previously served as the company’s chief technology officer, will now lead AMI’s continued growth and success.

“AMI is already a leader in the fuel cell market and my goal is to see it become a dominant force in the alternative energy space,” said Crumm.  “We are aggressively ramping up our development and manufacturing efforts.  To support our growth efforts, since January, AMI’s team has grown by 20 percent, mostly in engineering and manufacturing.”

Crumm developed AMI’s fuel cell technology and co-founded the company.  His visionary approach and continued product innovations has led to AMI becoming leader in the fuel cell industry and a key portable power supplier to the U.S. military.

He assumes this leadership position from chief business officer Michelle Crumm, who remains with the company in an advisory role.

Crumm will report directly to Phil Evans, divisional managing director of aircraft and vehicle systems, Ultra Electronics.  Ultra Electronics acquired Adaptive Materials on December 31, 2010.

About Ultra Electronics, AMI

Based in Ann Arbor, Mich., Ultra Electronics Adaptive Materials, Inc. (AMI) is the first company to develop, demonstrate and deliver a portable, affordable, and fuel flexible solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system. The company offers 50 and 250-watt fuel cell systems that are powered by globally available and energy dense propane, butane and LPG. Adaptive Materials’ fuel cell system provides portable power to the United States Armed Forces as well as industries including leisure, remote monitoring, and medical devices. For more information, visit www.adaptivematerials.com.

About Ultra Electronics

Ultra Electronics is an internationally successful defense and aerospace company with a long, consistent track record of development and growth. Ultra businesses constantly innovate to create solutions to customer requirements that are different from and better than those of the Group’s competitors. The Group has over 100 distinct market or technology niches within its 24 businesses. The diversity of niches enables Ultra to contribute to a large number of defense, aerospace and civil platforms and programs and provides resilience to the Group’s financial performance.

Ultra has world-leading positions in many of its niches and, as an independent, non-threatening partner, is able to support all of the main prime contractors with specialist capabilities and solutions. As a result of such positioning, Ultra’s systems, equipment or services are often mission-critical to the successful operation of the platform to which they contribute. In turn, this mission-criticality secures Ultra’s positions for the long term, which underpin the superior financial performance of the Group.

Ultra offers support to its customers through the design, delivery and support phases of a program. Ultra businesses have a high degree of operational autonomy where the local management teams are empowered to devise and implement competitive strategies that reflect their expertise in their specific niches. The Group has a small head office and executive team that provide to the individual businesses the same agile, responsive support that they provide to customers as well as formulating Ultra’s overarching, corporate strategy.

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