News

June 09, 2006

Intermagnetics Superpower Subsidiary Sets New World Records For Second-Generation High-Temperature Superconducting Wire

By: by Cathy Yudzevich, IR Manager, SuperPower

Source:

Latham, NY, May 24, 2006-Intermagnetics General Corporation’s (NASDAQ: IMGC) Energy Technology subsidiary, SuperPower, Inc., today announced that it has reclaimed world record performance of second-generation (2G) high temperature superconducting (HTS) wire by achieving critical current performance of 219 amperes per centimeter width (A/cm) over 322 meters.  That corresponds to performance of 70,520 amp-meters, far surpassing the current record of 52,087 amp-meters held by a Japanese research and development organization.  Amp-meter is a common measure of HTS wire performance achieved by multiplying critical current-carrying capacity in amperes by length in meters.

In addition, SuperPower achieved critical current performance of 557 A/cm in a short sample - surpassing the current world record also held by a Japanese organization.

Glenn H. Epstein, chairman and chief executive officer of Intermagnetics, noted: “We believe that this significant performance advancement by the SuperPower team is a clear indicator of the advent of commercially available 2G HTS wire.  We now have demonstrated not only a significantly enhanced performance milestone, but also a production rate eight times faster than our nearest competitor-using a superconductor that is only half the thickness employed by that competitor. The high production rates follow substantial upgrades to nearly all of our pilot production equipment over the past several months.

“Until now,” Epstein added, “customers worldwide had access only to short, laboratory-scale pieces of 2G wire. Longer lengths enable our customers to use fewer joints and splices as well as to build larger prototypes. Uniform, long lengths with high performance characteristics are critical to the goal of achieving price levels for HTS wire that are ultimately comparable to copper wire.  True commercialization of HTS technology will only be possible when this is achieved.”

 

Second-generation HTS wire offers more than 100 times the power density when compared to conventional copper wire as well as higher efficiency, thereby opening up a broad range of applications in both military and commercial sectors. Electrical devices such as power cables, transformers, motors and generators are significantly smaller, lighter, safer and more environmentally friendly than conventional devices based on copper wire.

SuperPower, Inc.(www.igc-superpower.com), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Intermagnetics General Corporation, uses core capabilities in materials, cryogenics and magnetics to develop state-of-the-art 2G HTS wire and electric power components for underground transmission and distribution cables, transformers, motors, generators and fault current limiters.

Intermagnetics(www.intermagnetics.com) draws on the financial strength, operational excellence and technical leadership in the market of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), as well as its expanding businesses within Medical Devices that encompass Invivo Diagnostic Imaging (focusing on MRI components & imaging sub-systems) and Invivo Patient Care (focusing on monitoring & other patient care devices). Intermagnetics is also a prominent participant in superconducting applications for Energy Technology. The company has a 35-year history as a successful developer, manufacturer and marketer of superconducting materials, high-field magnets, medical systems & components and other specialized high-value added devices.

 

 

SafeHarborStatement: The statements contained in this press release that are not historical fact are "forward-looking statements" which involve various important assumptions, risks, uncertainties and other factors. These include, without limitation, the assumptions, risks, and uncertainties set forth here as well as in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, including but not limited to, the company's ability to: (1) attract and maintain strategic partners for its HTS initiatives; (2) invest sufficient resources and receive additional external funding to continue its development efforts; (3) attract and retain the personnel necessary to achieve its objectives; (4) attain commercial acceptance for and adoption of its products and technology; (5) successfully develop commercially viable production methods and successfully improve those methods to meet the cost-benefit ratio that will be critical to making HTS technology commercially competitive; and (6) avoid the potential adverse impact on the company of emerging patents in the highly competitive energy technology field. Except for the company's continuing obligation to disclose material information under federal securities law, the company is not obligated to update its forward-looking statements even though situations may change in the future. The company qualifies all of its forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.