ZPower announces initial operation of automated assembly line for rechargeable, silver-zinc microbatteries

CAMARILLO, USA: ZPower Inc., a leading global provider of silver-zinc battery technology, announced the qualification of its automated assembly line for rechargeable microbatteries.

The line’s annual production capacity of one million batteries will meet the initial demand from manufacturers of miniature electronic devices, like hearing aids, cochlear implants and computer watches, as they leverage rechargeable, silver-zinc in their new product designs.

“Several years ago hearing aid manufacturers requested we develop a high energy rechargeable battery for their next generation products to replace zinc-air and nickel metal-hydride technologies,” said Dr. Ross Dueber, president and CEO of ZPower.

“Zinc-air batteries are non-rechargeable and require frequent replacement, while rechargeable nickel metal-hydride batteries can’t supply sufficient energy for a full day of operation in advanced, digital hearing aids. ZPower’s silver-zinc hearing aid batteries easily deliver a full day of use with convenient charging at night while users sleep. They also generate significantly less waste compared to disposable batteries, are fully recyclable, and are inherently safe.”

“Our high energy, silver-zinc technology is the key enabler for manufacturers to evolve their new product designs from disposable to rechargeable batteries,” states Troy Renken, ZPower’s VP of Product Planning and Electronics. “We are working with several semiconductor companies on charging solutions, and feel our product has potential application in many other premium electronic devices that could benefit from a non-lithium rechargeable microbattery.”

The company has completed development of the two most popular batteries used in hearing aids, sizes 13 and 312, with completion of the 10 and 675 sizes slated for 2011. These sizes are equivalent to the SR41 (312), SR48 (13) and SR44 (675) in primary silver-oxide batteries. Beyond these standard sizes, other button and coin cell sizes will be made available based upon customer and application needs.